De Japanner in Oude Pijp

We had a super delicious meal. A cozy, intimate restaurant. If I lived nearby, I would come back here every week.

This was my first time trying Japanese cuisine, and although I was initially prejudiced, I loved everything I ate. We ordered edamame, gyoza, chicken katsu, and uramaki, and they were all delicious. The atmosphere was lovely, and the staff were friendly.

Super tasty, super atmospheric, super staff. ( for oldies like me, the music is quite loud 😂)

On our last night in Amsterdam, my wife and I were looking for a break from Heineken and bitterballen and searched for lighter bites in the De Pijp neighborhood, when we stumbled upon this place. What. A. Gem. It wasn’t an obvious choice, especially when we arrived as the local street market was breaking down the stalls and cleaning up the street trash outside. But these people know how to take care of you. Everything is made with intention and love. The dishes are made to share and come out as they are prepared, fresh and paced so that you’re never overwhelmed by too many plates on your table. It’s an intimate experience, with servers who are neither overbearing or far out of reach. The menu is simple and delicious. It has a very nice list of Japanese sake and whisky, and the cocktails are beautiful. We left in a perfect mood, neither full or hungry. The spinach salad was perfectly dressed and the Saikoro beef steak melts in the two sauces that accompany it. I cannot recommend highly enough. Such a nice send off from Amsterdam. Also, for two Gen Xers/Xennials, we loved the late 90s R&B soundtrack of Jay Z, Blackstreet, etc. 10/10

Really enjoyed the delicious food again 🎊

Very enjoyable, nice food, beautiful staff!

We had a lovely dinner there, the food was good but not special, for a Japanese restaurant I think the sushi can be improved. Really friendly staff, great location.

Fantastic food, very friendly people, very affordable

Top service, atmosphere, prices, and of course the food. Unique in Amsterdam!

The food was a mixed bag. A few dishes were pretty bland and average, others were quite tasty, but nothing really blew me away

What a lovely spot on Albert Cuypstraat. We had a fantastic meal here recently, and the atmosphere was very pleasant from the very first minute. The gyoza were perfectly prepared and came beautifully presented on a dark plate with a bed of finely chopped cabbage. Everything tasted fresh and was prepared with great care. We will definitely be back here again.

Marijn helped us out wonderfully! What a lovely, pleasant place to eat and enjoy....

One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to

Fun, busy place but excellent food and gluten free options

Food was great, but quite pricy for very small portions. Great service and cool, albeit really loud, atmosphere. Recommend!

We absolutely love this place, a note to the owners – your yuzu margaritas were incredible! Definitely worthwhile keeping that special on the main menu if you can – at least in the summer! Every single dish was delicious, and the service was great too! Thank you so much for a great evening

Update: new date night on Thursday and again a great experience and a shout out to Seth 🍶 Date night on Tuesday at De Japanner on the Albert Cuyp turned out to be such a great surprise. We were welcomed in a very warm way by the hostess which immediately set the tone for the evening. We went for the ten course menu and started with a beautiful sake that perfectly opened the experience. From there every dish felt like a small celebration. Creative, full of flavour and clearly prepared with care. You can really feel how much the team loves what they do. The staff took time to explain the drinks and dishes with real enthusiasm which made the night even more special. This place has that mix of relaxed atmosphere and seriously good food. Definitely becoming one of our go to spots whenever we are in De Pijp.

Exceptionally good Japanese food, every bite a delight. The chef's menu was an experience!

If you like Izakaya ambience and food, I can highly recommend. Also a good Beer and Japanese whisky selection. Casual dining that is delicious.

I have been going to De Japanner since the very first year they opened, and the food is always good and the atmosphere is cozy, nice and relaxed, and everyone is welcome. Guido (through a friend of mine) is always ready to greet you, and the staff is always nice. And, not entirely unimportant, they also have an incredibly good playlist, so all in all, it is a complete experience. The coffee is also highly recommended, so if you are wondering whether you should eat here? 100%. Enjoy your meal! 💪

Awesome! Best Japanese restaurant without Japanese people ;)

If you sit directly under the speaker, the music does become distracting at some point (too loud). Otherwise, everything is great!

We had a delicious meal and received very friendly service. We hadn't made a reservation, but they were able to arrange a spot at the bar. Fantastic sake!

Amazing food and service. They don’t have a lot of seating so might need to make a reservation but definitely worth it!

