{"id":19948,"date":"2025-01-09T17:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T17:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/amsterdam\/16-of-the-best-asian-restaurants-in-amsterdam\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T17:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T17:34:09","slug":"16-of-the-best-asian-restaurants-in-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=19948","title":{"rendered":"16 of the Best Asian Restaurants in Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"


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I do realise that Asia is a large continent and that trying to cover restaurants from so many diverse countries in one article is a bit bonkers. And in fact, I\u2019ve written separate articles about Indonesian rijsttafel<\/a>, Indian restaurants<\/a> and ramen joints<\/a> \u2013 because those three cuisines are so well represented in Amsterdam. But for many other restaurants that would loosely fall into the \u201cAsian\u201d category \u2013 Chinese restaurants serving dumplings or hotpot, for example, Japanese restaurants serving sushi or street food, Thai restaurants or Vietnamese restaurants \u2013 there simply aren\u2019t enough in Amsterdam that I\u2019d recommend to make it worthwhile to publish a separate post. So with that in mind, here are my (fairly scant) recommendations: from Asian fusion to Chinese dim sum, and from Japanese sushi to Vietnamese pho.<\/p>\n

Want to eat more than Asian food in Amsterdam? Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n

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Best Asian fusion restaurant in Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A-fusion<\/em><\/h3>\n

As a restaurant critic, I rarely tend to go back to places more than once or twice. I make an exception for A-fusion<\/a>: an always bustling Asian fusion restaurant in Amsterdam\u2019s very own Chinatown, which stretches along the Zeedijk north of Nieuwmarkt and down a few of the alleyways that run off it. I\u2019ve been regularly frequenting A-fusion since 2008, and I always leave my dining choices in the hands of the kitchen \u2013 ordering the fantastic \u201cBib Gourmand\u201d menu. Whatever they bring is a delight, but I\u2019d recommend adding some steamed oysters and truffle-beef sushi \u2013 because you\u2019re worth it.<\/p>\n

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Fancy sushi at A-fusion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Oriental City<\/em><\/h3>\n


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There aren\u2019t a great many Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam worth writing home about, but if you\u2019re craving dim sum head to Oriental City<\/a> in the Red Light District. Split over several floors and adorned with decorations that transport you straight to the Orient, the restaurant is well-known for its extensive tea selection and its huge dim sum menu. Much more than just dumplings, Oriental City\u2019s Cantonese dim sum ranges from steamed prawn balls to sweet water chestnut pudding.<\/p>\n

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Not just dumplings: dim sum selection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sea Palace<\/em><\/h3>\n

Alternatively, if you like your Chinese food with a big helping of kitsch, hop on board the enormous floating Sea Palace<\/a> \u2013 a boat in the shape of a Chinese pagoda moored just to the east of Centraal Station. You can\u2019t miss it. Sea Palace also serves a good dim sum menu, but they offer other Cantonese dishes, Beijing duck and Sichuan cuisine as well (more on that below). It might look like a tourist trap but the food is actually surprisingly good.<\/p>\n

China Supreme<\/h3>\n

Tucked down south in Buitenveldert, China Supreme<\/a> specialises in thick, hand-pulled noodles that stem from Northwest China. I\u2019d watched a video of someone making hand-pulled noodles years ago, then thought \u201cthat looks complicated, I wonder where I can get someone to make them for me?\u201d All of which led me (eventually) to China Supreme, where I ordered the Biang-Biang noodles for lunch. The noodles themselves tasted sort of like a dumpling in noodle format, and they came with braised pork belly, a sweet & sour tomato and egg sauce, bok choy and chilli oil. Delicious, but you\u2019ll be hoping for a nap afterwards.<\/p>\n

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Biang-biang noodles at China Supreme<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jinweide<\/h3>\n

Around six months after visiting China Supreme, I discovered Jinweide<\/a> \u2013 also making authentic Chinese hand-pulled noodles in various formats, and doing it very well indeed. You can watch the chefs pull the noodles in front of you, and pick which thickness of noodle you want in your meal. We went for the wide, flat ones in the spicy cold noodle dish, and the thinner round ones in our beef noodle soup. Both were full of flavour (especially if you get the spicy version like we did), and come with some exceptionally moreish salads on the side. A great value taste of Northwest China!<\/p>\n

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Jinweide\u2019s beef noodle soup with hand-pulled noodles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best Sichuan restaurants in Amsterdam <\/strong><\/h2>\n

China Sichuan Restaurant<\/em><\/h3>\n

The Sichuan province of China is best known for its ultra-spicy dishes that are not for the faint of palate \u2013 taking their heat primarily from dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. If you love to feel the burn, head straight to the aptly named China Sichuan Restaurant<\/a>. I was a big fan of their fiery yet silky mapo<\/em> tofu and their fabulously named \u201cants on trees\u201d: a spicy combination of minced pork, glass noodles, spring onions and seaweed. But everything I tried was bold, punchy and spot-on.<\/p>\n

