Kartika in Helmersbuurt

Charming restaurant, excellent food, impeccable service! We will definitely be back!

My brother and I are visiting Amsterdam from the US. We wanted to try out some Indonesian cuisine and luckily we stumbled into Kartika- great food, great atmosphere, but best of all was our server. He brought the energy from the moment we sat down and gave us a very authentic experience. I highly recommend Kartika to anyone in Amsterdam looking for an authentic Indonesian experience.

Excellent Indonesian restaurant with lovely owners. We chose the tasting menu with several different dishes, all very tasty and with excellent quality. We were lucky to get a table without reservation, so make sure to reserve in advance. One note: It is a small business and credit card companies charge some commission, so pay cash if possible (also preferred by the restaurant) Definitely a spot to come back

A very good restaurant with a friendly welcome. The waiter advised us on our menu choices. The food was very good, although the portions were a little small for four people. We will return.

very nice and clean place, we eat very well and the staff is very kind and friendly !

Lovely food and people. Would definitely return.

Fantastic food, friendly and welcoming service. Probably the best meal we have eaten since arriving in Amsterdam last week. We would certainly recommend it and would go there again if we were staying longer. We highly recommend the restuarant.

Excellent restaurant, delicious flavors, perfectly spiced dishes, pleasant service. A great find! 😍

The food was great and the attention even better, I fully recommend this places, also the portions are great for 2 or 3 people

Amazing food, only problem they only accept cash

Incredible food paired with outstanding service. We got the Ramayan rice table for 5 people and we enjoyed each and every dish. Most importantly, we felt right at home with the warm service delivered by Michael and his colleagues. They took amazing care of us and we left knowing we would come back again soon. This place is a must-try if you like Indonesian food!

Kartika gives a customer service experience that was unparalleled during our time in Amsterdam. Highly recommend coming here for a delicious meal and to be treated like royalty.

This is a really amazing restaurant that we would highly recommend. Our waiter was incredibly sweet and respectful, and he just kept bringing more courses, we couldn’t believe how much was included in the rijsttafel! We were so full by the end of it but everything was absolutely delicious and the staff’s service is perfect. Well done and thank you!!

The Indonesian restaurant Kartika has been around for a long time, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the food there in the past. Apparently, the restaurant has continued under the same name, with a new owner. The interior decor was different, and the diners were exclusively tourists. Both the nasi goreng and bami goreng rames special were inferior. I intended to return my plate of food but decided to have it warmed up first because the noodles were cold and stuck together. The chicken, rendang, and satay were of poor quality. The egg and tofu didn't seem fresh. The amount of vegetables was minimal. Ultimately, to avoid disrupting the atmosphere at the table, I finished my meal and paid. When paying, I mentioned that the quality of the food was poor and disproportionate to the €60 we paid for the nasi goreng/bami goreng rames special. They didn't ask what was wrong. It's a shame, because as an owner, you can learn from a less-than-ideal customer experience and make adjustments if necessary. I'm extremely disappointed that the good name of the former restaurant Kartika is being misused. I hope you take the negative reviews seriously and improve the quality. The service was excellent, by the way. Sincerely, Monique

A fantastic meal and very well priced! The servers were so kind and so clearly cared about the food and the experience. We did the tasting menu and would come back again and again!

Fantastic value, hospitality, and food. Great selection of different key dishes.

Really nice Indonesian food here! We loved the vibe at the restaurant - it was well-decorated and quiet enough. The waiters were also very friendly and nice - they introduced each dish to us before we ate. Service is top-notch: we didn’t know we had to make a reservation but the waiter recognised our faces from the day before (when we popped by) and let us in anyways:) Thank you! Must make reservation beforehand as tables are very limited!

Excellent authentic food, generous portions and very friendly service. We really enjoyed our meal here.

Amazing, felt like home away from home, only better. Their Ramanaya menu was excellent, tender meat stewed in spices which warmed my bones in the Amsterdam winter!

We had a nice experience last night. The food was good, and the service was great! Michael, one of the servers, was fantastic. My husband & his best-friend have been coming here since a long time ago, glad to finally have a chance to try it. The Rijsttafel concept is interesting. We ordered Ramayana for 4, it came with 10 dishes in smaller portions, so you can try various food (my favorite were chicken satay & beef semur). Recommended if you want to try Indonesian food in Amsterdam!

