Restaurant Semhar in Jordaan

First time tried Ethiopian didn’t even know what to expect, but everything, i mean everything was amazingly delicious!!!

I always enjoy the food here and it is my go-to for Eritrean food in Amsterdam. Vegan option is delicious. Unfortunately they only sell water, rather than provide a tap water option, even when other beverages are ordered. For me it really compromises the overall dining experience as it makes the atmosphere much less friendly.

Fish is NOT vegetarian, so definitely do not classify it as such. Furthermore, it is perfectly normal to offer a spoon or fork to people who ask for one. Precisely because teff can be very filling, and precisely because some people simply want to experience and appreciate the pure flavors and spices separately. If you do not want to or cannot use chopsticks at an Asian restaurant, you can also ask for cutlery. They appreciate that you are trying and experiencing the food. That is what it should be about.

Very tasty food and friendly service!

Fantastic restaurant with beautifully prepared Ethiopian/ Eritrean food. Well worth a visit and the waiter was a lovely friendly man. Plenty of vegan options!

My first time to an Ethiopian restaurant, after a tip from a friend. Loved it! Had small triangle shaped deep fried snacks as an appetizer, then went for a large plate with so much tasty and very healthy stuff! With the enjera pancakes that are very light on the stomach you pick up the various vegetables, lentils mixes and meat stew. Enjoyed the variation, they bring new enjeras the moment you run out. My special thanks goes out to the kind and humble staff. They see everything, are proactive so that you have the feeling they are one step ahead of you and offer service that is rarely experienced in restaurants in this price class.

Delicious! Friendly people! Recommended! Thank you!

Love this place. Everything is so perfect and simple!

Had an excellent meal again yesterday. It’s programmed into my phone for a reason.

Gorgeous food, lots of it and good value.

Restaurant that refuses to serve tap water despite standard priced meals (not cheap tier food) and purchase of two drinks for two people. In 2026 that's just unacceptable. The food was good and service decent but it does not make up for that, in my view. Better off going to Fenan Klein Afrika in West, where tap water is served, food is (even) better, and the staff are very kind as well.

My wife & I had a very nice few hours here. We were in Amsterdam during the King's Day celebrations & were looking for somewhere to rest our feet & have a few drinks while waiting for friends. The coconut & banana beers were amazing, we didn't order food but saw other tables did & it looked & smelt great. The staff were very busy but amazing, friendly & made sure we were looked after. Would definitely recommended if you're in the area & hopefully we'll return one day.

It's always a pleasure to eat here. The delicious aromas already reveal the fantastic dishes being served. The owner is incredibly friendly. In short: excellent!

Sooooo goood !!! First time here and it was incredible ❤️❤️❤️

First experience with a Ethopiean restaurant and it did not disappoint at all! Lots of small dishes together on a festive plate and ofcourse the famous african pancakes. Great to try out a different cuisine in this way!

Really goood Restaurant. The Food is a little spicy but the right Way. Make sure you get the combi plate so you can try everything. Friendly Stuff. We didnt need a Reservation.

Incredibly flavorful food with complex spice blends. Beautiful presentation of every course, from appetizers to dessert. Above all, the service was warm, prompt, friendly, and attentive. It is clear that the owners and staff care a lot and do everything they can to ensure you enjoy your meal to the fullest :) Cozy atmosphere and it made me comfortable and want to stay a while. Beauty in the details, like designs on the dinnerware, the lighting. We’ve been to a handful of different Eritrean & Ethiopian restaurants in Amsterdam and NL and Semhar is by far the best!

Very nice food with friendly staff. You notice the hart for their cuisine. Was a great experience and would totally recommend.

The food is delicious for a good price. People are very friendly.

The food was incredibly delicious and ready quickly. I'll definitely be back. It's also great that everything is gluten-free, so I can bring more people!

OMG! We loved it! 🤤🤩 It was incredibly authentic and delicious. The service was so friendly and welcoming. The prices were totally reasonable. We even got a little extra on the house. We'll definitely be back on our next trip to Amsterdam! 🙌🏽

The best for us! Delicious food, friendly service, and always satisfied! We'll definitely be back.

Super nice people and delicious food!! ❤️

This place has been my favourite place in Amsterdam for the past years. The food is consistently awesome. The owner is friendly and helpful. They have a separate room where we even celebrated our wedding here with a group of 50-60 people and it was such a beautiful experience. In summer there's a terrace looking in the Gracht. I recommend this place to everyone who wants to enjoy freaking awesome food with lovely service and atmosphere Thanks for every time you took care of us.

