Papa Thang - Street Food Bistro in Noordelijke IJ-oevers West

We went for a Sunday bbq. The food was amazing and the vibe is really chill. Will definitely be back again. It's a hidden gem in Amsterdam Noord

Fantastic little gem! Thang is caring, knowledgeable and really wants people to enjoy their time 👌🏽

Food was tasty, but service was very slow: no one came to take our drinks order for over half an hour , they were tables around that ordered and had food by the time we were first seen. It wasn’t even busy, there were 4-5 tables

Great food and great location. I will definitely continue to come eat here while I am in town to see my family.

The food is good, though a bit too expensive for what you get. The service is very poor; they don't pay any attention to you. You have to get their attention yourself to order something. Conclusion: for the quality of the food I say yes, for the service absolutely no.

Papa Thang is tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood by the canal, and the waterside setting alone makes it worth a visit. The menu is small but thoughtfully put together, with Vietnamese street food served tapas-style. I'd recommend about three dishes per person. The owner is charismatic, gives great advice on what to order and portion sizes, and clearly takes pride in making sure the service is spot on. The waiting staff are young, friendly, and attentive. It's a little on the pricey side, but the quality, atmosphere, and overall experience make it well worth it.

Don't hesitate to come; the owner's service is top-notch. And every dish is highly recommended.

Papa Thang, is a hidden gem in Amsterdam Noord! Authentic Vietnamese flavours with a fine dining flair. The ambiance, the service all 10 out of 10! Truly a magical unforgettable experience! Thank you Papa Thang we will be back!

I am not a food critic. I just really love good food. Inspiring food. But most of all, I love soul food, the rarest kind of food of all. Last night, we happened to stumble upon a place that truly speaks to the soul: Papa Thang Street Food Bistro in Amsterdam Noord. Wow. What a culinary treat. Not just the food, but the location, the atmosphere, and most importantly, the character. We were a party of five celebrating my daughter’s birthday. Knowing how much my wife and I love small, humble places with heart, my youngest hunted this one down and organized the evening. What a gift. We let Papa Thang guide us through a surprise menu. We let him choose the wine. We simply sat back and trusted the journey. For me, soul food is the highest form of cooking. Not just because it is made from the soul, but because it speaks directly to the soul. You know you have arrived when you take the first bite and somehow feel you already know the chef. His joys. His struggles. His story. It is all there, somehow wrapped into a beautifully prepared dish. We are not foodies. We are certainly not wealthy. We simply love food that has something genuine to say. And Papa Thang has plenty to say. The setting was magical as well: seated by the canal, watching the sun set, sharing food, stories, and laughter. If you are looking for an evening of surprise, warmth, and soul, book yourself a dinner with Papa Thang. You will leave well fed. But more importantly, you will leave nourished.

We had a super delicious meal! The rib eye is highly recommended. Very friendly staff. In short: really great!

one of my new favourites in amsterdam. amazing and super flavorful vegan food and a gorgeous outside view by the water

Fantastic dishes with surprising flavors! Top chef & service, you simply have to eat here at least once!

Restaurant is located near the water with a great terrace and a pleasant view. It's surrounded by a lot of modern family apartments. It has a lively, family-friendly neighborhood atmosphere where everyone seems to know each other. We ordered 4 Jasmine rice bowls, the burned eggplant (actual menu item name) and tofu. The rice is nice and fluffy. The eggplant was ice cold, which ruined the flavor and made it hard to eat. The tofu was amazing; it was our favorite dish. The service was bad. It took quite a while before our order was taken. It seems like it was unexpectedly busy and the team was understaffed. Our order of 2 rice bowls, eggplant and tofu came out without the tofu. The tofu took such a long time, we finished everything and asked for the bill. To our surprise, the tofu arrived at our table instead, so we reluctantly ordered two more rice bowls to go with the tofu. We felt unwelcome. The owner scoffed at us when we ordered tap water and he was angrily yelling at the only other service worker that evening. It ruined the atmosphere. He seems like a cool guy though, but perhaps he was stressed. Maybe we can meet again under better circumstances.

My family took me to this amazing place. We arrived by boat, had a lovely meal outside, good wine, pleasant service, but above all, amazing food. Every dish is exquisitely composed and truly delectable. Highly recommended in Noord.