Amazing food and even better service, would recommend without hesitation!

The food was warm and tasty, everything felt fresh. The service was excepcional! Very nice employees, they were always very kind and kept giving us delicious tea. We were three people and paid for two and it was more than enough. Highly recommended.

Very nice food and people! Recommend this place for sure.

Food was really good! But the service is even better! After paying we recieved ice cream and tea.. after i made a joke i was full of the tea, one of the workers gave us free cake to balance our stumach! Defintly recommended!

They do not let you leave until you are completely full!! This was by far my favorite meal while visiting Amsterdam and I will be sure to come back whenever I visit again. Don’t know what’s up with the folks who left 1 star reviews as I was wowed by everything from the service to the ambiance to the reasonably priced and AMAZING food 🤤. If you can get a reservation, don’t hesitate to try it out! The RAMAYANA meal is served with about 10 dishes, all of which are paired and you are encouraged to not be afraid to mix! Since we got there early we also were offered some additional yellow rice that was delicious as well. It’s clear one of their specialties is their homemade peanut sauce and as someone who typically isn’t a fan of peanut sauce, I was blown away by how addicting it was. And mixed with the green beans in the coconut sauce it was really delicious. After we filled our stomachs we were even offered complementary additional dishes of our favorites which we couldn’t possibly have had room for. Even so we made some room for the complementary dessert and tea. Thank you so much for a great meal on our trip!

Went to this place tonight. Incredibly kind service and really enjoyed the food. So 5 stars for that and and extra star for the laugh I got reading the owners reactions on other reviews.

Next customers: Hope you enjoy;)

I wanted to support a local minority-owned business, but it’s hard to stomach a place where the owner’s biggest problem isn’t bad reviews—it’s internalized racism and self-hatred. Maybe start by fixing that before fixing the menu? 🤪🤪🤪

Didn’t enjoy it at all! Owners, stop harassing guests over drinking water. Next time you feel thirsty don’t forget to pay.

Don’t go unless you want to get attacked

难吃不说. 店老板还骂人 人身攻击加种族歧视. INITIAL REVIEW:The two of us spent 75 € but no tap water was available to even order!!!!!and I cannot drink my own water even though we ordered a beer!!! Food is okay but not worth the price. 就是廉价快餐的味道。 Second review: so rude response. I respect you as a restaurant you don’t serve tap water. And I didn’t bring outside DRINKS. I just had water. And you can have all signs outside, but they should be reasonable one. And even attack me personally. So polite:) Yea I’m Asian we have small eyes sorry I didn’t see your dumb and stupid signs:)

Great food, friendly services and value for money. Definitely recommended! Bring cash, as the don’t accept CCs

First time try out this Indonesian restaurant. Food is nice, tasty.. However, to me the price is expensive. Probably I am a tourist.

Worth the wait! Staff is fast, efficient, and friendly. Wonderful experience sampling a variety of Indonesian cuisine

We were blown away by the service and food ! Will definitely be back 🤩

I had an incredible experience at Kartika. The service is beyond exceptional, and the food is delicious and interesting. It’s a hefty meal, but packed with flavor and very unique. I was truly floored by the service- their attention to detail and real care came through by accommodating my vegetarian friend, serving complimentary dessert and tea, and even giving me a key chain at the end of my meal as a gift of gratitude. You will have an amazing time here!

Absolutely loved Kartika restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious — rich, authentic Indonesian flavors that instantly brought me back home. I love how they serve the dishes with a warmer on the table, so everything stays perfectly warm until the end. Such a thoughtful detail that makes the whole experience even more special. Special thanks to Mba Rara and Mas Michel, the lovely owners, who were so welcoming and kind. Their hospitality truly makes Kartika feel like home away from home. You can see how much love they put into both the food and the atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone craving real Indonesian food in Amsterdam! ❤️ With love, Icha & Akbar

Amazing experience, intense flavors, lovely service. We felt like we were treated like royalty. The different courses from the Ramayana were each so delicious. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent food if you are craving or interested in trying out authentic Indonesian food in a nice setting. The waiters are really kind and attentive and this place deserves all the props.