Good Ethiopian/ Eritrean food. Fun and tasty experience. Definitely recommend to 2-person sharing menus. Coming back soon!

Four of us had a wonderful meal - excellent and authentic Eritrean/Ethiopian food. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Highly recommend to anyone who loves flavorful food!

We had a great meal here this evening. We asked for the vegetarian platter to be vegan which was no problem at all. All of the food was delicious and the injera was so fluffy. We hope to return next time we are in Amsterdam!

I left the restaurant feeling disappointed and cheated. My meal arrived late, was poorly seasoned, and a requested dish was unavailable despite being on the menu. Staff communication was terrible, and the ambiance felt loud and chaotic. Won’t be returning.

Terrible experience—our table was ignored for long periods and the kitchen sent dishes out cold. When we asked for corrections, staff seemed annoyed. The dining room looked neglected and dirty in corners. Overall, a highly unsatisfactory restaurant visit.

I was shocked by the poor hygiene and sloppy presentation. The bread tasted stale, salad wilted, and glassware had spots. The server was dismissive and slow to respond. For the price charged, this level of service is unacceptable and disappointing.

The restaurant seemed disorganized from the start. Reservation was lost, seating confused, and staff unsettled. Dishes came lukewarm, flavors missing, and the bill contained errors. Management offered little apology or remedy for the poor experience. Would not recommend this place to anyone.

What a letdown—flavors were flat and the texture was wrong on multiple dishes. The waiter misquoted wait times and service felt rushed. The seating area was cramped and tables were not properly cleared. Sadly, this dining experience did not justify the cost or effort.

Our recent meal here was a disaster. Several dishes arrived late and at different times, one was clearly reheated, and the staff offered poor apologies. Cleanliness seemed lacking and the kitchen's organization appeared chaotic. I expected much better from a place like this.

Extremely dissatisfied with tonight's visit. The entrée was overcooked, sides were soggy, and the presentation sloppy. Service was slow and unprofessional, with errors on the bill. The dining area felt noisy and neglected. I left hungry and annoyed—definitely not worth the money paid.

This restaurant failed to meet basic expectations. Our meals were underseasoned and lukewarm, while the servers were inattentive and disorganized. The table was sticky and the restrooms unkempt. For the price charged, the quality was unacceptable. Overall, a frustrating and regrettable dining experience.

Food was so delicious, we shared the 2-person vegetarian platter (#13 - Bebeanetu) so that we could try a little bit of everything, and it was full of flavor and variety. In addition to the food, what made this place stand out from other Eritrean-Ethiopian restaurants in Amsterdam was the lovely interior and cozy, warmly-lit atmosphere. So nice for dinner during these darker months. Looking forward to coming back!

Fantastic food and friendly service! We absolutely enjoyed our meals there.

Fantastic food, truly delicious. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service.

Delicious food lovely service. V recommend

Such good food! 👌🏾 highly recommend.

Really delicious food and very nice service. We hade a great time ☺️

Great!!! Good prices, friendly owners

We had a delicious meal yesterday. A vegetarian dish (you get a huge one!) for two. Super friendly people, a 10!

The food was excellent and reasonably priced.

Delicious food, atmosphere and music are good, and mega nice people

(English below) Super authentic restaurant. The food was delicious; we had a mixed platter for two. The spiciness is appropriate for European palates. There's no cutlery provided, but there's plenty of time to wash up beforehand. Afterward, there's a bowl of lemon for washing up. Service was spot-on. No waiting. Highly recommended. A super authentic restaurant. The food was delicious; we had a mixed platter for two. The spiciness is appropriate for European palates. There's no cutlery provided, but there's plenty of time to wash up beforehand. Afterward, there's a bowl of lemon for washing up. Service was spot-on. No waiting. Highly recommended.

The atmosphere and food are out of this world. Fantastic experience and Johannes is a great host. Recommended!!!

Amazing food and a great dining experience overall!

Our first time eating Eritrean food, we ordered a mixed platter for two, which offered generous portions. Served on flatbreads, there are various braised meat and vegetable dishes with varying degrees of spiciness. You eat them with your hands. Overall, it was delicious, but it's a matter of taste.

Wow what a great meal! The owner takes a lot of pride in his food and its presentation.

very delicious food and nice service :)

What a great place, delicious food! Love the service. Really an experience that you will not find anywhere else!