Highly recommended! The dishes are designed for sharing, similar to tapas. There are so many different combinations possible, and every dish was special. Plan on ordering 2-4 dishes per person. Our favorites were the fried crab and the goat cheesecake. But all the other dishes were wonderful as well. The service was also very attentive, and our waiter gave us suggestions on what he would combine. We will definitely be back!

Authentic Vietnamese cuisine, pho Bo was absolutely delicious (so as everything else), definitely one of the best restaurants in Noord and probably the best Vietnamese food I tried in Amsterdam.

Phenomenal! I’ve been following Thang and ate at his restaurant in Barcelona. Papa Thang is a collection of dishes that are absolute perfection. It’s a dream for vegans and vegetarians. The goats cheesecake is to die for.

This is a very good restaurant closed to our hotel in the north of AMS. It's well decorated with mixed design of East and West. The server was very friendly introducing the restaurant and popular dishes. We ordered 5 including soft shell crab and spare ribs. For drinks, the cold kamquat is so good. Overall, the food is excellent and the prices are reasonable.

Hidden gem, everything is to perfection, thank you

A hidden gem in Amsterdam Noord! Gourmet quality food at a fair price and set in a relaxed and tasteful environment. Modern Vietnamese influenced cuisine, delicious flavour and texture combinations, beautifully and unpretentiously presented. Fabulous view directly on a canal!

We had a delicious meal. Vietnamese dishes that reminded me of our holiday in Vietnam. Plenty of vegetarian options. Friendly staff and good recommendations from the owner. I will be coming here more often.

Papa Thang’s is a gem of a restaurant owned and run by one of the coolest chefs I’ve ever met. He greats you at the door and seats you himself, and from that moment on you are treated like family. His Vietnamese street food is served with a fine dining flare, courtesy of his extensive travels and ownership of restaurants across the globe. Each dish was gorgeous and each bite delectable. He’s also a great conversationalist, and his staff were all delightful. Coupled with the gorgeous waterfront setting, Papa Thang’s is not to be missed. We were blown away.

Delicious! Great setup and service, nice details and a lovely tiered terrace on the water. Had a really nice chat with the owner, a really cool guy with legit chef chops. Can't say enough nice things about our meal here. Will be back soon. 10/10 recommend.

An unforgettable dinner, with a modest menu but high-quality ingredients and a wide selection of vegetarian options. A true sensory journey through aromas and flavors I'd never experienced before. A truly excellent experience.

The food is really tasty, but the experience ruined it a bit. When I mentioned my allergy, I was not treated very well by the owner/chef, who was serving that evening. I tried to be sure that I could eat everything and therefore asked for clarification. He seemed to find that annoying. He said in a rather nonchalant tone that I could just eat everything and knew what he was talking about. That wasn't true: I had an allergic reaction anyway and had to take antihistamines, after which he cheekily proceeded to list all the ingredients and preparation methods. Something you have absolutely no need for at that moment. Eventually, he realized that the cause was something else. A brief apology followed, I indicated that I needed time, and fortunately, the allergic reaction fizzled out. Fortunately, it wasn't my most severe allergy, so it wasn't too bad, but this could have been prevented. And the owner's reaction, in particular, could have been better. An allergy is no joke. I had hoped for a bit more understanding, and afterwards, at least a gesture. That was not forthcoming. Too bad: the food is actually tasty (5 stars), but the carelessness and subsequent behavior deserve no more than one star. So, an average of 3.

Had a delicious meal. Nice ambiance, friendly service. Prices for the dishes are on the high side, but the quality, originality, and taste are absolutely fine. I’d rather pay a little more than get those standard fries with a paper cup of mayonnaise again. In this restaurant, you get a special dining experience, and that is worth the price.

We arrived at the restaurant 49 minutes early. We told the restaurant owner that we would wait, and have something to drink in the meantime. The restaurant owner, a very stressed guy, after telling us about his troubles, that some arrive early and some arrive late, and that they only have 2 employees tonight, seated us. After 10 minutes he came over to us and took our drink order. We ordered the food later. The soup was tasteless. The crepe was burnt, small, and tasteless. I have eaten in much, much better Vietnamese restaurants.