Amazingly good food! We ordered Ramayana for two and it was an exciting experience of explosive tastes and well-balanced dishes. The waiters are extremely polite and accommodating! The atmosphere is wonderful, calm clean and pleasant. The only thing that could be better is the entrance of the restaurant; there are many handwritten signs about house rules, such as ‘we sell bottled water’, or no drinks allowed from outside … which makes it a bit like a high school student house rules. That first impression was uninviting but the moment you pass into the actual space, the vibe and attitude is absolutely fantastic.

The best Indonesian cuisine I’ve ever had! My husband and I had the Ramayana and it was bursting with a crazy amount of delicious flavors. Diverse palette but the courses paired perfectly. Also kind, attentive service & willingness to share info about the culture with us. Thank you for a great dinner!

Everything was absolutely incredible! We went for the set menu with a carafe of wine — about €40 per person — and it was worth every cent. We got around 12 small dishes to share, an aperitif, wine, and even a dessert to finish. We laughed the whole evening! When they noticed we still had a bit of appetite, they kindly brought us extra food without us even asking. The staff were beyond friendly and welcoming. Honestly, everything was just top-notch. Highly recommend!

Nice Indonesian restaurant. Doing nice food, service is great. Just will keep missing Djago.

Such an enjoyable and delicious meal! Their service was amazing, the attention to detail and the hospitality really shone through ❤️ We got: - Daging rendang: very tender and flavourful - Nasi Goreng veg: filling serving with lots of veggies - Perkedel Jagung: this was reallllly good, crispy texture, corn flavour came through and the dipping sauce was really nice At the end of the meal they served a sweet treat and some tea which was the perfect end. Great service, felt right at home - thank you to the team!

Very nice place, with delicious food and friendly service. Best to call ahead.

We arrived at the restaurant and were immediately greeted politely. After a short wait, we were assigned a table and given the menu. We immediately noticed the slightly higher prices, which, of course, was a shock on a student budget (we hadn't checked the prices in advance, so it was our fault). After about 10 minutes of pondering, the friendly waiter approached us and said we looked a bit confused and asked if he could help us (we were still shocked by the prices). We then asked for his recommendation, and this nice gentleman suggested we share a dish, as the portions were quite large. We were now visibly relieved and went with his recommendation, and after about three minutes, an appetizer arrived (it's included in the price, so it was a very pleasant surprise). After devouring this delicious antipasto, we were shortly served the main course – a rice dish with a variety of side dishes. It was definitely big enough for two female adults and at least three times as delicious. After we finished our rice, a very nice waitress came and cleared the table. We were sitting at the table, unsuspecting and actually waiting for the bill, when we were surprised to be served ice cream – which, by the way, was also included in the price. We gratefully accepted the ice cream, our mouths burning with the spice. Now, really waiting for the bill, we were surprised to receive another tea (black tea) (also included in the price) and finally the bill (+2 candies). €33.50 for two people, and this service was definitely worth it. The food was delicious, the service friendly, and the price more than fair. 10/10 experience :)

Delicious Indonesian dishes, authentic service, and exceptionally polite and hospitable service. We were even offered a delicious dessert (pisang goreng) and tea.

Great Indonesian food restaurant, lovely service!

We got the rice table and every dish was perfect. The customer service was also great. Staff were so kind and accomodating.

Friendliest Indonesian restaurant in the Netherlands

The most incredible service, only matched by the most incredible food. The staff here could not have been more attentive, helpful, patient, and delightful humans. We left feeling like family - but in the best way possible. Food was 10/10. Would come back to Amsterdam just to visit this place again.

A cool Indonesian restaurant with impressive value for money compared to others in the city. Reservations are recommended but not always necessary.

Excellent place to have a meal. The food is so various, the flavors are exquisite and the service is unique. The owner is attending you which makes a a better experience since he is giving you a personal service. Very recommended!

Very nice food and service Small so book in advance

Excellent cuisine – absolutely worth the price! Extremely friendly staff. Very busy on a regular Tuesday evening. Highly recommended.