Great food, super friendly and helpful staff and great Japanese ambiance. Very easy to adapt the menu for food allergies or specific diets. Would definitely recommend this restaurant, and will go back soon!

Great atmosphere and delicious food, reasonable pricing

simply incredible, lovely food and great price-quality! the salmon crispy rice was our favourite, it’s got a touch of spice and melts in your mouth, great service and atmosphere too, thank you!

The food was delicious, but the price-performance ratio was really not good.

Always a fantastic meal with great food and attentive staff. The steak is a game changer

The food was delicious! Especially the Salmon & the Gyoza. The Service was very friendly and spread a good vibe. The atmosphere is cozy and cute.

Great food. Buzzy place 😊. Highly recommend

Excellent food, great service and atmosphere. Be sure to make a reservation.

Partner and I ordered six or seven plates and were blown away by each. Dessert and espresso after the meal was a delight. The servers were prompt and kind (gave us recommendations for breakfast and knocked us out). The music and decor were wonderful. I will definitely return when possible.

The famous shared dining, which is still explained at the table in 2026, is very special ;) I'm not a huge fan, but it's fine every now and then. However, the appetizers were hardly shareable. They really shouldn't call it that; this is shared drinks. After seven dishes for two people, both were still almost as hungry as when they arrived. Most of them were really delicious, but the filling was minimal. A shame, because I think you can easily supplement the menu with some larger side dishes. Two more facts: the service was very pleasant, but the tables were very close together. Overall, adequate, but I wouldn't immediately think again.

Nice atmosphere but the food was disappointing

The roll was not good but vibe was nice

The Japanese Restaurant - Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam The food is good, the service is good, the staff is friendly, and you're greeted immediately upon arrival. It's not a large restaurant, so I recommend making a reservation. Even after 8 pm, the restaurant was full on a weekday. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I’m a regular at their location in Oud West, but the original here in De Pijp has a specific energy that’s so fun. It’s an Izakaya-style setup, so it’s all about small plates and sharing. The salmon tataki and the katsu sando are staples for a reason—don't skip them. Great drink menu too, the highballs are always crisp. What I like most is how versatile it is. It’s a fun place to catch up with friends, but I’ve also come here alone while traveling for work and felt totally comfortable sitting at the bar with a snack and a beer. The neighborhood is also one of my favs in Amsterdam to just wander around before or after dinner. It gets busy, so maybe head over a bit early, but it’s definitely worth the visit.

Friendly staff. We had the Chef's menu. It took a while for the first dish to arrive. The mushrooms and spinach were good, but the last dish was overflowing. The sashimi was served a bit too cold. And the dessert didn't taste fresh. The food is OK for the price, but I wouldn't eat there again anytime soon.

Our order was delivered over a period of time. I really enjoyed this as we could take our time with the food and really enjoy it. I recommend to order a few dishes as it's not one main meal. I really liked the options and all tasted very good

Very tasty food, good service and also cheap

Excellent food and fast, friendly service. A relaxed atmosphere.

Fantastic food and always a pleasant experience at the Japanese restaurant

This was my third time at the Japanese restaurant. I haven't had such good squid in a long time. So tender and soft, not chewy at all! And actually, everything was delicious and of very good quality. PS We were sitting right under the music box, so that was a bit less pleasant.

Always delicious food and a varied selection. The chef's menu is highly recommended and can be customized to suit any preference! Plus, the atmosphere is cozy and the staff is friendly and attentive.

I recently dined at De Japanner on a Sunday evening. While we did enjoy the five small plates we ordered, waiting 45 minutes for five pieces of gyoza and 1.5 hours for the rest of our plates was truly absurd. We originally planned to order more plates based on our favorites, but by the 1 hour mark, we knew that would no longer be a feasible option based on the slow kitchen service. I was so eager to dine at De Japanner, but unfortunately, I do not plan to return after this experience.

Everything on the menu is delicious. I might have even tried it all by now. You can't go wrong with this place. One of my top recommending in De Pijp.

The food was delicious and the bone marrow special was wonderful. Friendly staff and good vibes.

perfect combination of great service, relaxed atmosphere and delicious food. the menu was izakaya style, so for 2 people the 3 dishes we got were more of a snack than a meal. nevertheless, everything we ate was delicious!