The concept is brilliant and the food is excellent, an explosion of flavors! Special mention for the coconut mango pudding, exceptional!

After arriving Amsterdam later in the evening. It was a race to find somewhere to grab dinner before the night was out. A quick call to Papa Thang and they were happy to accommodate our arrival towards the tail end of service…. And the night just got better from there. Fermented Kumquat Soda to refresh followed by some exquisite Vietnamese inspired street plates. Banh Xeo, exquisite ribs and yucca fries were just some of the delights. All with swift service and fine dining presentation by the Papa Thang himself. A must visit in the lesser frequented Amsterdam Nord.

We had an incredibly delicious meal with very friendly and hospitable service. Just not a 10 because it is quite a bit pricey. But then again, prices have risen enormously everywhere. I will definitely be back!

We dined at Papa Thang for a family occasion with 8 people. Young and old alike enjoyed the food, the pleasant atmosphere, and the enthusiastic service. In short, highly recommended!

11/10!!! The food, as well as the owner behind the bar, make this restaurant one of my favorites in all of Amsterdam!!

Food taste was great however sharing dishes involved a lot of cutting! I would gave rather had more smaller bite dishes easy pick.

This was my second visit, and it certainly didn't disappoint. After a great first experience, I decided to come back, and everything was once again excellent. I really enjoyed the wide variety of dishes and the authentic flavors. Sprouts and beef tagliata were my favourites. A special shout-out to the staff: the service was incredibly friendly, and their recommendations were spot on. It was a wonderful evening, thank you very much!

Really nice welcome from the restaurant staff and delicious food. Would definitely come again!

Loved it. Cosy, peaceful, trendy, authentic! Delicious food made with the heart and a kind welcome. The way the food is served makes the whole experience so nice: sharing, taking your time and enjoying the moment.

I really seriously can't think of anything that wasn't perfect..... The flavors, the presentation on the plate, the welcome and the interaction with the restaurant staff, the waiting times, and the value for money.... Everything was just right and more.

At Papa Thang, the evening was a truly immersive culinary experience. Our favorite dish was "Nems." The combination of street food and fine dining was incredibly successful. The owner has a cool personality, is humorous, and clearly understands his concept! The restaurant is well worth a visit and an unforgettable experience.

Why are you not a Michelin star yet? I never knew such flavours existed. The best food I have had, ever! Portions are perfect and chef explains it also so well how much is enough. Also the way he describes each dish, you may want to have the whole menu. Perfect place where one’s passion is perfectly executed and on the display for all of us to enjoy!

We had a delicious meal with very pleasant service! We will definitely be back.

I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant. It’s located in a lovely part of Amsterdam, and the decor is stylish and chic. We tried six different dishes and two desserts, and I was impressed by how the flavors blended familiar Vietnamese tastes with innovative new ingredients. It honored tradition while offering a creative twist. Overall, I found it to be a unique Vietnamese fine dining experience, something truly rare to find in Europe.

A wonderful taste experience enthusiastically guided by the owner/chef.

We were so impressed that we ate here two nights in a row. Chef Thang Pham is an exceptionally warm and welcoming host who personally attends to his guests – you immediately feel at home. The sharing concept is a lot of fun; every dish is creatively combined and far removed from standard street food. We were particularly impressed by the poke nachos with salmon, the melt-in-your-mouth octopus, the glazed spare ribs, and the perfectly grilled ribeye. The desserts are a highlight in themselves: the banana coconut bread pudding with its heavenly, crispy crust, warm and soft inside with vanilla ice cream – pure bliss on a plate. The goat cheese cheesecake is also excellent. A big plus: a very good selection of vegetarian options. Reservations are recommended – a €5 per person charge will be added to the bill. After many visits to Amsterdam, this was one of the best meals we've ever had. We will definitely be back.