Excellent Indonesian gem in Oud-West area. Waited a little on Friday evening but it was worth it. The Ramayana is like a sampler of 10 small tapas style plates perfect for sharing. 5 meats and 5 sides. The flavors on each were different and it was hard to pick a favorite. Servers were friendly and explained each dish. Would come back again!

Amazing food, a must try when in Amsterdam!

So. Incredibly. Delicious. Service was incredible and both the servers were working really hard to provide a great experience for everyone. The place was packed, rightfully so, and some people couldn’t even get in. The food was incredible. Tiny dishes of meat and potatoes and vegetables and a big pot of rice. Amazing. Would highly recommend to someone who’s open to trying new foods but haven’t had this before (even if you have had Indonesian food, go to Kartika).

I live in Amsterdam, and I can say that this is one of the best restaurants I have visited here. It is a great service, and the variety of dishes truly showcase Indonesian cuisine.

Nice Indonesian restaurant. The food was tasty. Prices seemed a bit high to me. The chef was very confident in his dishes. I had a multi-day menu, like most of the guests. I mean, there are plenty of Indonesian restaurants of this kind in Amsterdam.

We arrived without a reservation (because they didn't answer the phone) on a Friday evening. The waitress was very welcoming and friendly! We tried the rijstafel with meat (followed by two scoops of ice cream and a tea at the end of the meal!): delicious and excellent value for money! We were delighted with this evening and would not hesitate to recommend this very good restaurant!

Very good and sweet service as well as amazing food! They specifically ask for any vegetarians and then adapt the sharing options for you

The staff were so helpful we just had mains but they gave us some free crackers to start and even gave us tea after our meal. We saw others getting the set menu which I would Definitley try next time. The food we had was a little bit of everything, very tasty. Quite quiet in here but it was getting busy as we were leaving.

This was so much fun! I’ve never had Indonesian but this was delicious and so beautiful! Highly recommend anyone come here and be prepared to eat!

La comida era de hecho excelente. Sabores muy interesantes y contrastes de sabores. Precios más altos que los representados aquí, pero todavía está bien para la cantidad de comida. Ahora para lo malo y raro. Vimos en algún lugar que era un restaurante solo en efectivo. Ya que estábamos cortos de efectivo fuimos a la página web para confirmar si esto era cierto. Nos sentimos aliviados al ver claramente establecido en el sitio web que se aceptaban tarjetas de crédito. Cuando llegamos lo primero raro que notamos fueron las muchas señales decididamente inoportunas. POR FAVOR, NO ENTRES. ESPERA A UN COLEGA. NO SERVIMOS AGUA DEL GRIFO. AGUA EMBOTELLADA SOLAMENTE. Y un gran cartel con una X sobre una foto de una tarjeta de crédito. Cuando le preguntamos al dueño sobre el sitio web diciendo que se aceptan tarjetas de crédito, dijo: “Sí, pero no el lunes o el miércoles.” (En serio? ? ) Teníamos algunos euros y le preguntamos si podía prepararnos algo con menos platos para que pudiéramos comer allí de todos modos, ya que estaba muy bien revisado y habíamos caminado una hora para llegar allí. Estábamos en este punto a un par de euros de una comida de 70 + Euros. Él estaba absolutamente firme en que no podía doblegarse en nada. Nos ofrecimos a pagar en dólares. No vayas. Un compañero americano cercano nos escuchó en la discusión con el propietario y cambió el dinero para nosotros - que es como sabemos que la comida era buena. Solo traiga dinero en efectivo y sepa que acogedor y flexible no están en el menú.

Tuvimos una excelente cena en este lugar al llegar a la ciudad. Auténtica comida indonesia, muy tradicional y llena, con tanto ofrecido por el personal verdaderamente amable. Comería allí todos los días ✅

Delicioso restaurante indonesio! Apto para vegetarianos. A nuestros niños les encantó la comida. El personal es muy amable y amable y explica todo con gran cuidado y orgullo. ¡No puedes equivocarte si estás buscando buena comida indonesia!

First time eating Indonesian food. Service was friendly. Very small restaurant. Small menu. Got a platter for two people. It was tasty, but nothing more.

Absolutely delicious food! Every part of the Rijstafel spread was fantastic, and our server was kind and patient in explaining everything to us first-timers. Would heartily recommend!

