Spang Makandra Warung is a surinamese restaurant in De Pijp, 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.
Editorially verified May 20, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Roti kip, Bami goreng, Moksi meti
Must 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.
Address: Gerard Doustraat 39, 1072 VK Amsterdam
Tjin's Toko on Eerste van der Helststraat near Albert Cuyp is the Amsterdam De Pijp Surinamese counter and toko, a deli-supermarket hybrid running broodjes.
Signature: Broodje pom, Bara, Saoto soep
Order: Broodje pom with extra sambal, bara to nibble on the walk.
Tip: Order at the deli counter on one side; pick up Surinamese pantry staples on the other.
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.
Roopram Roti on Eerste van Swindenstraat in Amsterdam Oost has wrapped roti since 2004, the Surinamese counter the Indo-Caribbean diaspora sends.
Signature: Roti kip, Bara, Pom
Order: Roti kip with bara on the side.
Tip: Takeaway-first counter, small dine-in area. Closed Mondays Walk-ins usually OK.
Restaurant Riaz on Bilderdijkstraat in Oud-West has been an Amsterdam Surinamese institution since 1981, a halal Surinamese-Indonesian-Indian counter.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami, Saoto soep
Order: Roti kip with extra masala and a side of bami.
Tip: Halal kitchen, open daily into the evening. Cash and card both accepted.
Salmuera on Rozengracht in the Jordaan is the Amsterdam Argentinian-Mexican grill, a long charcoal asado at the back and an over-70-bottle mezcal list.
Signature: Charcoal-grilled beef, Empanadas, Provoleta
Order: Bife de chorizo from the asador, provoleta and empanadas to start.
Tip: Book the bar to watch the grill. Mezcal flights are a notable detour from the wine pairing.
Café Loetje on Johannes Vermeerstraat in Oud-Zuid is the Amsterdam biefstuk room, founded as a billiard cafe in 1977 and now the reference tenderloin.
Signature: Biefstuk van de haas, Frites, Loetje's house gravy
Order: Biefstuk van de haas with the house gravy and a side of frites.
Tip: No bookings at the original Museumkwartier room. Expect a wait at peak; the terrace fills fast.
Tjin's Toko on Eerste van der Helststraat near Albert Cuyp is the Amsterdam De Pijp Surinamese counter and toko, a deli-supermarket hybrid running broodjes.
Signature: Broodje pom, Bara, Saoto soep
Order: Broodje pom with extra sambal, bara to nibble on the walk.
Tip: Order at the deli counter on one side; pick up Surinamese pantry staples on the other.
