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

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.

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.

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!

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 !!!

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

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

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!

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

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.

Fabulous food, so delicious and great service

Outstanding experience the food and the chef and the location

Haven't eaten so well in a restaurant in a long time. The grilled fish was great. Nice atmosphere too and nice owner.

The food was incredible, designed for sharing with a focus on well balanced punchy flavours! Highly highly recommend the goats cheese dessert. One of my favourite dishes of 2025. The service was excellent and the location was just beautiful on the water. Would truly recommend!

Vietnamese street food meets fine dining. The super friendly owner has experience cooking in multiple countries and is really bringing his experience with him to create an entirely new form of kitchen. Really a hidden gem.

Was asked about a reservation yet restaurant was an empty venu. Felt that was unnecessary. Food excellent. But a la carte so in the end the bill for one person was expensive.

Absolutely outstanding experience. Service was fast and efficient, clearly focused on letting the food take center stage — and rightfully so. Every dish was bursting with complex, layered flavors. The charred eggplant and octopus were real standouts: bold, balanced, and memorable. Even the sides, like the yuca fries, were executed to perfection. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates thoughtful, flavor-driven cuisine.

After searching for a Vietnamese restaurant, we ended up at Papa Thang because of the slightly different concept and the beautiful presentation of the dishes and nice atmosphere. We had a delicious meal where our expectations were exceeded. The dishes were really taste explosions, one by one. But extra nice was that the owner himself is very involved with the guests and came to chat at every table. Very special to hear his story and also about his work experience and previous restaurants abroad. All in all, Papa Thang is really recommended if you want to eat well, are looking for a non-standard experience and with a personal touch.

Papa Tang is hands down my favorite restaurant in Amsterdam North. The food is always thoughtful, refined, and seasonally inspired — yet there are also a few evergreen dishes that we keep going back to and love just as much every time. The balance between creativity and consistency is what makes this place truly special. The staff are incredibly kind and attentive, and the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming. The owner and the chef are both culinary geniuses — you can truly feel the passion and vision behind every detail. Papa Tang has become our go-to spot whenever we want to be 100% sure we’ll have a great meal — and somehow, we never get tired of it. An absolute gem.

A real delight! Very flavorful and surprisingly fresh and interesting dishes. Perfect representation of the Vietnamese cuisine. Was our first time, with our 1.5 yrs old son and we all loved it. We will be back soon!

Neighbor gem in Amsterdam Noord. All plates were delicious, but we particularly loved the spring rolls and the softshell crab

Pretty average rating. Eg the pho is just ‘ok’, nothing to scream about. Quite expensive as portion is small.

Bad experiences with the owner of the restaurant. I experienced him as very pushy, impatient and unfriendly. Too bad, because the food was delicious.

Maybe our expectations were a bit too high, but we found our visit to be “just not”. The food was generally tasty, but the portions were small and therefore relatively expensive. The owner came across as a bit pushy at times which made it a bit uncomfortable and the entourage is not really cozy. In short, nice and tasty to have tried once, but for us not worth repeating.

This place has all the advantages : ans in atmosphere, pleasant staff, delicious dishes. Can't wait for the sun to shine to test their terrace and have the kids enjoy the playground next to it.

Been there with 8 people, very friendly staff and delicious food. Some of the group (real meat eaters;) were skeptical after seeing the menu but everyone thought the food was great! For groups you don't have to choose yourself but you get a 'surprise menu' with all dishes from the menu. Dietary requirements could be passed on and they were taken into account. Top restaurant!

Probably the best Vietnamese food I have ever had. We wandered in about 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and were met with the owner who seated us and took our order. The iberico pork and spare ribs were sticky and fall off the bone delicious. The octopus and brussels were cooked and seasoned to perfection. Great wine list and ambiance too. We will definitely be back.

While traveling solo, the hotel manager recommended this place — just a short walk away. What an incredible spot, even for a woman on her own. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. And the view over the water!! A perfect place with a perfect team.

As usual, me and my family try to use Google maps to find places with outstanding rating wherever we go. Papa Thang didn't disappoint. It was delicious. I could eat a whole table of their foods. Hungry people might want to consider ordering a side dish with rice or fries. Again, DELICIOUS food.

I was on a work trip and saw it was near my hotel and thought I would check it out. Walked in with no reservation, I was not prepared for how amazing this place is. Every dish was incredible. Each one was beautiful to look at, intense flavours but nothing overshadows anything else on the plate and perfect mix of textures. I seriously could have eaten everything on the menu - I stopped myself so I can come back again. Thanks to the team here, who were also super nice.