Excellent service , tasty food and great vibes

Amazing meal - we loved everything. My ten-year old is raving about the experience. People who complain about the staff being rude at the door clearly ignored the sign that asks for people not to enter while waiting. We didn't have a reservation but waited for only a few minutes before we were seated. The owner was very nice, as were all the staff. We will make this restaurant a priority for our next trip to Amsterdam.

Food was good, service excellent. Could have been a bit more food, was on the tight side

¡La mejor comida que tuve en Amsterdam! He estado en varios restaurantes indonesios en Los Ángeles y Nueva York, pero Kartika en Ámsterdam fue de lejos el mejor! Tanto sabor y especias (picante si quieres) todo lo que probé fue al siguiente nivel! Fuimos con la mesa de arroz, así que pudimos probar de todo! Además, el propietario / personal era absolutamente fenomenal! El servicio era perfecto y todo era genial! Si vas a Amsterdam y quieres comer bien, aléjate de la comida holandesa. ¡Mira Kartika! ¡Además, haz una ressie, a veces está muy ocupada! ¡Además, solo efectivo!

Wonderful experience, exquisite food, with perfect explanation. Amazing presentation, super! Small but precious!

Best meal I had in Amsterdam!! I've been to several Indonesian restaurants in Los Angeles and New York, but Kartika in Amsterdam was by far the best! So much flavor and spice (spicy if you want) everything I tried was next level! We went with the rice table so we were able to try everything! Also, the owner/staff was absolutely phenomenal! The service was spot on and everything was great! If you go to Amsterdam and want to have a good meal, stay away from Dutch food!!! Check out Kartika!! Also, make a ressie, sometimes its very busy!! Also, Cash Only!!

Came here twice, amazing service and attention to detail 👌

I’m gluten free and said so on the reservation, as well as when we ordered our food. We ordered the set menu and they said they’d switch a few things so it could be gluten free. After half the food was out for 20 minutes the waitress came up and said “oh have you been eating that? It’s not gluten free” even though we had told them twice we needed all gluten free. She then proceeded to tell me I’d be fine and it was ok. I haven’t eaten gluten in years. I have health issues and can’t eat gluten or I’ll feel awful. For her to say I’d be ok is ridiculous and unprofessional when we confirmed twice it would be gluten free. Also, there was a rat sitting under our table near our feet for 10 minutes and people kept staring and pointing but no one told us what was going on. At one point the waitress came up and kicked something away and when we said what happened she said “oh animal” then walked away. Once again people started looking at us… We finally asked someone and they told us a rat was under the table. The waitress hadn’t told us and also minimized exposing me to gluten, telling me I’d be fine. Thankfully I’m not celiac, but I do have an intolerance and it will cause me to be uncomfortable and not feel good. I typically don’t write reviews but thought it was important to warn anyone who needs to be gluten free.

This is one of those places that I'm not sure I should post, because I would like them to remain a hidden gem. There's a lot of good Indonesian food in the Netherlands, but this is probably one of the best I've had. The rijsttafel is delicious and I liked that they presented it in pairs and explained what dishes go well together. The staff is very friendly as well. When we were there on a Monday, all tables were booked, so it's a good idea to call them to make a reservation.

Great food at great prices and friendly service! Will definitely be back

We heard that Indonesian food was delicious in the Netherlands, so we chose this place based on positive reviews. It did not disappoint!! Due to peanut allergies, we ordered items a la carte. We chose both tofu dishes, one chicken, and one beef dish. The service was wonderful, and the food delicious! One tip is to make reservations. On a Thursday, the restaurant was packed with a line! We got lucky walking in because we got there early (6 pm).

I was waiting in line last night. When a table for 2 people became available, I sat down with my friend. Immediately after this, one of the servers came to me and ordered me in an aggressive manner to get back in line and not to do this again. I was shocked, I thought what are we getting now! My previous experience in this restaurant was good. I thought, I will not accept this, so I turned around and left. Also, all the tables were reserved. I also found this strange because when you call and want to make a reservation, they say that this is not possible. So for me, it is not worth repeating.

