Best North African restaurants in Amsterdam

Rainarai

Chef-owner and cookbook author Laurent Med Khellout offers a taste of his native Algeria’s nomadic cuisine in a former gas regulator house at the Westergasfabriek. The monumental brick building features high beamed ceilings, copper lamps, Moorish accents, and walls the colour of Sahara sand. Eat inside at candle-lit, linen-topped tables or al fresco at picnic tables with your feet in the grass, weather permitting. Expect warm and cold mezze, halima (Algerian pancakes with labneh and pomegranate syrup), harissa-spiked tagines and merguez sausages with chickpeas. Or head to nearby Rue la Bastille (Haarlemmerdijk 66H) for veg-led couscous bowls and delicate honeyed almond-walnut baklava in a simple, rustic setting along a popular shopping street.

Rainarai | Polonceaukade 40, Westerpark

Hawawshi

Bringing “the real taste of Egypt to Amsterdam” has been a long-held dream of Egyptian-born owner Mido Adams. Named after his favourite Egyptian street food snack, consisting of spiced meat or veg baked inside a crispy, golden whole wheat flatbread, this Westside spot was the first hawawshi specialist in Amsterdam. Here, the namesake snack comes in three varieties: vegan, chicken or ground beef rib-eye with a blend of 16 spices. The weekly menu specials, such as meltingly tender 12-hour braised beef paired with long-grained Egyptian rice, fresh salad and a yoghurt-based dressing, are particularly good (and amazing value for under €20). Tip: Or simply stop by for a salad – they’re some of the best in town.

Hawawshi | Kinkerstraat 142 C-H, Oud-West

ShakShuk

Shakshuka, the popular spiced tomato stew with poached eggs, has a rich and diverse history, reflecting the cultural and culinary exchanges of North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Its precise origins are debated, but it is generally believed to have originated in the Maghreb region, which includes countries like Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The name is derived from Arabic, meaning "a mixture" or "all mixed up," which reflects its preparation style. At Shakshuk, you’ll find five varieties, including versions with merguez sausage, kebabs, slow-cooked spiced beef and roasted eggplant and feta. The Shakshuk menu (€27.50 pp) offers excellent value for four people sharing, with a nice range of mezze, two types of shakshuka, silky hummus, perfect pita, fluffy challah bread, decent fries and terrific tahini brownies.

ShakShuk | Antonio Vivaldistraat 3, Zuidas

Rue d’Alger

This charming Algerian restaurant, on a busy corner in West, greets visitors with beautifully arranged crates of fresh produce and warm, inviting aromas of slow-cooked spices. Inside, co-owners Nadir Soltane and Youcef Ait Ouati have created a split-level space with a small seating area, where locals gather to enjoy what Nadir and Youcef call “Algerian soul food.” There are no reservations or set menu, just plates piled high with dishes that’ll transport you to sunnier climes, like slow-cooked lamb with couscous or ras el hanout-spiced chicken tagine.

Tip: don’t miss the authentic Algerian baklava, made with almonds, walnuts, honey and a touch of rosewater.

Rue d’Alger | Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat 29H, Oud-West

MOZO

While you may never discover the secret blend of ras el hanout spices that form the basis of many of the traditional tagines at this Moroccan restaurant, all the fun is in the guessing. Try the tajine dzjaz, slow-cooked honey-sesame chicken with green olives and preserved lemon, the sweet-savoury Moroccan bastilla, a chicken pie with almonds, cinnamon and sugar or the signature kesksou MOZO, traditionally steamed couscous with grilled veal, chicken and merguez sausages.

MOZO | Van Woustraat 89, De Pijp

Abu Amr

This vegan takeaway serves Egypt’s national dish and beloved street food, koshari. This unexpected mix of pasta, lentils, rice, cumin-spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and crispy fried onions originated in the 19th century and blends British, Indian, Italian and Middle Eastern influences. “It’s a little strange but healthy and you can taste the Egyptian spirit,” says vegan owner Amr El Safty. There are also several filled pitas on the 100% plant-based menu, such as broad bean falafel and pita hawawshi with vegan minced meat, fried onions and green peppers, and roz bi laban, a rice pudding with raisins, coconut and cinnamon.

Abu Amr | Eerste Oosterparkstraat 91, Oost

Paloma Blanca

You’ll find all the classics, such as couscous, tagine, grilled meats, and a couple of soup and salad options, at this Moroccan mainstay in West. It is open most evenings and offers an atmospheric, terracotta-toned setting and affordable prices. Looking for something a little further West? Situated in Slotervaart, Restaurant du Maroc (Comeniusstraat 513) does traditional Moroccan dishes with a twist, like tajines topped with fries, as well as fish and meat grill specialities prepared in an open kitchen. Or try Marhaba, serving budget-friendly halal breakfasts since 1999, now at three locations across Oost and Nieuw-West.

Paloma Blanca | Jan Pieter Heijestraat 145, Oud-West

CousCous Club

Unsurprisingly, this cosy neighbourhood restaurant is all about couscous. Made with plenty of fresh produce and a French-Moroccan twist. Three main variations are served, and they’re all under €20: CousCous Vegan with seven varieties of steamed veggies, chickpeas and harissa sauce, CousCous Maison with a few grilled merguez sausages. Or CousCous Royal with stewed lamb and lentils in a wine sauce (i.e. not halal!). The portions are generous and an ecological plus is that most of the herbs used by the restaurant come from a greenhouse in the back garden.

CousCous Club | Ceintuurbaan 346, De Pijp