Super surprising and delicious food, for Asian food lovers who like a twist definitely recommended. Beautiful dishes prepared with care.

Delicious, surprising and healthy dishes.

A rare place for Amsterdam with delicious cuisine and not very large portions. The idea is for you to take different dishes and try more.

Wow. Excellent dinner - we had six dishes and two desserts between two. A clearly very carefully crafted menu, delicious flavours, and an owner who knows what's up. The cheesecake was phenomenal. Will be back as soon as we can.

Had nice service. Friendly man, I think he is the owner. Food was very tasty!

This is a fun place to eat. Tucked away on a canal in the North of Amsterdam. Really worth making the trip to eat there. Fantastic spicy steak tartare and delicious octopus and ribs. Thought the 2 sticks of kip were a bit over-priced at 14 euro but also delicious. Drinks are reasonably priced for Amsterdam standards these days. If you're a big eater it could get a bit pricey per person. We're not, so we definitely got our mouth-watering money's worth.

Lontano dal caos della bellissima Amsterdam e suggerito da conoscenti. Una piacevolissima sorpresa: piatti diversi dal solito, personale gentile e disponibile. È stato un piacere mangiare da papathang per l atmosfera all interno del locale ... sembrava di esser parte di una grande famiglia.

True to its mission. An authentic street food/bistro with a fine dining twist. With many an overpriced restaurant, the quality and value at Papa Thang are but the first of many reasons why I’ll be going back. You can feel the influence of Spain through Chef Thang’s food. His story of Vietnamese street food with Spanish elements (like the secreto iberico… just wow. Charred, juicy, packed with flavour, topped with classic Vietnamese additions - noodles, spring onions….). The tartare served with lotus chips was also a special mention, flavours of Vietnam in a classic fine dining dish. Oh and how could I forget the Nems. A humble restaurant on a beautiful corner of a quiet and wide canal. I would 10/10 recommend Papa Thangs. A genuine treasure. There is a lovely little outdoor dining area but the sun will go behind the buildings after 6-7 so be warned. Don’t worry there is plenty of indoor seating. I wish I took more photos but honestly, I was too busy enjoying the food. Thanks Papa Thang

Ate with a large group; food was delicious!! good service and an excellent chef. Cooks sincerely, freshly and often with a little twist. Hidden gem where we eat at least once a month.

The food is super expensive , very tasteless for Vietnamese cuisines . I would never recommend this place to any of my friends and family, never.

High expectations given the high average Google rating, but it was disappointing. Girl serving was very nice, the boy was most likely new and still has a lot to learn. You can't put dishes on the table without saying a word... he was young, but it doesn't contribute to a pleasant restaurant experience. We ordered 4 dishes, a tea and a soft drink and spent over 70 euros. The portions are small and disproportionate to what you pay. The vinaigrette with the scallops was excellent and this dish was the best of what we ordered and I can definitely recommend it. The wonton nachos are way too expensive for what they are. Unfortunately, we had to eat somewhere else later in the evening due to hunger, even though we are not big eaters.

Awesome experience, the taste of the dishes is amazing, the chef is adorable! This restaurant recommended by our Airbnb host checked all the boxes.

We weren't actually very hungry, but we couldn't resist the good food and kept ordering more 🎉

Amazing food with fantastic flavours! Highly recommend the spare ribs and the goats cheese cake. They are on another level!

Just lovely, food is delicious and worth the visit. I really liked the experience and specifically the taste of the food. Will surely come back in a future opportunity.

Delicious food. It was a bit quieter and we tasted that too! The desserts were ok, but the other dishes were great, truly 5 stars

Amazingly creative Dutch and Asian fusion! Delicious.

We enjoyed the dinner at Papa Thang a lot. Thang’s cuisine is a unique modern interpretation of Vietnamese street food classics from different regions giving it a completely new twist. Highly recommended.

Authentic yet creative Vietnamese elevated street food! I'm Vietnamese, grew up in Vietnam, and can recognize all the familiar flavors with new ingredients (e.g. Iberico pork) and the fine dining tapas style plating. Highly recommend!

Restaurant in one of the nicest areas of Amsterdam, outside the center and tourist traps. Simple and welcoming place, very kind staff and the owner is very prepared to guide you in his idea of ​​cuisine. Food with a thousand flavors, all fantastic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Delicious food. Only fresh ingredients, everything prepared in-house. Even very familiar food (Brussels sprouts) is prepared here in a special and surprisingly tasty way. At the table it is explained which herbs and spices are used for each dish. This is cooking from your heart.