The food was really good. High quality and flavorful! The service was relaxed and attentive. Very friendly and cozy! The location is nice and, above all, very central. The clientele and target audience are truly mixed. This is a wonderful place and I will definitely return! ❤️

Really super tasty food and top service

The food was delicious! It's a shame we had to leave so quickly (to catch a show), because we would have loved to try some of the dishes again!

Really good value for money if you take tasting menu. Staff excellent. Place is a bit tight but somehow it works. Will come back.

Incredibly delicious, the place is lovely, and the staff are friendly. It's become a must-visit place every time I come to Amsterdam.

Super delicious food and friendly service. Definitely recommended.

Thanks 🙏🏻 it was great as always!

Food is fresh and delicious, well-portioned, and worth the price. Service is also wonderful and really friendly. Definitely recommend it!

My absolute favorite restaurant in Amsterdam. The staff is extremely professional, yet kind, considerate and approachable. Food and drinks are curated, full of flavor and never boring. They also offer gluten free alternatives for almost all the dishes and are very careful with allergies. 10/10

I live next door, and I have been there many times. Last night, still as a neighbor, I celebrated with my friends that I picked up the keys to a new place in the Jordaan. The Japanner is a place that has a special place in my heart, and I will keep coming back again and again. With love, Bart.

AMAZING food with the price reasonable to its quality. Very nice service. I strongly recommend this place.

Chef’s menu was amazing - only 42.5 EUR to taste 13 dishes. Each portion was small, but together they were filling and delicious . Hot sake carafe and cocktails were great too. great value for money , and great service

Delicious food, super friendly and prestigious staff, wonderful for a relaxed and cozy dinner.

Wow, what a great evening!! The food was absolutely delicious, and even though we arrived at 10 p.m., they were still able to serve us food and drinks. I was pleasantly surprised! This was my first time, but definitely not my last. ❤️ Great host and friendly staff too!

As always we had a great time, service and atmosphere was fantastic. Food is good and the sake the best.

Very disappointing ! The food is good but the portions are rather small. Be extra careful about the bill. The price on the menu may be not what you’re charged.

Interesting Japanese, nice place even if a little dark, but the glazed aubergine is worth the evening, it's delicious!!

A really nice place and delicious food!!! Definitely recommended.

I've been to De Japanner several times now and it never disappoints! The food, drinks, atmosphere and service are always on point.

I had a great time at De Japanner yesterday when celebrating a friend’s birthday! We tried many different dishes, the pork baos, tatakis, crispy rice, uramakis and the cheesecake and brownie for dessert! The staff was very friendly as well and did a little birthday surprise for my friend!

Very underwhelming. We dined with 3 people, one with different dietary need (vegetarian). We asked if the food would be served in a "shared plates" manner, it would be. What happened next was each plate came out one by one, once with a +10-minute time in-between. Meaning, the vegetarian had to watch the others eat 50% of the time. At one point, it took 20 minutes to get a vegetation dish. If everything had been brought to the table at once or with less time between, it would have been fine. Halfway through we asked if the plates would be coming one by one, the answer was "Yes and sometime 2 at a time" the latter never happened. The only thing coming all at once was the dessert. The food itself was fine/good, depending on who you would ask, some dishes like the rice cubes missed seasoning. The atmosphere was very lacking for us. The music, and thus the guest as well. We had trouble understanding some of the staff at some times, and they had trouble understanding us. There was no language barrier. BUT this could be experienced as a massive plus! They did explain their vibe as izakaya-style on the website. From all the recommendations, we just did not think it would be this loud. At the end, when some bar guests left, it became more like a dining experience. All by all it was 2 stars. Because of the way the food was served. It could easily be a 3 or more if it was not such a weird eating experience of waiting for food to come. This being said, now we know what to expect, we would come back for a snack and a drink. Not to dine.

The food was very tasty, but it took a very long time to arrive. I would still go there again, but not on a Saturday night ;)

Delicious food and good service, loved it!

Amazing experience! The place is very cute (maybe a little dark for my taste), the staff is very knowledgeable: Celine is very good, she made me the best Bloody Mary of my life. Vili, the waiter, was super kind... he knows how to put you at ease and is always smiling. The quality/price ratio is excellent, the food is very good... so I would definitely recommend this place. I had excellent herring sashimi, salmon and avocado uramaki, spicy salmon crispies, and a special espresso martini. I will definitely be back if I ever come back to Amsterdam! Thank you so much for this wonderful experience ☺️

I had dinner with some friends and had a really good time. The service was very kind and friendly, and the waiter, Vili, who served us, was very professional. The food was truly excellent, and the atmosphere was wonderful, though perhaps a little dark for my taste. I really enjoyed it. If I ever come back to Amsterdam, I'll definitely be back. I'm truly happy. Thank you so much for this experience. It's really hard to find such friendly and cheerful people.

