Saoto soep is Amsterdam's Surinamese signature: clear chicken broth crowned with bean sprouts, fried potato pieces, hard-boiled egg, fried shallots, sambal on the side. Eaten with rice or a roti wrap.

Saoto soep arrived in Amsterdam with the Surinamese diaspora after Suriname's 1975 independence. The soup traces back to Indonesian-Javanese soto, brought to Suriname by 19th-century Javanese plantation labourers, then carried to Amsterdam by the Surinamese-Hindustani-Javanese community. Warung Mini on Ceintuurbaan and Spang Makandra on Gerard Doustraat are the city's two reference rooms.

2 editor picks for Saoto Soep in Amsterdam, ranked by editorial score. All Amsterdam signature dishes · Saoto Soep across every city.

Warung Mini ★ 4.4

€SurinameseDe Pijp

Warung Mini on Ceintuurbaan in De Pijp serves what locals call the best saoto soep in the city: clear chicken broth, beansprouts, fried potato.

OrderSaoto soep, with a side bara doughnut.

TipWalk-in counter. Cash and card both fine. Closed Mondays Booking recommended for weekends.

Warung Spang Makandra ★ 4.4

€SurinameseDe Pijp

Warung Spang Makandra has been the De Pijp Surinamese reference since 1978: roti you assemble yourself, saoto soup, almost nothing on the menu over 15 euros.

OrderRoti kip with the dahl and a side of the bean stew.

TipWalk-in only. Order at the counter, sit upstairs. A second Spang Makandra branch in Nieuw West takes the overflow.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Saoto Soep makes more sense with someone from Amsterdam explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

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