Best Southeast Asian restaurants in Amsterdam

Thai Thai Poppetje

With its friendly service and laid-back atmosphere, this colourful and cosy Thai street food bar is an ideal spot for friends, families and groups – there’s even a games corner. The recipes here come from Bo Bertels, the Thai-born mother of co-founder Kora Bertels, who has over 40 years of experience in the restaurant business – and it shows. We loved the signature khao soi curry noodle soup, made with crunchy fried chicken, coconut milk, crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens and veggies fresh from the kitchen garden out back. And the thod man pla (fish cakes) are some of the city’s best. On a recent visit, we also enjoyed the moo krob (crispy pork belly), the zingy tom yam soup with rice noodles, squid, prawns, oyster mushrooms and boiled egg and a tamarind sour with mekhong rum.  

Thai Thai Poppetje | Van Speijkstraat 157HS, De Baarsjes

Papa Thang

Hidden away in a residential part of Noord is the kind of place worth detouring for. A street food bistro that delivers bold flavours and creative spins on Vietnamese cuisine. Stand-out dishes include pho carpaccio with rare beef, pho-spiced oil and fish sauce caramel, traditional nems (pork spring rolls) and burnt aubergine with seaweed crunchies and Thai basil. Don’t miss Chef Tang’s signature sashimi with torched mackerel, garlic compote and the aromatic herb ngo gai and his delicious desserts, like warm coconut-banana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Regionally-inspired cocktails complement the menu.

Papa Thang | Melkdistelstraat 94, Noord

Boi Boi

This former Thai spot recently changed both its location and its menu. Now, it’s the only Lao restaurant in town. That was a smart move. The chef is from Pakse in Laos’ Isaan region, which also encompasses parts of Thailand, so some of the cuisine may seem familiar even if you’re trying Lao cuisine for the first time. While the vee kwong tod kai (chicken-stuffed rice paper rolls with a sweet chilli dip) are a safe bet, don’t miss out on the zin tod (so-called “beef jerky” strips), which are juicy and pleasantly chewy thanks to a “secret” coating. Two of the tastiest Lao staples here include laab kai, a spicy herbed chicken salad served with raw veggies and sticky rice in a traditional basket, and a green papaya salad with fiery heat and bold, bracing sourness.

Boi Boi | Pieter Vlamingstraat 56, Oost

Nyonya Malaysia Express

On the edge of the notorious Red Light District is a humble family-run Malaysian restaurant adorned with vibrant hibiscus, Malaysia’s national flower. It specialises in authentic regional dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice with vegetables and tofu), Hainanese chicken rice and snacks such as sambal telor (spicy fried eggs), udang goreng blasa (fried prawn dumplings) and shrimp spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the traditional laksa kari bami soup with its rich red curry broth, studded with tender fish strips, prawns, tofu, bean sprouts, boiled egg and silky noodles.

Nyonya | Kloveniersburgwal 38-H, Centrum

Café Amoi

The vibrant jungle-themed décor of this tributary “little sister” feels as warm and inviting as the food and service at this modern Indonesian beaut. “It’s not your granny’s Indo,” explains owner Felix Ang, “My aunt, the former chef at my parents’ old-school Indonesian restaurant, does her style of home cooking here without any concessions.” You’re also not bound to a gut-busting rijsttafel here. Instead, simply order a la carte, but don’t miss the spiced mackerel lemper (sticky rice rolls), beef spareribs with kemiri nut sauce, lamb satay and the Asem Sour cocktail (bourbon, tamarind, vanilla, lime and cardamom bitters). Fully booked? Nearby Warna Baru, by the same owner, is a great choice, too. Highlights there include fried tofu dumplings, corn fritters, outstanding daging rendang (beef slow-braised in coconut milk) and mango negronis.

Café Amoi | Kinkerstraat 53A, Oud-West

Bonjour Càphê

What started as a daytime Vietnamese coffee bar (the brews here are still next level) quickly evolved into a beloved lunch destination, offering bánh mi, sticky rice bowls and the occasional experimental tasting menu. But this Vietnamese charmer is now permanently open on many evenings too, with fusion à la carte offerings and homestyle tasting menus. Explains Vietnam-born founder Kevin Le, “I’m inspired by the street food I miss from home, sometimes using alternative ingredients. The base is always familiar flavours, but I love to play.” Expect dishes like pho pasta (rice noodles, mango, truffle, flossed pork and aged soy sauce) and braised pork with yuzu pepper sauce with steamed green onions and fermented shrimp paste.

Bonjour Càphê | Eerste Lindendwarsstraat 1, Jordaan

Kusinang Pinoy

Situated on the famous Albert Cuyp market, Kusinang Pinoy isn’t much more than a food truck with a few tables. Yet it serves the best Filipino food in the city. Everything’s 100% halal, from the delicious chicken adobo sandwiches to the caldereta (beef stew) rice bowls, iced coconut caramel coffee and snacks such as lumpia (homemade spring rolls), kwek-kwek (deep-fried eggs), suman (coconutty glutinous rice cooked in a banana leaf) and authentic desserts such as halo-halo (a multi-textured layered dessert with agar jelly, ube ice cream, crispy rice and fruits). Tip: check Kusinang Pinoy’s Instagram for their daily location.

Kusinang Pinoy | Albert Cuypstraat, De Pijp

Yangon Delight

Burmese restaurants remain sadly underrepresented in Europe. This is possibly due to a history of political isolation, a smaller diaspora and limited global awareness of Myanmar’s unique cuisine​. But with this recently opened eatery, hidden in an Eastside basement, Amsterdam now has bragging rights to the Netherlands’ first. Here, Burma-born founder Thandar Soe hopes to “share the delicious secrets of Burmese cuisine with the world”. Burmese food has complex, layered flavours and ingredients like fermented tea leaves, shrimp paste, rice and tamarind are typical. With its multi-textured mixture of crispy bean fritters, sesame, fried garlic, cabbage, tomatoes and lime, the Burmese tea leaf salad is a must-order. Other highlights include garlic-soy braised pork belly and Myanmar’s national dish moh hin gar (freshwater fish broth with lemongrass, ginger, rice noodles, eggs and crispy lotus).

Yangon Delight | Linnaeusstraat 83, Oost

Jen’s Bing Café

This popular street food café in De Plantage is known for its Taiwanese street food and housemade bubble teas. You’ll find popular dishes here like yan su yi (white pepper-dusted fried chicken), lu ru fan (braised pork rice) and bian-dang (typical lunchtime rice bowls). On a recent visit, we also enjoyed the gua bao, slow-cooked pork in a fluffy bao bun with pickled mustard greens and crunchy ground peanuts and the scallion pancakes with crispy chicken, green onions and soy-garlic sauce. The signature espresso brown sugar boba milk is not to be missed. Or order delicious fruity drinks like yuzu hibiscus and winter melon lemonade. There’s also a Jen’s Bing To Go in West, near De Hallen (Jan Hanzenstraat 21A). Ps. Yes, we know this island country is officially part of East Asia. Still, its cuisine blends influences from neighbouring South East Asia due to its proximity and historical connections.

Jen’s Bing Café | Roetersstraat 4, De Plantage / Jan Hanzenstraat 21A, Oud-West