Dèsa in Oude Pijp

Had a delicious meal and the staff was lovely as always.

We had a delicious meal, nice atmosphere. A real family restaurant. The satay was really good and the rest of the rijsttafel too!

I rarely leave reviews but this was the best meal I had in Amsterdam, I’m still thinking about it now that I’m back home. Every single dish was amazing, especially the fried rice, and the price was very reasonable for 2 people. The decoration, from the decors on the wall to the way the tables were set up, all felt very authentic and colorful without being overwhelming. The atmosphere was lively and cozy with a couple tables and not too noisy at all. But the highlight of our visit was definitely Caroline with her extremely friendly and welcoming demeanor. Our dinner felt like a meal cooked at home with love. One thing I know for sure is that I will definitely return to this place the next time I’m in Amsterdam.

It was wonderful to be able to have a fully gluten and dairy free snd still delicious rijstafal. And with delightful service. Thank you!

Got food delivered and it was incredible!! Meat was all cooked perfectly. Everything was so flavourful and all tasted different. We got the meal deal for 2 people which was so much food!

We had a delicious meal at Dèsa! The vegetarian rijsttafel was exquisite! A dream for anyone who wants to taste a bit of everything! The atmosphere and service were very cozy and friendly! Highly recommended!

Compared to the local food I've had in Indonesia, the flavors are more refined. To put it simply, it's very delicious. The spiciness is mild, the portion size is just right, and the service is simple and unpretentious. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy a meal and conversation.

Excellent food, attentive and courteous service. Excellent.

Had dinner here on a Saturday. Not too busy. We ordered the rice table for 4 pax. Everything on the menu is gluten free so that was a nice surprise for me. They allowed us to swap out beef for other items on the menu as 1 Pax does not eat beef. Staff were friendly and the restaurant was nice and spacious. The food came quickly. The food was delicious overall. Each dish was pretty yummy! (Maybe except for the fried rice which was a bit gluggy/clumpy). However, if you r a big eater, their portions may not be enough. Overall quite good experience trying out Rijsttafel.

It’s all gluten free baby! Food was delish, great place to come share with your friends. The price is what I would expect of Amsterdam

All from start to finish, we had a truly great experience at this authentic Indo family business. From the warm welcome to the attentive service, everything felt personal and genuine. The food was exceptionally well balanced, with rich, layered flavors that complemented each other perfectly. You can really taste the authenticity and care in every dish, and every bite was genuinely enjoyable. It’s clear this place is run with passion, and I would definitely come back again.

They let us in even though we didn’t have a reservation and treated us with so much kindness. Food was the best I’ve had since I’ve come to Amsterdam. I was dying for some flavour and spice and it was PERFECT. Every dish was so well prepared and thoughtfully.

We stumbled upon this place when visiting Amsterdam. We know Amsterdam has some real Indonesian cuisines to offer. But this place completely exceeded our expectations. The food is absolutely delicious. The service is on point….We ordered the Desa Ricetable set dish. The spicy dishes are not for faint of hearts.....

Terrible experience. I went to eat here with two friends on Sunday, April 5th. We were not received nicely and it seemed like they couldn't handle the crowds. We had to ask for prawn crackers while others were getting them. We ordered a rijsttafel for 3 people and it was on the table in no time. I understood why, because nothing was warm. When I mentioned it, they acted very unfriendly and there was no reaction. I then asked for the bill, wanting to leave immediately after something so bad. They also didn't have a card machine and I had to pay in cash, very strange. Apparently, they always say the card reader is broken. I had to walk to an ATM in the rain to pay in cash. They also refused to give a receipt when I asked for one. The food all tasted the same, so it wasn't special either. After my complaint, we didn't even get a complimentary cup of tea, but an angry look. I eat in restaurants often, but this was bad in every respect. NEVER AGAIN !!! Reply to restaurant comment ; —————— Dear restaurant, Your response confirms exactly why I wrote this review. Instead of taking a complaint seriously, you opt for sarcasm, mockery, and personal jabs. That says more about you than about me. I find it downright reprehensible that you feel the need to make jokes about "colonial times" because I asked for prawn crackers. A guest missing something at the table should simply be able to ask for it, without being publicly ridiculed for it later. The food was not warm, the service was unfriendly, and a normal complaint was not responded to normally — not in the restaurant, and as it turns out, not afterwards either. The fact that you dismiss my experience as "unrealistic expectations" shows that you have absolutely no interest in feedback. This response fully confirms my feelings: I will never come here again, and I strongly advise everyone I know to do the same. Anyone who treats guests like this does not deserve guests.

