7x Surinamese food in Amsterdam
Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: 7x Surinamese food in Amsterdam.
Are you in Amsterdam and craving Surinamese? These are the places you must be. Here’s the first tip: just run towards Amsterdam-East, because that’s the place to be.
Lalla Rookh
Unlike many other Surinamese spots, at the Indo-Surinamese Lalla Rookh you can also enjoy a nice and cozy dining experience. Moksi meti, doksi, and brown beans with salted meat: the menu is endless. There’s also a huge selection for vegetarians. And if we are to believe actor Raymi Sambo, they even have ‘the best vegetarian roti ever’ here.
Did you know: The name Lalla Rookh comes from the first ship with Indo-Surinamese ‘contract workers’ that arrived in Suriname in 1873. Slavery had already been abolished, but the working conditions were not much better.
Wijttenbachstraat 290
Roopram roti
Yes, I once wrote about the roti that is better than Roopram's, but that also takes a lot more time and effort. And let’s be honest: a place that started in Suriname, then moved to Rotterdam and now has two branches in Amsterdam and one in The Hague, must be top-notch. According to FavorFlavs Sharon, the best roti really comes from here.
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Eerste Van Swindenstraat 4 and Van Woustraat 37
Ricardo’s
Does the clammy sweat break out when you see those long menus full of exotic dishes? And do you then choose the old familiar roti chicken again? Go to Ricardo’s. They have a daily changing menu with only four to five dishes, but each one is authentically Surinamese. Or as they say themselves: ‘Oeng naf borie moro, Ricardo doro!’ or: ‘You don’t have to cook anymore, Ricardo is here!’
Javastraat 47H
Albina
There’s a constant influx of trendy spots in the Pijp, but Albina remains a constant factor. Not so strange, because this has been the place to be for large portions, small prices, and friendly staff for years. Tip: it’s a Chinese-Surinamese eatery, so go for dishes like tjauw min, moksi meti, and foe yong hai.
Albert Cuypstraat 69
Spang Makandra
You might walk past this Javanese-Surinamese eatery, but don’t do that, because the food here is amazing! The beef melts in your mouth, and the gado gado, saoto soup, and chicken satay are irresistible. Also nice: besides the one in the Pijp, they also have a branch in East, Osdorp, and the Center.
Gerard Doustraat 39
Boerhaaveplein 3
Tussenmeer 227
Rozengracht 214
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Ram’s roti
Do you live in West? Don’t worry, you can also get your Surinamese fix there. Family business Ram’s Roti started in 1985 on Wijttenbachstraat in East, but has been located on Jan van Galenstraat in West for years now. Try not to order the standard roti chicken here, but go for the duck instead.
Jan van Galenstraat 107-F
Riaz
Another favorite of FavorFlavs Sharon: ‘I’ve been coming here for years; a study friend lived above this friendly place, and that was actually the main reason we studied together at her place for every exam. With spicy samoza, tillo, saoto soup, roti chicken fillet, and an extra bowl of fried tempeh. That is really addictively delicious here. And what am I saying, that also applies to the nasi pom, and actually to everything here. Really a very refined kitchen where it’s always busy.’
Bilderdijkstraat 193
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