These are also turbulent times in Amsterdam restaurants. Energy costs have risen and opening times are limited due to the shortage of staff, while the chimney must continue to smoke. Simple golden oldies often offer nice meals for a pleasant price, but even among the newcomers you can discover something budget-friendly with a little research. Culinary journalist Petra Possel looked for things for which you can eat pleasantly and deliciously a total of 60 euros (for two persons). And pretty fun. Of course with a drink. Eight old and new budget places criss-cross the city.
East
Fook Sing Chin.Ind. and Chinese
Will appear next week the book Chin.Ind.Rest. about the Chinese food culture in the Netherlands, and Fook Sing is in it! This 33-year-old papa-mamma business offers a warm red living room where you can pick up, but you can also sit there. We take a vegetarian vegetable dish in a deep-fried dough basket: bai poa chap (15.50), wan tan soup (5.50), crispy pangsit goreng (5.00) and Cantonese char sieuw, so nice and fatty pork (16.50) . The stove is whirring, a pot of Chinese tea (3.00) and a bottle of beer (3.00) added and a pleasant chat with the cordial hostess who knows just about everyone who enters. Please make a reservation if you want to sit instead of pick up.
Old West
Mas Mais Mexican
This sympathetic taqueria from 2021 by two young men grew into a popular place in no time. Modest menu with excellent dishes, affordable wine, beer and mezcal (4.50/3.20) and good service. The tacos (9.50 per two) are made of beautiful cornmeal and filled with finely chopped and creative fillings and pico bello salsas, also without meat or fish. Another branch has been opened since our review: a marisqueria, a Mexican fish shop, with ceviche on the menu and, for example, a platter with oysters, cockles, mussels and a tartare of scallops (14.50).
Read the review from 2022: Mexican food as it should be
North
Semai Eritrean, Ethiopian
Crazy place in the Papaverhoek where since our first visit a real food strip has emerged with Cornerstore, Klaproos and Taverno Willi Becher. Fortunately, Semai has survived all the storms and you can still enjoy good East African food. Starters from 4 euros, mains 16, 17 or 18 euros, including the wedding dish: braised chicken in herbed butter. There are just as many meat dishes as vegetarian (from 15.00), all well cared for and served in a friendly manner. Above all, Semai is a journey through your imagination, because once on the first floor you imagine yourself in another world.
Also read our review from 2018: Good, simple, authentic food: really a place to come back
North
Simon White Eclectic, Asian and Indian
Just before corona, we got acquainted with the Simon de Wit eatery in Noord, a friendly business with international snacks in a former grocery building. Plenty of choice for vegetarians: fries rendang of jackfruit (12.50 or beef 13.50), gado gado (18.50) or Indian curry with potato, lentils, pickled vegetables and of course naan (18.50). In addition, also delicious pakoras, gyozas and spring rolls (7.50/8.50), also for snacking with a drink, such as a Mimosa cocktail (8.50) with fresh orange juice, prosecco and cointreau. A nice place with a terrace in the shelter of the city!
Read the review from 2020: Simple Asian, but with the full scope of the kitchen
Old south
The Old Soul Surinamese vegan
We were surprised anyway because we didn’t exactly associate Surinamese with vegan. But it does exist, Surinamese food without chicken, pork and other animal ingredients! Our visit was a direct hit: the dishes were not only creative, but also tasty and very pleasantly priced, the place is cozy. It’s a miracle that such a place, even on the edge of the expensive Oud-Zuid, can exist. Ingredients such as pointed cabbage, papaya, cassava, plantain, long beans and coconut are used to create a beautiful, full, healthy meal. Don’t forget the desserts!
Read the review from 2022: Surinamese food without fish and meat, it exists – and how
Eastern Islands
Paon Bali Indonesian
A treat to join us here: a green oasis with uncompromising Balinese food for a bargain price. The menu changes every week (fish, meat, vegetarian plate always available on Friday and Saturday), fixed price is 16.50 euros. We ate nasi languan: spicy fish, such as satay lilit, steamed bonito in banana leaf, anchovies in sweet ginger, steamed vegetables with coconut, fish soup with cucumber, a total of eleven dishes (including condiments). Everything finely sliced, richly seasoned, and a marvel of design on one plate. You take drinks to your table yourself, the couple stands behind the counter to make the takeaway customers happy as well as the guests. Always reserve!
Buitenveldert
Ishii Okonomiyaki Japanese
Sometimes we are still awakened by the image of this restaurant’s menu: dozens of photos with Japanese captions, no idea what to eat, stress of choice. Fortunately, we have learned and we can warmly recommend the namesake okonomiyaki (from 17 euros). A savory pancake based on flour, egg, dashi and cabbage, topped with your choice: squid, shrimp, pork or beef, fish, vegetables or cheese, topped with a thick, sweet okonomiyaki sauce and kewpie mayonnaise. Lots, heavy, greasy and yet with that well-known Japanese refinement, so it exists! Japanese home cooking, including many other good dishes, all for a reasonable price.
Read the review from 2018: Direct hits in pleasant business: the Japanese themselves eat here
Centre
The Guardian Angel European, Dutch
Nice old-fashioned (dining) café with crowds bordering on hysteria at weekends, it is a bit quieter in the dining area. We came here when it was still a literary café, but mainly enjoyed jam sessions by jazz musicians. On a Saturday evening we eat cauliflower soup (6.50) and escabeche, pickled fish (9.50), followed by salsify with sauce gribiche (cold egg sauce) and polenta (17.50) and trout in brown butter (17.50) . Quite coarse but good food and plenty of choice for vegetarians, friendly service, fine wine at 4.30 euros (in the city centre!), free tap water. Bonus: Pinball! Next time we will come on Monday or Tuesday.