Amazing place! Lovely staff and delicious food!

Delicious food. I mixed up my reservation but they accommodated me. The whole menu is gluten free which is amazing. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Amsterdam.

Desa is amazing! One of my favourite restaurants in Amsterdam. The food is absolutely delicious, the family that owns it is lovely, and I’ve only had good experiences there. Get the sampler - you can try a bit of everything. Highly recommend!

The food was just fine, not the best indonesian food I ever eat, I missed 'the love' in it. The same with the service, I missed the hospitallity, I think she was doing all herself, manager , serving and everything, and was treated a bit as number. Did not really do an effort to make you feel like you want to come again. Last but not least was that we were with five people, and we wanted to split the bill. She came with the small portable pinmachine, with which it should be very easy to put two or three prices and let us each pay a part. But she said that she does not do/not able to do that... The sfeer just okay too. Missed background music

Delicious authentic Indonesian kitchen! with great friendly service!

Our first time trying Rijsttafel and we loved it. It came with small portions of various types of Indonesian home cooked food. Everything was prepared perfectly and tasted delicious. The service was equally amazing, the owners are very friendly and cared about their customers. We will definitely go back the next time we visit Amsterdam.

Great rijsttafel experience and lovely owners!

Deliciously authentic Indonesian..

very authentic indonesian food and super friendly staff!

Coming back to Desa after 5 years feels truly special. We first visited in 2019 to enjoy ketupat during Eid Mubarak, and this time, the delicious lontong sayur made our celebration just as memorable. The flavors are incredibly rich and authentic—exactly what you’d expect from Indonesian cuisine, known for its depth of spices. Dining here genuinely brings the comforting and vibrant taste of home. A special thank you to Tante Meylin for her warm hospitality—serving us with so much joy and care made the experience even more meaningful. We will definitely be back again.

2 adults: We went for the sharing plates menu, €28 pp. Wine & beer: Beer watery, wine nice when cold. Food was tasty, but some was a little on the tepid side when served. Once the plates heated up, the food was at a good temperature. Lovely service, lovely staff. I would say it was expensive for what we received. If we were to be in the area again, we may go again and try the full menu.

We had an incredibly delicious meal and the service was excellent. It's nice that it's a family business that has been around for 30 years and is halal. Highly recommended if you love Indonesian cuisine! 🥰

Lovely ambience that reminds you of Indonesia….. food was good

What a wonderful evening at Desa! We went here for dinner yesterday with my boyfriend and my parents and ordered a vegetarian rijsttafel and a regular rijsttafel. Everything was super tasty and prepared with care. The service was fantastic: two incredibly friendly waiters who helped us very hospitably. The atmosphere in the restaurant is also amazing; you really feel like you are in an authentic Indonesian restaurant for a moment. Highly recommended. We will definitely be back!

Amazing service and vegetarian options. Service was also fantastic

So loved the Rijsttafel -10 small dishes served with some steam and fried rice. One of the best chicken and peanut sauce I have ever had. Will definitely go back

Food was great, owners/hosts are very friendly, helpful, and attentive!🥹 place is very cozy and clean, authentic indonesian food. Best service ever!! Would definitely come back again

Today felt like visiting families during chinese new year.🥰 Always a homey experience with comforting dishes.

The chicken and meat was dry and hard. Terrible experience.

Server was lovely, food was really great. Coeliac and vegan friendly.

The restaurant had good reviews and an authentic look, which is why we tried it. We had both variants of the rijsttafel for 4 persons (with meat and vegetarian). Alas, we were disappointed. Overall, there was not very much food for 100 Euros and the rice we were served was luke warm. The dishes were rather bland - something you would expect from an asian buffet and not what we would have expected from a real Indonesian resturant. The fried tofu was good though.

