I don’t know what it says about us Indonesian that after flying across three continents, the first meal we chose to eat was Indonesian. For both lunch and dinner. Good thing Amsterdam is filled with Indonesian — both people and food.
Rijsttafel
Rijsttafel (rice table) might sound Dutch, but it derives from Indonesian culture. It’s the tradition of eating together and sharing the food with loved ones. The food choices vary greatly and are served on multiple plates. Accompanied by a big bowl of rice which takes place in the centre, along with many side dishes.
I might be biased, but I think Rijsttafel, or as we local calls it “makan tengah”, is the best way to enjoy food.
Kantjil
For lunch we chose stumbled upon a restaurant called Kantjil & de Tijger. Knowing Kantjil is an Indonesian word, we assumed it’s an Indonesian restaurant. Ding ding ding!
The restaurant seemed dead inside on that day, but it might have to do with us entering the place at almost around 3 PM — which was my bad for loading my friends with the most delicious stroopwafels only a few hours before.
Though Kantjil has Rijsttafel option, we each ordered rice bowls instead. It looked like a hybrid of Gado-Gado (mixed vegetables drizzled with spicy peanuts sauce) and white rice.
The food tasted okay at best and the place lacked the familiar Indonesian warm vibes. In short, it’s nothing to write home about (but not that bad that I still want to mention it on this blog).
KANTJIL & DE TIJGER Spuistraat 291-293 1012 VS Amsterdam
Sampurna
Dinner was a whole different affair. We went to a semi-fine-dining Indonesian restaurant together with my cousin who lives there. Sampurna didn’t disappoint our jet-lagged souls. We ordered two set meals with a few more side dishes to go with it, essentially making it Rijsttafel too.
The service was good and the sambal was potent. This Indonesian approves it.
Sampurna Singel 498S 1017 AX, Amsterdam +31 20 625 32 64 info@sampurna.com
Indonesian Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in Seoul at Bakso Bejo Korea / It’s Java Authentic Indonesian Street Food in Auckland / Makan A Celebration of Indonesian Cuisine in Melbourne / Rasa Rosa A So So Indonesian Food in Canberra / Indonesian Restaurants in Cairns.
Follow me on Instagram@KultureKween for more recent updates.
[…] Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in […]
[…] Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in […]
[…] Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in […]
[…] Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in […]
[…] Food Around the World series: A Cheat Sheet for Indonesian Food in London / Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam / Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal in Switzerland / Authentic Indonesian Food in […]
[…] more: Indonesian food in London // Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam // Authentic Indonesian Street Food in Auckland // Indonesia Food in Zurich My Most Expensive Meal […]
[…] to Sayur Plecing (veggies with Balinese sambal and a sprinkle of peanuts), from street food to Rijstaffel, from rice to Rawon and from Javanese to Balinese […]
[…] my best life travelling around Scandanavia with my best friend. During this, I wrote about Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam and said Hi […]
[…] of my overseas Indonesian food adventure: Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam 🍲 Indonesian Eating Indonesian Food in Zurich Switzerland 🍲 Last Day in […]
[…] life travelling around Scandanavia with my best friend. During which I wrote about Rijsttafel-ing Indonesian Food in Amsterdam and said Hi […]
[…] the evening we picked our cousin and went to Sampoerna, another Indonesian food feast. Full, cold but very happy we walked around to find the small cafe that sells the best space […]