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Fiery map tofu at China Sichuan Restaurant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yuan\u2019s Hot Pot <\/em><\/h3>\n

For excellent Chengdu-style hotpot, don\u2019t miss Yuan\u2019s Hot Pot<\/a> \u2013 now with three locations in Amsterdam. Gather your friends and sit around a steaming vat of broth while you dip assorted skewers of meat, fish or veggies into it until they\u2019re cooked. There are two types of broth to choose from: one spicy and one mild, although you can hedge your bets and opt for half and half. You also get to mix your own dipping sauce from the wide variety of condiments lined up at the counter. Sichuan hot pot is perhaps one of my favourite communal dining experiences.<\/p>\n

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Yuan\u2019s Hot Pot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam <\/strong><\/h2>\n

De Japanner<\/em><\/h3>\n

Although De Japanner<\/a> calls itself a street-food concept, it\u2019s not actually a food truck or a market stall out on the street. Although its first branch does occupy a venue along the Albert Cuypmarkt, so perhaps that kind of counts? The style of food, however, is definitely small bites that you can eat with your hands (or perhaps a pair of chopsticks). Think kimchi gyoza, herring sashimi, beef tataki and chicken katsu. For the price and the atmosphere, it\u2019s a good-value, fun night out. Plus, it\u2019s open till midnight. Now with four locations.<\/p>\n

Sushi Fanatics <\/em><\/h3>\n

No article featuring Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam would be complete without at least one recommendation for traditional, high-quality sushi, where every authentic piece is crafted by hand. That\u2019s what you\u2019ll find at Sushi Fanatics, where they are (as the name suggests) fanatical about sushi. If you eat upstairs, you\u2019ll even get to sit at a traditional low-slung Japanese table on a cushioned bank on the floor \u2013 although people with knee problems would be advised to sit downstairs. You can order individual pieces of nigiri or rolls of 4-8 pieces from Sushi Fanatics\u2019 menu<\/a> (also available for takeaway and delivery). But to get a broader taste experience, go for one of three \u201ccombo\u201d options made up of 13 pieces of sushi \u2013 one being more traditional, one more creative, and one vegetarian. Sushi Fanatics also has an extensive sake list featuring sakes in a range of different styles \u2013 ideal for the sake newbie wanting to try a few options.<\/p>\n

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Sushi Fanatics: fanatical about sushi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OTEMBA-gyoza<\/h3>\n

OTEMBA<\/a> were first known in Amsterdam for their ramen (and I\u2019ve written a whole separate article about ramen<\/a>), but in February 2024 they opened a second branch in de Pijp \u2013 this time specialising in gyoza. And who doesn\u2019t love a dumpling? They serve them three different ways \u2013 naked with a slick of mayo, \u201csoaked\u201d in a dressing, and swimming in broth \u2013 and we tried all three. I absolutely loved the chicken gyoza in tonkotsu<\/em> broth, not least because it\u2019s like a mini bowl of ramen and gyoza in one. But the hoisin veggie gyoza soaked in cha siu<\/em> dressing was a flavour bomb as well: sweet, savoury and silky. Try them all!<\/p>\n

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Chicken tonkotsu gyoza at OTEMBA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best Vietnamese restaurants in Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before Japanese ramen hit Amsterdam, we were all eating Vietnamese pho \u2013 and there are a couple of places serving up a decent bowl of steaming beef broth in Amsterdam. Pho 91<\/strong><\/a> is a relaxed and affordable spot next to the Albert Cuypmarkt for a bowl of soup and other Vietnamese specialities. While Little Saigon<\/strong><\/a> serves great Vietnamese sandwiches, spring rolls and pho at branches in both Chinatown and Noord.<\/p>\n

Best Thai restaurants in Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even when I first moved to Amsterdam in 2006, Thai food was one of the few \u201cethnic\u201d cuisines that already existed here. Serving the usual mix of curries, stir-fries, pad Thai and salads, I\u2019ve always liked Little Thai Prince<\/strong><\/a> in Chinatown, which looks basic but the food is reliably good. For something a little more upscale, try Kinnaree<\/strong><\/a> in the Jordaan.<\/p>\n

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Spicy noodles at Bar Mash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, there\u2019s now a new generation of Thai restaurants that are reinventing themselves as a hotspot for a night out \u2013 rather than somewhere with the traditionally kitsch d\u00e9cor. For Thai beers, cocktails, music, sharing platters of Thai appetisers and (of course) noodles and curries, try Bar Mash<\/strong><\/a> in de Pijp (also serving very reasonably priced lunchtime options). For a party atmosphere and a wide selection of local beers, try Boi Boi<\/strong><\/a> on the Dapperstraat in Oost.<\/p>\n

Want to eat more than Asian food in Amsterdam? Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n

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This article is now available as a mobile app. To download it for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Amsterdam<\/a> on GPSmyCity.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n