We had a delicious meal, and the restaurant staff were incredibly sweet, helpful, and incredibly fun! We had lots of laughs together, which made the evening even more enjoyable. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was great. We'll definitely be back!

Lovely little restaurant. Nice food. Average pricing. Very small glass of wine. Overall enjoyed most of the food. We had the rice table. The one meat dish was delicious, the other one could have been more tender, the chicken one was ok.

Delicious Indonesian cuisine, served in the classic Dutch rice table style. Highly recommended and surprisingly affordable. Note: cash only, but there's an ATM next door. Well worth it!

Amazing people food was great. Go go go

The food was very delicious, but felt that the portion size for 4 people was small. It was only a taste per dish and looking at the amount of food served, it just didn’t seem substantial for the €111 price tag. She also said they didn’t have any drinking water, we could only buy bottles which I don’t believe.. she also asked we didn’t split the bill because she didn’t want to pay more than one card fee. So maybe they’re struggling. The food was honestly delicious though.

First time having Rijsttafel, fell in love with Indonesian cuisine. I visited other similar restaurants afterwards but didn’t enjoy the food so much like I did here. Food is extraordinary, the restaurant is nicely decorated and clean and the staff is very friendly and kind. Can’t wait to be back!

Had dinner here this evening 24th January 2026. Lovely food Rendang bagus. Great food ,Maylin and staff very friendly. Good atmosphere for dinner or party. Enjoy

Delicious food, friendly owner, and a lovely atmosphere. Highly recommended!

They scammed us with the portion sizes, we had the sharing meal for $32 per person for 5 of us, but the thing is they give the same amount of food no matter how many people come in. So if you have a large group of people you have to go in one person at a time if you don't want to burn money.

Delicious food, kind people. This place is a staple for us!

Great place to go with a small group (~4) for rijsttafel! The staff here are super friendly, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is nice as well 👌🏽

Great place to go with a small group (~4) for rijsttafel! The staff here are super friendly, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is nice as well 👌🏽

Had such a great meal here! Tried the rendang and it was so good, perfectly savory, rich, and full of flavor. The sambal was seriously spicy but in the best way🔥 Paired it with Teh Botol Sosro, which made it feel even more authentic. Service was top-notch, super friendly and welcoming. Definitely one of the best Indonesian comfort food spots in Amsterdam. Will 100% come back!

We had a wonderful Rijsttafel dinner here on Christmas eve. The selection of dishes was sumptuous, the taste wonderful. We particularly liked the beef rendang and the Sambel Goreng Kentang. It is also very reasonably priced. Everyone was friendly and helpful. What really impressed us was that our children even received big Christmas presents from the restaurant! Everyone left with a happy smile. We will definitely be back. Highly recommended.

I have visited Desa twice with my family. The owners of the restaurant were very friendly. In addition, the food and beverages were perfect. I would especially recommend the gado-gado and nasi rames!

Incredible! The reviews speak for themselves. Very authentic Indonesian experience, grandmother and grandfather cooking and their grandson as the waiter. The service was exceptional, very attentive, friendly, funny, made perfect recommendations. Food was outstanding, tasty, good portions, great selection. They even gave us a Christmas gift as we paid our bill. Very much recommended. 5*****

I visit Desa almost every week and it never disappoints. The food is amazing and the people who work there are incredibly kind. besides the food, the restaurant itself looks super authentic. which really adds to the whole experience. It has such a warm and inviting vibe that makes it one of my absolute favorite spots in the city. Highly recommend!

Good taste, good place, good person

Very authentic Indonesian food in NL! The food was great, the decorations was stunning, almost not felt it was in the NL. The owner was very friendly, even they can serve by themselves and had a little chat with the customer. Must TRY!

It was very good food and comfort ambience

I’ve been here multiple times. The first time happened by accident. It was raining so hard that visibility was a suggestion. They weren’t open, but the owner still let us in so we wouldn’t dissolve in the rain. She served food anyway and handed my daughter a radio toy. Unrelated to the menu, but appreciated. I returned with colleagues. They ate. Nobody complained. Came again with my uncle and aunt from the US. They also survived. Consistency is clearly part of the business model. The food is very good. “Slaps,” as people say, though no actual slapping occurred. The restaurant is unusually spacious for Amsterdam, which is confusing at first but ultimately acceptable. Portions are a discussion point. If you want a plate large enough to ruin your evening, go to a toko or cook at home. Desa gives normal portions; enough to not be hungry, not enough to question your life choices. Warm service. Solid rijsttafel. Zero drama. Would return, apparently already have.