I live in Amsterdam and this is the best food I’ve had in the city! The injera is soft and thicker than other places. The injera:stew ratio was perfect with full of flavor and spices! Food portion is relatively big and your smooch will be filled with happiness:)

Very tasty food and super friendly staff

Advised. True Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine. Nice environment, courteous staff. Prepare to eat with your hands!

Here you can eat delicious food for a cheap price. You get a kind of pancake with everything on it. You don't get cutlery. You can also order a coconut beer. It is very cheap, very friendly service. Very hospitable and you will be served quickly and well

We recently dined at Semhar, an Ethiopian restaurant in Amsterdam, and it was a delightful experience that stood out among the many Ethiopian spots we’ve visited across several countries. Having been to a couple of dozen Ethiopian restaurants in places like the U.S., Canada, and beyond, Semhar impressed us with its excellent food and service. The staff were warm and attentive, making us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. The menu offered a variety of dishes, but what really caught our attention were a couple of vegetarian options we hadn’t encountered before, even after years of exploring Ethiopian cuisine. These new dishes - part of the veggie platter -- were flavorful and well-spiced, showcasing the diversity of Ethiopia’s plant-based offerings, which are a staple due to the country’s Orthodox Christian fasting traditions. The injera, a cornerstone of any Ethiopian meal, was great—darker and crispier than some we’ve had, with a pleasant tang. However, unlike the restaurants we’ve visited in DC and LA, where injera is often made with 100% teff flour, Semhar’s version was a blend of teff with other flours, likely wheat or barley. This seems to be a common practice in European Ethiopian restaurants, possibly due to the high cost of teff or to cater to local tastes, as we’ve noticed this trend in other European cities as well. While the injera was still delicious, we missed the distinct nutty flavor and texture that pure teff brings, which is a hallmark of the more traditional injera we’ve had stateside. Overall, Semhar is a solid 4-star restaurant. The excellent food, unique vegetarian dishes, and top-notch service made for a memorable meal, though the blended injera was a slight departure from what we’re used to. The cozy atmosphere and the social, communal style of eating—scooping up stews with injera by hand—added to the experience, making it a great spot for anyone looking to explore Ethiopian cuisine in Amsterdam.

Went here with a friend and the food was fantastic, and the service was even better. We finished the dishes and still had some injera left, and the chef offered to bring us some more food to finish it off. They also brought us a small bowl to wash our hands after. 10/10 service, would dine here again.

Excellent food, great taste, could be a bit more. A warm welcome and a good atmosphere. The bottle of sparkling water that's served costs €6.50, though this isn't mentioned beforehand.

Wonderful food, highly recommended! We ate the vegetarian platter and loved it. Extremely friendly service and nice atmosphere :)

The food was terrible, absolutely inedible. I'll never go back here again. Unfriendly staff, poor service, and the food was not fresh and undercooked.

Good treatment and excellent and abundant food. Excellent value for money.

One of the nicest in the city. Very nice staff and always delicious food. Good prices and nice atmosphere.

Super rude waiter/owner, really honestly haven't experienced waited this rude ever! Would NOT recommend. Sorry.

Bad food bad waiter and portion is not enugh bad quality and bad smell

Don’t ever eat there worst foods ever with low portion low quality

Worst food ever portion for two is nit even enough for one person we ordered number 12 and it was bullshit for taste and everything i never recommend to anyone

Fantastic experience in authentic restaurant. The food was delicious, the portion size was perfect and the host was very welcoming! After dinner we enjoyed the traditional coffee, which was very lovingly prepared. A big recommendation for eating Ethiopian/Eritrean!

¡Buena comida! Si no sabes qué pedir, Semhar te mantendrá en lo cierto. Pedimos carne y verduras Meadi... . estaba delicioso y pulió los platos con la injera!

We had a very nice experience, staff is friendly, service was fast, atmosphere is pleasant and the food is delicious. Great experience to try a different type of food

Food was delicious, people were super friendly, and we were able to go straight away and were helped straight away. I was asked several times how it tasted, overall it was really great!

Semhar restaurant is one of the places that you truly enjoy - it’s not just nice like most of the places seem after you’ve experienced quite a lot of different restaurants, it is a really unique place which even an experienced food lover can enjoy and learn from. Thank you!

Cozy atmosphere, dim lighting, very nice, courteous service. Food didn't take long to arrive. We had the vegetarian platter, four or five different dishes.

My first time eating eritrean, and it was delicious!

