Where to eat in Amsterdam?
Eating out in Amsterdam means choosing. The city has thousands of places and almost every cuisine in the world is represented. That is exactly what makes it hard to decide where to spend an evening, a long lunch or a late bite. This guide helps you on your way, with the focus on Turkish food.
Amsterdam is a city of choice
Italian, Asian, Surinamese, Middle Eastern: you will find it all in Amsterdam, often in the same street. That abundance is pleasant, but it also makes choosing harder. If you are looking for something savoury that can be shared and does not take all evening, you often end up with Turkish food.
Why Turkish food?
Turkish cooking is hearty and varied. There is much more than meat from the grill: soups, stews, döner, lahmacun and dishes without meat are just as much part of it. So there is almost always something that suits the whole group, even if not everyone wants the same.
Another reason: Turkish food is made for sharing. Platters arrive generously and get passed around. That makes it a good fit for dinner with friends or family, not only for a quick bite.
Dishes to start with
- Adana kebab: spicy minced lamb from the charcoal grill, the starting point for many people.
- Kuşbaşı: cubes of grilled lamb on the skewer.
- Lahmacun: the Turkish pizza, thin and crisp, as a lighter choice.
- Mercimek: lentil soup, rarely a wrong decision in winter.
- Morning soup: as in Turkey; from 9 a.m. soup and a few daily stews, the full menu from 12 noon.
If you would rather not eat meat, there is falafel, lentil soup or a vegetarian pasta. More about that in Vegetarian at a Turkish Grill.
What to look for when choosing
Quality varies a lot. Look at the grill (charcoal or not), at who makes the mince and at a menu that is broad but not endless. Look at the crowd too: a place where people from the neighbourhood come to eat, and not only tourists, usually says enough. In How to Choose a Turkish Restaurant we go through the points one by one.
With children or a group
A Turkish restaurant is ideal for a larger table. Tuana Grill has high chairs, tables for larger groups and a terrace. Coming with a lot of people? Call ahead to book: +31 20 341 6285.
And if it gets late
If you are still hungry after a night out, Amsterdam offers less choice. We are open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. at the weekend. See also Late-Night Food in Amsterdam West.
Practical: where and how
Tuana Grill is at Bos en Lommerweg 313 in Amsterdam-West, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. Until 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. at the weekend; the kitchen closes half an hour earlier. You can eat in or take away, and delivery is available through Thuisbezorgd, Uber Eats or directly through our own ordering page.
The full menu is on the menu page. After the meal every table gets tea on the house.