There are restaurant visits you forget—and then there are evenings that linger long after you leave. Papa Thang definitely belongs to the latter category. We went back two nights in a row because we were so impressed by the atmosphere, the hospitality, and above all, the cuisine. Chef Thang Pham welcomes his guests with a natural warmth and attentiveness that immediately creates a feeling of familiarity. You can sense his international experience as well as his deep connection to Vietnamese cuisine. He takes his time, offers honest advice, and ensures that you feel not like a guest, but like a welcome friend. The sharing concept makes the evening particularly vibrant: no rigid courses, but rather many plates in the center of the table, to be discovered together. Dining here becomes an exchange—enjoyable, relaxed, and full of little surprises. The dishes are consistently well-balanced and full of character: Poke Nachos with Salmon—crispy wonton chips, fresh salmon, avocado, herbs, and a creamy, spicy sauce. A wonderful interplay of freshness and crunch. Octopus – lightly seared on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside, in an aromatic sauce with citrus and herbal notes. Spare Ribs – glossy, caramelized, and wonderfully juicy – ​​a true comfort food. Ribbeye – perfectly grilled, with a robust crust on the outside and a tender pink inside. Pure and of outstanding quality. Banh Xeo Pork – a paper-thin Vietnamese crepe, crispy, fragrant, and filled with herbs and tender pork. Bun Cha with Pork – aromatic broth, fresh herbs, and tender meat – intense yet light. Burned Eggplant – soft, smoky, and wonderfully seasoned, a true highlight, even for vegetarians. The desserts round everything off gently yet spectacularly: The Goat Cheese Cheesecake is creamy, elegant, and surprisingly delicate. The Banana Coco Bread Pudding delights with a crispy, heavenly crust, a warm and soft interior, and is topped with melting vanilla ice cream – pure bliss on a plate. A particularly nice touch: Vegetarians will also find a large and creative selection here, which doesn't feel like an afterthought, but rather a natural part of the cuisine. Reservation tip: A table reservation is highly recommended. A €5 deposit per person is charged, which is fully credited to your final bill – fair and transparent. After many visits to Amsterdam, we can say: this is one of the best meals we've ever had here. Papa Thang isn't a place for quick consumption, but for genuine moments of enjoyment – ​​a restaurant you not only return to, but look forward to returning to even before you leave.

A wonderful Vietnamese restaurant with a surprisingly diverse menu. Everything we tried was fresh and full of flavor. We'll definitely be back.

I was alone there and it was delicious food and excellent service, including explanations. Also the surrounding is great!

Incredible all around. Must go: the esthetic of the architecture and the elegance of the food!

They cook with love here, and you can taste it! We had a wonderful evening. The octopus was amazing!

​"Honestly, truly delicious food with surprising flavors. Every single dish was wonderful! A total hidden gem in terms of quality, taste, and service."

Great ambiance, amazingly tasteful food and a warm welcome. A real hidden gem.

What a delicious food ! Menu is amazzing, everything is divine ! Thanks a lot to the Chef and his Team.

Well, we choose this place without any preview information, the Owner knew Spanish and was extremely nice with us, after a quick talk we knew the experience will be worth it. The food was high quality and amazing, we love every single dish we try and the same with the desserts. Really if you are looking for a nice place go and try it.

Amazing experience at Papa Thang! I came to Papa Thang for a meal and absolutely loved it. The food was amazing street food, full of flavor, fresh, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the staff were friendly and attentive, which made the whole experience even better. Definitely a place I would come back to and highly recommend to anyone looking for great street food and a nice vibe. If you go try the burned eggplant, Banh Xeo and Banana bread! You won’t regret it!!

Simply the best Vietnamese food we have ever had. We love Asian cuisine and luckily we've been to a few countries, and for sure it beat all of them. Well done, Chef Papa Thang.

Such a unique place place for vitnamease food highly recommended it . Thang the owner and chief is truly an artist

Amazing high quality food for a fair price. The chef cares a lot and it shows. Will continue to come for a nice treat :))

Delicious! I want to go back to try all the other dishes on the menu…

Relaxed atmosphere, delicious dishes that also look beautiful, and a lovely selection of matching wines. We'd love to come back!

Great place, nice staff and very good food. I also really like how the chef come and connect with customers. Will definitly come back to try the rest of the menu!

Delicious food, great wine, cozy atmosphere, and excellent service. Highly recommended!

Three words: a fantastic culinary experience! We had a very pleasant and interesting conversation with the owner. We will definitely be back.