One of the best gastronomic experience I’ve ever had. Can’t stress how GOOD this place is. Food is delicious, service is welcoming and efficient, atmosphere is cozy. Every single dish was delicious. Amazing selection of wine. I was enjoying so much that I didn’t have time to take pictures. It should be in the Michelin guide.

Gem discovered: Tasty, fresh and authentic food. Vietnamese with a modern twist with Eastern and local ingredients. Shares dining style and deliciously prepared in a nice building with enthusiastic staff. The menu is also suitable for people who eat vegan!

We came here for dinner based on the recent reviews on google and we were not disappointed. A friendly welcome to a small and cozy restaurant next to the river. We were recommended 6 -10. We had 6. Burnt mackerel, eggplant, nachos, sweet potato fries, cabbage and crepe. Fantastic twist on Vietnamese food. Highly recommended.

Hidden gem.Second time we were there. The space is sober and the service charming. You think where have I ended up and then the food arrives…amazing! Everything is tasty and refined. Special place. We'll be back.

Very cozy restaurant with super friendly service and Mr Thang is also the host, who likes to joke. All dishes on the menu are really tasty, but don't forget to order some specials, for example we had soft shell crab and the Brussels sprouts, which are really great. We thought the portions were fine and well priced. These are really beautiful dishes that you can share but can also keep for yourself. Just say that softshell is spin, you have more for yourself😉. For those who are very hungry, simply order enough rice and different types of fries. It is also a nice place with a super beautiful view of the water and NDSM in the background, and sometimes a beautiful sunset. Have a nice evening!

The owner is very friendly, there are so many delicious menu options. We really enjoyed the sharing concept for Vietnamese food. Looking forward to coming back😊

Small dishes, expensive. Number of dishes on the menu not available. Spent about €70 per person and left hungry

¡Platos realmente increíbles! Maravilloso, atento propietario con grandes historias. Hablamos de música jazz y próximos eventos que organizarán! Todo sobre crear comunidad. Personal muy amable : ) )

Delicious food; We ordered the Bitter Cubes, Banh Xeo, Poke Nachos, and Coconut Mango Pudding for dessert. Service was somewhat slow and chaotic, but that may have been due to the moment. Good price-quality ratio.

As a Vietnamese home chef, I often get asked by international friends where they can try good Vietnamese food in Amsterdam. I can't name one until Papa Thang. Authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a modernized touch. The Pho Carpaccio is a pleasant surprise, the Banh Xeo feels like home and the Octopus is a masterful showcase. The portion can be small but keep in mind that it's a fine dining, we don't see that a problem at all since the price is extremely affordable. The chef and the staff are super attentive and friendly. Top notch! Definitely a memorable experience in Amsterdam!

Wow wow wow. A must restaurant in Amsterdam. Every single dish was amazing! The people also amazing all of them!!!

We tried 6 dishes and all were truly spectacular in their own right. A bit pricey for the small portions and service was a bit slow, but I will definitely come back again.

Lovely place and yummiest pho on Saturdays.

Very cosy place in Noord. Refined vietnamese street food with a lot of taste. Big applause to the cabbage which imitates the texture of meat. Nice and relax staff also. The portions are perfect to share with 2. Highly recommend it for a chill and light dinner !

Nice restaurant in our own neighborhood with different-than-usual dishes. A lot of use of onion, which will not suit everyone, but the taste of the dishes is excellent (not pronounced or spicy, but not flat either). Service was excellent, everything was arranged quickly. What was striking was the choice of music (The Prodigy for example), which did not contribute to a quiet dinner. This calmed down a bit later. Nice place and excellent price/quality!

The best dining experience I’ve ever had in Amsterdam so far, Top-notch!!!

Very nice restaurant in Noord. We really liked the creative flavor combinations, especially the vegetarian dishes. Nice that you can also buy Vietnamese beers. Affordable, cozy and delicious. Definitely a keeper!

Echt heerlijk gegeten! Vooral de spruitjes zijn een must. Mooie ambiance en superaardige mensen. Aanrader! Mooie plek in Noord

The spruitjes dish is the best dish I’ve had in a long time. Papa Thang is a true gem in Amsterdam.