Delicious food at reasonable prices - and fantastic coffee too

We had a very nice dinner there yesterday! We picked a shared dish with lots of different foods to try and it was amazing, it was spicy, delicious and colorful, the crepes were very nice and soft! The menu is both in dutch and english, we had a very good time, thank you.

Deliciosa cena - - pedido dos platos combinados para nosotros cuatro. Tan bueno, si no mejor, que la media docena de veces que hemos comido comida etíope en los Estados Unidos. Servicio agradable y un buen ambiente; a un precio razonable. Vale la pena probar, especialmente si estás buscando un lugar en el Jordaan.

An aggressive black employee was shouting and acting violently because a friend didn’t pay 4€ for the toilet. My question is: where are the receipts for using the restroom in the restaurant? The case has been reported to the city authorities.

Enjoyed the meal very much. Lovely presentation, tasty, and wonderful service.

Had dinner here yesterday with my friend. Service was very friendly, the food was delicious. Definitely recommended!

We were there right before closing time, the only customers there. The food was amazing, the staff was attentive. Highly recommend!

Excellent authentic food, kind owner, and cute terrace overlooking quiet canal. Very clean also. We had the 3 person surprise meal and absolutely devoured it, highly recommend!!

Waiter super disrespectful that made us feel really not welcomed. He nearly threw menu and food at us and tried to stop someone from the group to go to the toilet. Not recommended at all

Waiter super disrespectful that made us feel really not welcomed. He nearly threw menu and food at us and tried to stop someone from the group to go to the toilet. Not recommended at all

Very delicious food!! We ordered me'adi (with meat) and bebeanetu (vegetarian). A large platter arrives with a lot of different dishes. Both menus are incredibly delicious and taste wonderful. Yum!! In addition, you eat the delicious enjera, which are very tasty and juicy. There is a nice, authentic atmosphere at the place and you feel welcome. If you come to Amsterdam you must definitely visit this restaurant!! P.S. they are closed on Mondays :)

Delicious! Vegetarian platter highly recommended, as well as the honey wine! Service very friendly!

fantastic diner with business partners & colleagues

Un colega y yo fuimos invitados a un restaurante de negocios. Estábamos sentados fuera en una noche de verano ardiente después de una bienvenida amable y cálida por el (lo que sospecho que era) el propietario / chef. Un consejo de la relación comercial que pedimos a los Me’adi. Como nunca comí comida etíope, y me dijeron que estaría deliciosa, ¡estaba ansiosa por probarla! Y no me decepcionó, un plato enorme (¡realmente enorme!) con una colección de verduras y carnes con Injera se colocó delante de nosotros. Fue absolutamente increíble, cada componente fue preparado y cocinado a la perfección. El café se servía de una manera tradicional (lo que me pareció). El personal fue amable y explicó el contenido de los platos. Con todo, una experiencia perfecta, volveré!

Very nice little gem by the canal. Delicious food

Amazing food, service, smiles and coffeee. What an absolute gem in Amsterdam 💯🙏🏻

I personally like their Ethiopian cuisine better than 2 other restaurants I’ve tried so it’s a regular for me whenever I visit Amsterdam with friends. I would recommend this to everyone- must try. Also try their special beer.

Was really nice , both vegetarian and non vegetarian options were good

One of the best food experiences I've had in Amsterdam. The people are wonderful and the place welcomes you. We had the chef's surprise meal and omg...it blew our minds. You've got to give this a go. Can't wait to be back.

Atypical restaurant and delicious cuisine!

Ethiopisch - Eritrees en dat zie je! Super leuk restaurant en heerlijk eten uit die landen. Een schaal vol lekkers, zonder bestek en met Enjera’s. Aardige mensen ook! Leuk restaurant, leuke inrichting. De glazen mogen wat schoner ;).

Era la mia prima volta in un ristorante di cucina eritrea e al di là della novità di mangiare unicamente con le mani, le pietanze erano davvero squisite. Certo, i sapori erano piuttosto intensi e l'odore di cucina/cucinato ti rimane addosso per 24 ore. Al di là di queste annotazioni, è stato estremamente soddisfacente, da riprovare.

Delicious, wonderful service and AMAZING homemade date cake as dessert. Would recommend for authentic Eritrean food!

Great food, a bit pricey but very good experience overall. The service could improve: the restaurant was almost empty but we had to wait some time before getting our order taken.

Lovely place for a dine-in experience. We had the tasting menu and the food is very tasty. The drinks are also unique and worth a try!

Delicious food, friendly staff.