Bazar on Albert Cuypstraat is the cavernous, soaring Amsterdam North African-Middle Eastern room set in a converted church, all halal, all-day from breakfast.
Signature dishes: Mezze platters, Tagine, Couscous royal
Must order: The full mezze platter with the chicken tagine to share.
Tip: Halal-certified. Big room, walk-in friendly. Pre-market breakfast is the value.
Address: Albert Cuypstraat 182, 1073 BL Amsterdam
Spang Makandra has been Amsterdam's reference Surinamese counter since 1978, rolling roti, ladling saoto soep, almost nothing on the menu costing over 15 euros.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami goreng, Moksi meti
Order: Roti kip; ask for medium spice and the kouseband bean stew as a side.
Tip: Lunch only at the upstairs tables; takeaway counter for everything else.
Warung Mini in De Pijp serves Amsterdam's signature saoto soep, a clear Surinamese chicken broth crowned with crisp potato, beansprouts and a hard-boiled egg.
Signature: Saoto soep, Roti kip, Bara
Order: Saoto soep with extra sambal on the side; bara to start.
Tip: Counter service, closed Mondays. Lunchtime queue forms quickly.
Spang Makandra has been Amsterdam's reference Surinamese counter since 1978, rolling roti, ladling saoto soep, almost nothing on the menu costing over 15 euros.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami goreng, Moksi meti
Order: Roti kip; ask for medium spice and the kouseband bean stew as a side.
Tip: Lunch only at the upstairs tables; takeaway counter for everything else.
Thai Snackbar Bird on Zeedijk has run an Amsterdam Chinatown Thai counter for over two decades, snug, no-frills, the city's most reliable bowl of pad krapow.
Signature: Pad krapow, Green curry, Tom yum noodle
Order: Pad krapow gai with a fried egg on top.
Tip: Walk-in only; turnover is fast, the booth seats clear quickly.
La Perla in Amsterdam's Jordaan has run a wood-fired Roman-Neapolitan crossover since 2009, the bar across the alley taking overflow and people-watching.
Signature: Margherita, Diavola, Marinara
Order: Margherita with the salty house-cured anchovies on the side.
Tip: Walk-up only at the bar opposite; the dining room takes phone bookings.
Caldi e Freddi on Spuistraat is the Amsterdam Italian deli-trattoria you walk past once and book the next week, a tight room with fresh pasta and a wine list to match.
Signature: Fresh pasta of the day, Antipasti spread
Order: Whichever pasta is fresh that day; ask the counter to name the ragù.
Tip: Lunch is a counter scene; dinner is small-room booking.
Peijie on Zeedijk is Amsterdam Chinatown's Chongqing hotpot room, the broth red with chilli oil and sichuan peppercorn, with raw platters carried to your table.
Signature: Chongqing hotpot, Lamb skewers
Order: Half-spicy mandarin pot with sliced lamb, lotus root and beef tendon for the table.
Tip: Order the mid-heat unless you mean it. Book ahead Friday and Saturday.
Warung Mini in De Pijp serves Amsterdam's signature saoto soep, a clear Surinamese chicken broth crowned with crisp potato, beansprouts and a hard-boiled egg.
Signature: Saoto soep, Roti kip, Bara
Order: Saoto soep with extra sambal on the side; bara to start.
Tip: Counter service, closed Mondays. Lunchtime queue forms quickly.
