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Like everywhere I travel to, I had done considerable research into what and where to eat in Amsterdam. I am almost ashamed to say that the food didn’t overly appeal to me before going. In certain places, Barcelona for example, I arrived knowing how delicious my time there was going to be. However, Amsterdam was different. The food didn’t look bad as such, just not as good as other places. I used the advice I once heard in an Anthony Bourdain interview, “what do they do there that is unique to that place, that they inarguably do better than anybody else in the world?” That thinking left me with a selection of food that, good or bad, would mostly be quintessentially Dutch. Thankfully, it turned out to be quite good. What didn’t always look appetizing, tasted far better than I could have imagined.

Currency Converter – €1 = £0.90/$1.15

Hap-Hmm

This was my first meal in Amsterdam and what an introduction it was! Hap-Hmm is located a short walk from Central in a residential part of Amsterdam. It is a small, compact restaurant that, from the outside, looks far more upmarket than it actually is. The prices are more than reasonable, especially given the large portion sizes. The food was fantastic. I ordered the Stewed Beef with Fried Potatoes and Vegetables. According to their menu, this was the speciality. The beef was so tender and its juices added a lot of flavour to the rest of the dish. The potatoes were cooked perfectly with a little bit of crisp and the seasonal vegetables were excellent. I didn’t try one, but the desserts looked really, really good. I spent the rest of my time in Amsterdam fighting the urge to return.

Opening Hours – 17:00 – 21:15, Closed Saturday and Sunday

Price – €11

Address – Eerste Helmersstraat 33, 1054 CZ Amsterdam

FEBO

The fast food vending machines are an Amsterdam institution. They are nearly every local’s favourite drunk food. Although they also sell burgers, it is the croquettes that are popular. From one of the many FEBO’s around the city, you can get one of a selection of croquettes. Fillings include beef, veal or chicken with a creamy sauce. It is all packed inside a greasy outer layer of breadcrumbs. They are in no way a nutritious choice of food but are still a good insight into the food scene in the city.

Opening Hours – 12:00 – 03:00

Price – €2

Address – Many locations across Amsterdam

Foodhallen

I wish that every city I visit could have a place similar to Foodhallen. Set in De Hallen, a former tram depot that has been turned into one of Amsterdam’s most popular cultural hotspots. This giant food hall has a great mix of international cuisines centred around an expansive seating area. Both locals and tourists come here regularly. It is a great place to meet, have some beer and eat a mixture of excellent food. I found it very difficult to choose what to eat there, especially considering this was my only chance to get it right. Every single stall looked attractive. Eventually, I went with a BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich on Ciabatta Bread from The Rough Kitchen. For dessert, I had a Lime Pie from Petit Gâteau. Both were fantastic, as is most of the food there, I’m sure.

Opening Hours – 11:00 – 23:30, Sunday to Thursday. 11:00 – 01:00, Friday and Saturday

Price – <€10

Address – Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT Amsterdam

Stubbe’s Haring

Raw Herring is a favourite for locals in Amsterdam. Even though it is popular among the natives, it is usually only tried by the more adventurous tourist. I guess it is the raw fish commonly sold from a food truck that puts people off. I do feel that it needs to be given a chance though, especially by fish lovers. The herring is strong tasting and there is no denying it is raw when eating it. However, I did find it to be quite delicious. It will be served to you with raw onions and pickles that add a nice crunch to the soft texture of the fish. You can have the fish served inside a bread roll or on a plate. I chose to have it in a roll, but that was just a personal preference. The herring is what you are there to taste.

Opening Hours – 10:00 – 18:30, Closed Sunday and Monday

Price – €4

Address – Singel, 1013 GA Amsterdam

Broodje-Bert

Sandwiches with a twist. Broodje-Bert is a tiny restaurant with just enough seating for eight people located along the Singel canal. Their expansive menu of sandwiches can be hard to choose from. The majority of their sandwiches come in a deconstructed form. Your choice of ingredients come with quite a substantial salad and a bread roll on the side. There is a selection of sandwiches fresh out of the oven, mostly containing cheese and eggs that come ready to eat. I went with a simple BLT. The bacon, lettuce and tomato were joined with onions, sweetcorn, peppers and more. It was all very fresh and the portion size would leave you stuffed. Broodje-Bert is a healthy alternative to the more heavy food you will find elsewhere in Amsterdam.