Excellent small plates, friendly staff and lively crowd.

The food is ok I mean not that special not the best ingredients but well made. I can see that chefs are putting good effort in it. It did not feel like quite Japanese it was more like Asian inspired food (some meals are fusion like Bao buns, kimchi etc.) Service was a bit slow however the service employees were nice. Unfortunately, it is expensive for what you get.

Delicious simple dishes and healthy

The food and service was great. It's a very noisy place and it was difficult to have a conversation across the table.

Great restaurant for a late dinner

We chose the chef’s menu of 42.5€ and they scammed us, giving us plates of the value of max 25/30€, not honest restaurant

We're used to quite a bit of food (price/quality/atmosphere), but in our opinion, this restaurant is one of Amsterdam's "gems." We had a delicious meal paired with sake, and as a nightcap, we were served a rather special sake. Thanks!! Update: We went back for dinner last Thursday, August 21, 2025, and the above review remains the same!

we have ordered the chef’s menu of 42.5€ and they scammed us giving us plates of a total value of 25/30€ max. scammers

Always a great experience at Japanner! 🩷

Good Food, but WAY to expensive for what you get.

Great place and delicious food!

Delicious food, good service, and a nice atmosphere. We do think we got the same amount of food this time with the chef's menu four times as when we ordered it twice for two people. Otherwise, we enjoyed it!

Where do I begin? What an evening! I enjoyed everything from the service to the delicious dishes, which were truly unique in Japanese culture. Special thanks to Robert and Brett for the superb service!

This is such a fantastic restaurant! I go there often and always for the set menu, which I highly recommend. Yesterday, after a previous drinks reception, I went for a few individual dishes, including the steak and marrow special, which was incredibly delicious thanks to all the flavors, and the plum wine/liqueur to finish. The quality, presentation, and taste never cease to amaze me; the quality is always consistent. The staff is attentive and so relaxed, even though it's always busy. And what's so great is that later in the evening, everyone comes back for cocktails and individual dishes. It's a bit like a Spanish tapas bar, but with a Japanese twist, because the kitchen is open until very late. I always enjoy their food; it's one of my absolute favorites in Amsterdam. See you soon!

Very nice food and sharing concept and top notch service

Variety of tasty dishes. Good prices. Excellent service. Great decoration and illumination. Just a bit too loud the music. Besides that, all perfect.

Delicious food and friendly service!

The food was mid at best. The Wagyu Gyozas tasted only like vegetables, not like meat and they were spicy even though they didn‘t mention it on their menu and the bao tasted mostly like vinegar. The Sushi and the Katsu was good though. Also you need to order a lot and therefore pay a good amount of money to not stay hungry. The place is very narrow and the staff can barely move between the tables.

Most of them are delicious, but not authentic Japanese taste The cuttlefish chips and barbecued pork buns were delicious, the eggplant was too sweet, the sushi didn't look good, and the lychee cocktail was too sweet and tasted like potion.

This place was great! We tried 6 items off of the menu and every one of them was delicious. My favorite wase either the chicken katsu or the waygu gyoza. They bring out food as it's ready which meant we didn't have to wait long at all before we got our first dish. We tried the sake as well as the cocktails and everything was great. Our server was also so attentive and kind! Would definitely go back.

Interesting take in traditional Japanese fare, excellent sake list and pleasant environment.

Tried herring sashimi, beef tataki, hiratske mushrooms and uramaki (spicy salmon) and they were all underwhelming. I had high expectations so it was a disappointing experience. The service was okay.

Absolutely fantastic—we were very satisfied in every way. Unfortunately, the menu was larger than our appetite... we would have loved to try all the dishes ☺️.

If you are looking to fill your belly before a rave night, this place can definitely help. Fresh seafood and perfectly cooked rice. I liked the low lighting as it gives the place a cozy and comfortable vibe. The service was average since it took them a while to notice I was there or to come take my order.

Good Japanese bar with diverse, tasty food. Kitchen stays open until 11 PM which is convenient. Service was good and the food was flavorful. Nice option for late dining.

Amazing food, very nice staff and nice atmosphere. Still a favorite spot!