I wanted to try authentic Indonesian food when in Amsterdam and chose this place based on the reviews. To be fair, the food was not bad. But I am giving it 4 stars because the options are limited if you're eating alone. I understand that food is meant to be shared but sometimes that isn't possible. Service was okay - the place was busy and there were just 2 people making it difficult for them to serve all tables. And the meals weren't cheap by any standards. In summary, good experience, but could have been better.

This is like indonesian tapas. Small plates. Fantastic!

Best Indonesian restaurant in the world.

Came for the gado gado, stayed for everything else. Excellent staff with brilliant Indonesian food. We will be back. Bring cash.

Delicious food with excellent service. The rice table was amazing and we enjoyed every dish. The waiter explained each dish perfectly and was attentive. Definitely will go back if we are in Amsterdam again!

This meal was exceptional! We were told to try Indonesian food when visiting the Netherlands and we were not disappointed. We walked in and got a table right away but it seems like reservations are typically recommended as it did fill up later. My partner and I shared the Nasi Goreng Rames Special and the fusion of flavours was so incredible. Other dishes looked phenomenal as well. The service at this restaurant was excellent! This meal made our last night in Amsterdam so memorable!!

Excellent Indonesian restaurant- the food quality is really tasty. I’m from Indonesia, and the flavors reminded me of my moms. We ordered the rijstaffel. Great value for 32 euro per person!

Food was incredible. Me and my sister were not feeling well and the staff was so kind they offered to pack the rest and offered ice cream to make it go easier. Apart from that the toilets were clean and the experience was really nice despite not feeling well at that time :)

Mi esposa y visitó este restaurante para tener comida indonesia. Reservamos una mesa para 8 : 30 pm. Llegamos unos 10 minutos antes para encontrar una cola. Entré para alertarles de que habíamos llegado y teníamos una mesa reservada, sólo para que uno de los empleados ladrara que aún no eran las 08 : 30 y nos dijo que nos paráramos afuera. Fue la manera en la que habló, tal vez podría haber sido yo un poco sensible. Mi esposa me convenció de perseverar y nos llamaron a las 08:00: 30 pm. Pedimos el menú de Shinta. Trajeron la cerveza y galletas casi de inmediato, pero nuestra comida tardó una hora en llegar. Hemos probado comida indonesia antes y aunque era suntuosa, no era particularmente sabrosa o distintiva. Ponen todo en el plato caliente incluyendo ensaladas. En general, la comida, el ambiente y el servicio fue decepcionante. No es particularmente caro, pero los buenos modales y el servicio atento no cuesta nada.

Gran comida. Pero no contestan el teléfono para hacer una reserva. Llegamos poco después de que abriesen y nos dijeron que tendríamos que estar fuera a las 7 pm y era solo en efectivo. La comida era excelente y el servicio también. Pero, no puedo darles 5 estrellas basado en los otros factores.

Delicious rice table. Beautiful dishes and friendly service. We had not made a reservation and were told that a table was available for an hour and a half. With the fast service this was enough time.

Excellent food and cool but somewhat cramped setting—but that fair due to how good the food is.

The food here is exceptional! First time I’ve ever had Indonesian food and it was amazing. My party and I split the rice shareable meal, and we enjoyed every dish. The meats were very tender and flavorful. The service was also very attentive and kind. I also love reading the owners responses to the 1 star reviews, they’re well deserved because this place was nothing but great!

Delicious Indonesian food!! The owner made us feel at home. Best Indonesian food in Amsterdam.

Fantastic food, so flavourful and delicious

Le meilleur restaurant Indonésien que j'ai pu faire. Service courtois et rapide. Prenez soin de faire une réservation. Prix très abordable pour la qualité et la quantité servie. Je recommande sans hésiter

A very delicious Indonesian restaurant. It offers a wonderful and varied menu and gives you many delicious dishes.

It's an amazing experience. It must be one of the things you eat in Amsterdam. The restaurant is wonderful. I consider it one of the most enjoyable experiences in Amsterdam. The food is delicious, all halal, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the staff are friendly.

We stumbled upon this lovely restaurant quite by chance. The food was delicious; we even got a lightly mixed rice dish so my husband didn't have to go without meat entirely. For dessert, there was wonderful lemon ice cream, followed by tea. The all-around fantastic and extremely attentive service made the evening perfect.