We had a very good time at Dèsa. The food is excellent, nice service and good atmosphere. The only minor comments is that you have to pay 8 euros to get a bottle of water. Except that, all good.

Beautifully setup space with great hospitality and authentic food. Love it. Thanks to a friend who introduced me while I was visiting Amsterdam last week. Definitely come back soon!

We made a reservation at Restaurant Desa after a local highly recommended the Indonesian cuisine here in Amsterdam. Reservation was easy via email and was promptly replied to by the restaurant. The restaurant is very homely and family-run by a pure Indonesian family - we met Caroline who was extremely authentic, genuine in her service and absolutely a joy to speak with. We got the set meal for 2 pax and it was absolutely the peak of any tasting menu. The portions were more than enough for my wife and I; and each dish was authentically and (very clearly) lovingly made. Special shout out to Caroline for stopping by our table for a chat - we loved your candidness and genuineness! The laughter filled the entire room and we had a blast dining there today. We’ll be back the next time we’re in Amsterdam; and we’ll be sure to check out all your “recommendations” :) Take care and see you again soon!

i really love dine in at this restaurant, the owner's very kind ... keep it the best

Steep price increase in a year or so. No free tap water. The food was good, but not incredible and pricy. Also we could not split the bill at the end. Someone has to pay for the whole table.

Rice platter with a good price-performance ratio - decent performance.

Very good food! While on vacation in Amsterdam, we wanted to try at least one Indonesian restaurant. And we weren't disappointed. Several delicious dishes to share were in decent quantities (perhaps a bit limited for big eaters). One small drawback was the price, which we found quite high, especially a bottle of water costing 8 euros.

Our waitress was amazing, the food was perfect. The photo says it all. 4 people and shared veggie and meat options. One of our team was celiac and the restaurant does gluten free which helps a lot. We just want to package up our waitress and keep her for a sad day. Chi-ching!

Everything about the place was amazing. There were 6 of us and we had an incredible variety of food, everyone was satisfied. The artwork was beautiful and our hostess was super nice and very patient with us. When I was first dropped off by my taxi, I was met by an incredible smell of incense wafting from an unknown source. A few steps and was quite happy to discover it was coming from Desa. Highly recommend this place, it hit all the right spots.

I think it felt like I was home. I like how it felt. I like what my taste buds have experienced! I think my time with you was wonderful! I thought I knew what good food was. I think everyone should come by sometime. Thank you.:D

Everything about this restaurant is commendable. The delicious rice table sampler meal at a reasonable price is highly recommended.

Food was good and not to expensive, nice and friendly staff. Thank you!

Amazing food - all gluten-free. Really lovely service. Beautifully decorated restaurant. Our children loved it. Would go back to Amsterdam just for this.

Family resteraunt feel, very good value for money and lots of food. Spoke good english and made us feel welcome.

The food was delicious, and our waitress was really nice and attentive! Definitely recommended!

Excellent food and great service

We're always critical of Indonesian restaurants, usually finding them "too Dutch," but at Desa we had a fantastic rijsttafel (rice table), authentic flavors, delicious! Thank you, Meiling and family.

Super delicious food! Very friendly staff. Definitely recommended.

It was excellent! Thank you for the great service!

We had a delicious meal at Désa. We received a friendly welcome, and the rijsttafel had an authentic Indonesian flavor.

Not sure what it's called but the best choice, especially if you are new to Indonesian cuisine, is the assortment of different dishes, either with meat or vegetarian. Everything was delicious. They had a problem with taking credit cards when we were there. Luckily we had just enough cash. Almost all of the tables were reserved.

Underwhelming experience, portion sizes very small and all quite expensive. Food was nice but overall, 3* is the max

One of the best Indonesian restaurants in town. All dishes on the Rijsttafel were incredible, especially the Saté Chicken with Peanut Sauce! The prices were affordable as well (about 25€ p. p.). And Mei Ling was the kindest server I ever met. Check this spot out; it's worth it!