Opening Hours – 09:00 – 17:30

Price – €7

Address – Singel 321, 1012 WK Amsterdam

Mister Meatball

One item that kept reoccurring on menus was meatballs. It seemed like they were very traditional and common food to eat, especially in the past. It was always a mother’s meatball or grandmother’s meatball. I knew I had to try one and it seemed like Mister Meatball might be the best place to do so. A tiny restaurant with just three tables in the centre of Amsterdam, they have a selection of meatballs. However, I went with the original, a mix of beef and pork. I combined it with some potatoes mixed with sauerkraut. The gravy was then poured over the entire thing and it was delicious. The potatoes were fresh and flavorful and the meatball had a great consistency to it. I was also surprised by how filling it was. It took a bit of a wait to be seated at Mister Meatball but it was certainly worth it.

Opening Hours – 14:00 – 20:00, Sunday to Thursday and 13:00 – 21:00, Friday and Saturday (Closed on Monday)

Price – €12

Address – Nieuwebrugsteeg 21, 1012 AG Amsterdam

Pancakes

No matter where you are in the world, Pancakes are a great thing to eat for any meal. Amsterdam has a number of really good pancake shops. They usually sell both pancakes and poffertjes (small, fluffy pancakes) which come with either savoury or sweet toppings. As it was breakfast, I went with bacon. The very thin pancake was really tasty, with a crisp outside and a fluffy centre. The bacon was cooked in the pancake, adding a salty component to the sweet pancake. Pancakes have a few locations around the city, but I was told that this was the best one. Whilst it might not represent the best value for money in the city, it is a reliable and delicious breakfast option.

Opening Hours – 09:00 – 18:00

Price – <€10

Address – Berenstraat 38, 1016 GH Amsterdam

Maoz

My time in Amsterdam seemed to consist of a lot of meat. I wanted to try something vegetarian while I was there. When I read about Maoz, I was sold. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this is a chain restaurant that can be found in the US, London and Paris. That being said, it was still delicious. I had Freshly made falafel stuffed inside pita bread. What made the difference was the salad bar. A large selection of salads, salsa and sauces were available to add to your food at your own leisure. You could keep returning as many times as you like, adding more and more salad to the top of your meal. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, if you are fortunate enough to live close to a Maoz establishment, then I suggest you try it.

Opening Hours – 11:00 – 01:00

Price – €5.95

Address – Damrak 40, 1012 LK Amsterdam, Muntplein 1, 1017 CK Amsterdam and Leidsestraat 85, 1017 NX Amsterdam

Winkel 43

This came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Winkel 43 is a small cafè/restaurant on the edge of the Jordaan area of Amsterdam. They actually had quite an extensive menu, but it seemed like most people were only interested in their Apple Pie. This was also exactly what I was there for. The apples were stewed to perfection with a strong hint of cinnamon and the crust was thick and crumbly. The whipped cream served on the side added some moisture to the heavy base. The portion sizes were very good and I highly recommend treating yourself to a slice of pie and a tea or coffee during your time in Amsterdam.

Opening Hours – 08:00 – 01:00, Opens at 10:00 on Sunday

Price – €4.40

Address – Noordermarkt 43, 1015 NA

Original Stroopwafels

Amsterdam has a lot of redeeming features, but stroopwafels might have been my favourite. Stroopwafels are made up of two layers of baked dough with caramel between them. They can be found all over Amsterdam but I think the one sold at Original Stroopwafels were my favourite. Made to order, you get the opportunity to eat one whilst still piping hot and with a delicious helping of chocolate spread on top. It is also a good opportunity to go and explore the Albert Cuyp Market. If you hope to bring some home for friends and family, I would recommend buying them from the supermarket. They taste the same and are sold for a fraction of the price. The only time you should pay more for a stroopwafel is if it is freshly cooked or sold with additional toppings.

Opening Hours – 11:00 – 17:00, Monday to Saturday (Open at 10:30 on Saturday)

Price – €2

Address – Albert Cuyp Straat t/o 182, Stand 134, 1073 BL

I am not going to sit here and pretend that Amsterdam had the best food I have ever tasted. It didn’t. What it did have was good, wholesome, hearty food and a selection of sweet treats that were excellent. I enjoyed my meals in Amsterdam, all of my meals there in fact. The food is very good but I would never recommend the city as one of Europe’s top food cities. Deciding where to eat in Amsterdam was easy. I knew what I wanted to eat and I wanted the best quality with the best value for money. I think I found that. For a city that is packed with tacky tourist traps trying to entice people in, I think the above selection is a great starting point for your eating experience in Amsterdam.

To read more about Amsterdam, including the perfect way to spend a weekend there, click here.

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The Roaming Irishman

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