This is one of the best meals I had during my two months in the Netherlands. They were very accommodating and made great suggestions. The food was so flavorful and Mr. Thang and his team have put so much thought into this concept. I haven’t had upscale Vietnamese food before this visit and I wish I could go here every day!

A modern take on Vietnamese food. Surprising combinations that turn out deliciously.

Had another dinner here, just the 2 of us last night. All of the dishes rolling out were straight up bangers! Loved it. Wish the scallops were back on the menu - they are fire! But the Seabass is also killer and highly recommend it. I wouldn't class this place as fine dining but rather elevated Vietnamese food with a fusion twist, nothing pretentious - absolutely delicious. And Pappa Thang is a lovely guy himself, give this place a try, especially if you find yourself searching for a a solid restaurant option in the North!

Really, really good. It seems simple, but it's not. It tastes perfect.

We dined here for two. It's supposed to be a blend of tapas, street food, and fine dining, but it misses the mark here and there. The service was friendly but didn't speak a word of Dutch. There was a wide selection of drinks, with good prices and portions. The food was delicious, but there was a significant difference in presentation and taste between the dishes. The nachos were very plain (nothing special and plain presentation), and the mango pudding was extremely simply plated. The tofu (special) was very tasty, as was the ginger walnut tuille. We also enjoyed the fries and rice. There are no starters or main courses; everything is shared dining. Overall, excellent value for money. The recommendation was to order 2-4 dishes per person, so we each ordered about 1.5 large dishes and shared 2 sides, with a dessert per person to finish.

Treated worthlessly without reservation

Had a delicious meal in a cozy restaurant with excellent service

such a nice atmosphere and delicious food, def coming again

We went in with high expectations and boy!, were they met and exceeded! Super crisp, fresh, food with little flavor bombs setting off the taste buds in our mouths with every meal. Too many favorites but to name some; the softshell crab, the smoke-grilled nappa cabbage, the mushrooms, the special! Enough choice as well for us pescatarians. Topping it all with great service, wonderful wines and a nice setting. Can't wait to return!

Excellent location in Amsterdam North. Quiet and pleasant. The food is exquisite.

The food was truly fantastic, with surprising flavors. It's great that there are both vegan and meat options if you're dining with a mixed group. The service is very friendly and the interior is atmospheric.

Had a delicious meal in Amsterdam Noord, the food and service were great!

One of the best restaurants in noord!!! Mister Thang understands food, uses fresh authentic ingredients and generally speaking, modernized the Vietnamese street food in such a refreshing manner. You have to try the pho soup as well as the wonderful Vietnamese pancake. I would definitely come back

Delicious food: the ribeye was super tender and the steak tartare was beautifully seasoned. Friendly service: even when the coffee machine was out, they restarted it for us.

I had heard great things about Papa Thang and loved the idea of Vietnamese street food by the water. Unfortunately, the terrace was disappointing – dirty picnic tables and not nearly as atmospheric as I had expected. The owner was unfriendly and unwelcoming, even summoning us to come inside to check in instead of taking the effort to come to our table, which felt very odd. The food was tasty, but portions were small for the price. Overall, good food but poor hospitality and atmosphere, so I won’t be returning.

Great experience! Not typical traditional Vietnamese restaurant which is what we loved. The flavors of the dishes are very Vietnamese but the dishes are very refined compared to a traditional Vietnamese restaurant. This place is a "must" try absolutely. Moreover, the owner of the restaurant has an excellent contact with people which makes the experience even better. Best Vietnamese restaurant we know in Amsterdam, for sure!

Top-notch Vietnamese tapas. Friendly owner.

It was such an amazing dinner, drinks were so good, dishes are so delicious and good, I wish more restaurants would be same

Excellent food. A must-see in Amsterdam.

Worth a visit: Nice food with some authentic Vietnamese flavors and pleasant atmosphere with the outside tables sitting right near the canal edge. The “concept” was not immediately clear as being Tapas style (with 2-4 dishes per person being suggested), an upgrade to the menu would help with clarity and elevating the overall feel of the place. The owner, though uncourteous was nevertheless attentive to each table.

Food was very average and overpriced. Sad, really wanted to love this place

Insanely good food and the best crew. ❤️✨. Always a pleasure to eat here.

