There’s an abundance of excellent international restaurants in Amsterdam including many awesome places to have Indian food, ranging from low-key curry houses to fine-dining establishments. To help curry-lovers find their way in Amsterdam, we’ve put together the following guide to the city’s best Indian restaurants.
Mayur
Restaurant, Indian, Asian, $$$
As Mayur launched in the early 1980s, it is among the oldest Indian restaurants in the Netherlands and was founded by a well-travelled chef from New Delhi called Pramod Sharma. The restaurant’s refined menu features many items that are marinated over the course of an entire day, then slowly cooked inside an authentic tandoor oven. Diners can either order à la carte or try the restaurant’s tasting menu which includes a diverse selection of starters, curries and side dishes. Mayur exclusively uses halal ingredients and will alter dishes to suit vegetarian and vegan requirements on request.
Tulsi Indian Restaurant keeps its doors open past 11pm every night and continues to serve food well after most other late-night eats in Amsterdam have shut. There are over 100 delicious Indian dishes available at Tulsi which are all prepared by professional, experienced chefs. The restaurant has ample space for solo diners, couples and large groups, and can seat more than 150 guests at one time. During the warmer months of the year, guests at Tulsi can also enjoy their meals outside on the restaurant’s charming terrace.
This charming curry house bases its menu around classic, aromatic dishes from the Indian subcontinent, that are laced with fresh, colourful spices. Most dishes at India Roti Room have rice as an accompaniment and there are many styles of Indian bread available alongside the restaurant’s mains and starters, including naan, roti and kulcha. The restaurant is located near the eastern banks of the river Amstel, in an area called Weesperzijde which trails southward from the city’s historic centre.
Shah Jahan’s menu covers almost every base when it comes to classic, international Indian dishes and the restaurant’s mouthwatering selections of curries, sides and tandoor recipes range from fiery, full-flavoured vindaloos to milder, moorish items such as biryani and masala. The restaurant lets customers determine the intensity of their order and will hold back on certain spices if necessary. Shah Jahan is easily accessible from Amsterdam’s historic centre and is located on the north-western side of the city’s 17th century canal belt.
Due to its location on the northern side of Utrechtsestraat, this cosy restaurant is metres away from several iconic landmarks, including Amsterdam’s bustling Rembrandtplein and one of the most photogenic spots in the city, the Skinny Bridge. Meghna’s kitchen mainly serves north Indian dishes such as murgh dhansak and rogan josh and cooks many of its dishes over charcoal, in a tandoor oven. Meghna also offers takeout and delivery services, available via its website.
Since launching in 2013, Ashoka has amassed a large enough following to open two additional restaurants elsewhere in the Netherlands. Each of these restaurants serves an enticing selection of Indian and Nepalese delicacies that can be shared with others, or as individual dishes. There are plenty of vegetarian options on offer at Ashoka, as well as meat-based tandoori dishes and classic curries such as chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo. Ashoka’s original site in Amsterdam is located on a central thoroughfare called Spuistraat, which backs onto Dam Square and the city’s Negen Straatjes quarter.
In order to represent a measure of the subcontinent’s diverse culinary landscape, the minds behind Memories of India hand-picked classic recipes from different Indian provinces, then tailored their menu around these dishes. This means there’s a wide selection of mild, hot and super spicy items available inside the restaurant, including dishes that will appeal to newcomers to Indian cookery and seasoned curry lovers alike. As Memories of India lies midway down Reguliersdwarsstraat, it is within walking distance from many of Amsterdam’s most famous nighttime hangouts, such as Pathé Tuschinski cinema, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein.
This family-run restaurant has welcomed customers since 1981 and has served the same time-honed recipes for the past 30 years. Koh-I-Noor’s chefs prepare their own spices and only use fresh ingredients, to ensure that everything served in the restaurant tastes just right. The restaurant’s menu is divided into several sections that are dedicated to specific cooking styles or curry bases, such as lamb, chicken and vegetables. It is also possible to order takeaway from Koh-I-Noor and enjoy the restaurant’s mouthwatering curries or tandoori dishes at home.