I'll start with the good: genuinely nice people, who went out of their way to provide extra service (bringing an extra dessert), and the food tasted great. Not the best Indo, but you can't always roll a 6. I think you should always be full at a rijsttafel (rice table), so the food was a bit sparse. But what's really bad is that we asked for water in addition to drinks. This ended up being a bottle of water for €8. Furthermore, the coffee afterward was €4.50, which I also find ridiculously expensive, even in the Pijp. Update: What a beautifully self-critical response from the owner, written in chat. Instead of looking for improvements, they blamed others. Top place.

Her şey harikaydı. Udin, Meling was great guys. Thanks for everything. Please try this beautiful place.

We had an amazing time at Desa. The atmosphere and the authentic delicious food took us right back to Indonesia. What made our experience really unforgettable was the kindness and hospitality of the staff. We went to celebrate our daughters birthdays and staff made it an unforgettable experience. Terima Kasih!

love it here!!! tastes amazing and really feels like homee✨

Food is OK but the bill of a table cannot be split. When you come as colleagues you can’t get reimbursement !

Generous portions! perfect to share, so bring a friend! The atmosphere has a warm, traditional Dutch-Indonesian charm, with paintings, masks, and handcrafted decorations that highlight Indonesian culture. If you’re Indonesian, it will surely bring a sense of nostalgia. I tried the rendang and buncis, and was pleasantly surprised with a complimentary batagor. The peanut sauce was absolutely spot on! I’d highly recommend this place for group dining or anyone eager to experience authentic Indonesian flavors. Truly comforting and delicious! Tip: Don’t forget to greet in Indonesian or say “terima kasih” to Tante Meiling—she’ll be delighted to teach you a few words! The cheerful staff make the experience even warmer.

Had a delicious vegetarian rice table. Friendly staff. It was €25.50 per person.

A unique dining experience available only in Amsterdam! Dining on Indonesian cuisine in the "rice table" tradition is a winner. Great food and service. I highly recommend it!

Great for gluten free!!! Very nice food!!!

First time in an Indonesian restaurant. We had a rice table where you get small portions of many dishes. Everything was tasty with exciting new flavors. Our waitress was super nice and very helpful, especially with our food allergy needs (gluten and nuts). Actually, all the dishes are gluten free, which made our Celiac girl very happy. The place itself is wide and beautifully decorated with traditional face masks and other authentic objects. A great culinary and cultural experience.

Taste ok, not so authentic....too pricy

Service was quite nice and quick. She immediately sat me down and gave me the option of the table in the back or by the window, even though it was just me. She also recommended a dish for me to try everything in one plate for 1 person. Dish was great enough, but I felt something was perhaps missing (a bit of spice?). This is the first time I had indonesian, however.

Awww! First time trying Indonesian food and it was soooooo good! So, I’m staying at a hotel near by and found this place and decided to give it a try. At the moment I came, something was happening with the credit card machine so they were only taking cash, and I literally only had 27 euros on me. Mailing was kind enough to recommend a dish and give me a bottle of water for free. I didn’t know what to expect of the food but when I tried it, my brain exploded. They just convinced me to add Indonesia to my trip! Will be back before leaving Amsterdam!

A good Indonesian spot is so hard to find but man, look no further: Dèsa should be your new go-to spot for authentic Indonesian dishes. The atmosphere is spot-on and the staff is the friendliest around. Can’t recommend it enough 🫶🏻

I was looking for authentic Indonesian cuisine and found it – the food was great and I would love to come back.

My wife and I had the two-person meal, which includes a variety of meats and vegetables. It was the best meal we had in our three weeks in Europe.

Feels like home! We came back again after 5 years and food still taste the same. Try the soto betawi is really really good. The owner Tante Meiling was really kind person , we will definitely come back again.

Amazing Indonesian food, 💯 authentic. Highly recommend!!! Great place also to try many different kind of Indonesian dishes… you can order a menu consisting of many dishes (see photo, for 3 ppl) which is served with rice and fried rice.

delicious food and incredibly friendly and hospitable people. highly recommended!

Special Dishes, Rijsttafel, having everything

The food and service were amazing! The prices were great for the amount of food and Meling and her staff were very inviting and attentive!