Great Vietnamese dishes put in fine-dining style. The foods were super yummy and the atmosphere was great!

Amazing Vietnamese food served in Tapas inspired style I have saved this restaurant for 2 years and finally we got a chance to eat here. The wait was worth it! I would reccommend to make a reservation in advance. The food was amazing. Vietnamese dishes with flavour close to home but still have an interesting twist of flavour. I would really reccommend the Bánh Xeo, the batter is so crispy light. And the sparerib is so soft and flavourful with an enjoyable smoke to it. We did not have to wait long at all for our dishes. We got reccomendation for the Coco mojito which my partner loved a lot and the dessert (banana bread pudding and goat cheese cheesecake) were also really delicious. Thank you so much. Everyone was very welcoming especially the owner with his stories. Overall we had a great experience here!

There were six of us. We went for the blind menu and were happy to be surprised. Food: fantastic! We enjoyed all the dishes. A mix of street food and fine dining. The wines were delicious. And so were the Lychee Martini. Atmosphere: friendly owner who interacts personally with all his customers. A lovely atmosphere where you can relax by the water. Tip: take the ferry to The Eye. It's a shorter walk there. From the ferry, it's a 20-minute walk. In short: highly recommended.

Papa Thang serves amazing food, which combined with his hospitality always makes it for an awesome visit. We've probably been there six times, and there will be many more.

Delicious food! Traditional flavors with a modern twist. Very friendly staff, a super nice owner, and a beautiful location! I'll definitely be back!

What a lovely place! The food was delicious, especially the Bánh xèo. The staff is very friendly, and there's a lovely atmosphere in the restaurant. I felt very welcome, and the staff seemed eager to give you a pleasant evening. I'll be back soon!

This is without a doubt a gem. There is passion for food here. You taste it in every bite. The flavors are so fresh and yet decadent in the best way. I had the Pork Belly and Secreto Iberico. Two totally different ends of the spectrum when it comes to pork. Both were some of the best I’ve ever had in my entire life. Portions are small and meant to be shared but that didn’t stop me from eating them all by myself. Cannot recommend this place enough.

Atmosphere here is sooo nice. The outside waterfront is a vibe in itself and the beef Pho was absolutely top tier 🤌🏼. I would say probably the best pho I’ve had, it was exploding with so much flavor. The owner Thang is also so sooooo nice 🥹. Customer service was amazing and quality of food definitely exceeded my expectations. Definitely coming back when I visit again.

Highly recommended! And that's for Vietnamese people. The food was delicious. A nice crossover between Vietnamese street food and fusion. Enjoyed it. We live in Overhoeks and will definitely be back.

Wonderful service - by Papa Thang himself sharing stories about his culinary background and how he developed the dishes Amazing food - every dish was fantastic Great wine - very drinkable AND affordable What more do you want? Oh yeah, a stunning location by the water. We had the best evening and will definitely be back. Soon!

We had a wonderful meal at Papa Thang. You can choose from a wide variety of dishes, each served individually. It's a great place to share. The service is friendly and attentive. We had a fantastic evening.

What a nice discovery 🙂. After a first attempt unfruitful because of availability we were able to get a table and this was a great journey!!! The fish and seafood were amazing from the sea bass to the tempura jelly fish and squid through the baby scallops everything was a great pallet adventure. Tried as well some of the classics from Vietnamese cuisine such as Pho and Nems very very tasteful and made with super Fresh ingredients. It can only recommend and we will go back to experience this other dishes soon !!!

Tried it first time, now it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Amsterdam. Super friendly host (owner), enthusiastic about food, just like me 😃

Delicious food at an unexpected location. Had a fantastic evening! The owner is incredibly friendly and incredibly passionate about food. He could also tell you everything about all the wines. Which were all delicious

We really had a wonderful evening at papa thang. The food is continuously an explosion in taste. And the owner knows so much to tell about the different wines, which perfectly match the dishes. Really a very good recommendation!

What a wonderful meal! The wine is fantastic and the personal touch of the owner made the evening complete

Asian tapas where you can order multiple dishes but pay the price of main courses. The portions were really small and too expensive. The atmosphere was ok, but a bit arrogant, it was a bit like it was high-end dining but it was too simple for that. Drinks took a very long time.