My friends and I went to dine today at Papa Thang. The food was great, we shared the roasted aubergine, which was especially delicious. Although I would highly recommend those dishes, I must say that the atmosphere in this restaurant was hostile. What looked to us like the chef would not stop screaming enraged at one of the service workers. That poor young girl (the only female staff member) was serving us and she was super hospitable, sweet and made us feel at home upon arrival. We really couldn’t understand the context of the the chef’s anger and to us it just looked like he was offloading onto this waitress, noone should be treated like that by their boss, no matter what mistake you’ve made. A good boss should be generous, understanding and an inspiration to his employees- and not an abuser who scares them into obedience. For this reason, I am leaving a 1-star review and would not recommend to eat there.

Excellent dishes and great service

An extraordinary and most excellent culinary experience

Vietnamees food with an European twist. The sauces and the food taste amazing, the portion are on the small size for the price you pay. The place is a bit hidden but looks amazing especially when you know the owner fix it up all by himself. You can even make a stop when you’re on a boat it’s next to the canal. They do random BBQ weekends which is fun and delicious. Keep an eye on this place!

Super tasty friendly service Nice location

Enjoyed the special dishes again this evening, such delicious flavor combinations, really great. Furthermore, super nice and helpful owner, sweet (and still learning) service.

Delicious food! The Vietnamese pancake in particular was fantastic and the staff was super friendly. Dishes were great, but we found the price/quantity a bit disappointing.

Amazing food experience at Papa Thang! The octopus is incredibly soft and humid and tasty- just give it a try! I was honestly so surprised by the cabbage and that will definitely get back to trying it again! 💁🏻‍♀️We were a group of five adults, and I would recommend sharing 7-9 dishes for a fulfilling experience.

Nice and funny service. All dishes are tasty and original. Fits well with their own culture. Quickly on the table and we will definitely be back.

Amazing food and friendly service

I don't have any photos, because all the food looked and tasted amazing! I hadn't thought about photos, until after I was mostly done with a dish.

Incredible modern vietnamese in north amsterdam. Every dish we ordered was amazing. Could not recommend more.

Nice location to eat and it is attractively decorated. Service was not proactive, we had to keep asking if we could have something to drink, dessert, etc. Poke nachos way too expensive for what you get, avocado was not ripe enough. All in all a good meal but too expensive for the quality.

This place is great. The food is very delicious: an unexpected exquisite combination of sauces and seasonings with dishes. The atmosphere is cozy, a very simple design. Take into account that portions are small, as it's a sharing concept to try several meals. Highly recommend spring roll and banana bread with an ice cream.

Quiet restaurant located next to the fireboat. The menu is for sharing, delicious Vietnamese dishes, of which I liked the crèpes with pork and vegetables the most. Although, the Vietnamese nachos were also very tasty. Staff was friendly and funny which I always appreciate.

Everything we had was fantastic and we wanted to try everything. Strongly recommend

Simple place but nice to have a dinner. The menu choice is not great but the food is tasty and original. Service was good.

Delicious ! Finally a restaurant with modest portions and modest prices too, which allows you to taste a little bit of everything with great pleasure!

The atmosphere was relaxing. Our waiter was delightful and the food, both in quality and quantity was magnifique! We ordered half the menu, and it was all good. We had a fantastic night. We left with smiles on our faces and definitely think it’s worth a trip back.

What a disappointment as it had 4,7 stars. Bland food, overpriced, poor service, zero vibe. The endive was tasty - but that’s all.

Un lugar delicioso que debes probar! La experiencia es relajada y acogedora. Todos los ingredientes son frescos y coloridos. Cada plato tiene un perfil de sabor que se quedará contigo después de salir del restaurante. Las combinaciones únicas de salsas y sabores son diferentes a cualquier otra cosa en la zona. Recomiendo encarecidamente ir! Los especiales se actualizan con frecuencia y suelo elegir uno de esos junto con algunos de mis favoritos: pinchos de pollo, costillas de repuesto y, por supuesto, los poke nachos para compartir. No te vayas antes de probar algunos de sus postres, igualmente deliciosos como los principales. La tarta de queso de cabra es mi favorita. La selección de bebidas va desde alcohólicas hasta no alcohólicas. Suelo tomar una botella de vino tinto, un refrescante cóctel o la deliciosa hierba de limón caliente y té de jengibre.

quite underwhelming food which is unfortunate as the location/atmosphere is so nice

Delicious food, the most incredible service I’ve ever had, very friendly staff and top notch food

This place is incredible. The food is great, the atmosphere is great, and the camaraderie between the staff is lovely! If I could give it 10 stars I would. I’ll definitely be back!

Just extraordinary! Food, experience, service and ambiance is just perfect. Gracias Thanh, it won't be the last time we will come.