Sama Sebo in Museumkwartier

We’ loved the food more than we expected

Had a delicious meal in an authentic atmosphere. The staff is very friendly with Amsterdam humor. PS: Sorry Grandma, this food was tastier.

Ordered terribly fried thin noodles; well, it was boiled noodles without salt with some raw onion and fried onions on top, totally tasteless. The fried chicken was inedible too, like overcooked old chicken. I've never eaten anything so disgusting, but if you read the reviews there are people who think it's delicious. Well, maybe I ordered the wrong thing, I don't know if those people's sense of taste has disappeared due to corona. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice, but never again for me.

Excellent, flavorful cuisine with generous portions. The decor is a bit dated... friendly and welcoming staff

Called into Sama Sebo yesterday evening for dinner as it was close to our hotel and discovered a real gem. Although it was busy and got busier whilst we were there they found us a table. We ordered the Rice Table and could not fault it. Food was tasty, service friendly and there was a nice but busy atmosphere. Would recommend giving it a try for visitors to Amsterdam.

This restaurant catered for veganism, there were quite a few dishes from the set menu that were suitable. Service was friendly.

We had a delicious meal with 4 people; we ordered a rijsttafel for 2 and even had leftovers!

Food is tasty but if you had authentic Indonesian food before, the food here is not. Nonetheless, I still think the food is comforting after a long museum tour nearby. The vibe is w but strange. It’s like a pub but also felt very 80s. The waitress was a bit aggressive but nice. But she mentioned several times about the tips when she brought the bill. We didn’t tip because the service was not especially great and tipping isn’t the culture in the Netherlands. Just because we are Americans, it doesn’t mean we have to tip everywhere we go. The waitress’s smile immediately disappeared and looked pretty upset and cold. We were quite surprised because the service we had in Amsterdam during the whole week was really amazing. This is by far the most disappointing one.

The food is simply excellent; authentic Indonesian cuisine with incredible flavor. The service was fantastic, very attentive and friendly at all times. If you go, you absolutely must order the chicken skewers with peanut sauce (sate ayam)—they're out of this world! Highly recommended.

I've had much better Indonesian food. The waiter talked us into buying the beer. At €6 for 0.25 liters, it was the most expensive beer I've ever had.

It has authentic Indo food. We tried the pork and chicken skewers, fried rice, fish, plan rice, veggie soup and the curry thing. Everything tastes really good. Between the pork and chicken I would say they cook pork much better.

Excellent Indonesian cuisine. My wife and I both had the “smaller rice table” so we got to try a lot of different menu items. The chicken and beef were amazing. We were stuffed so you get plenty of food even in the smaller version

Visited the Van Gogh and on way to the core, we went in as it had started to drizzle and we thought we could grab a quick bite and chill. The asian lady (may be manager) made us feel like we were making a huge mistake ordering Ala Carte and was guilt tripping, rolling her eyes and complaining to the other waiters in plain sight. Food was great!! We did eat a decent meal except they wanted us to go for the full personal rice plates at 2 pm in the afternoon which we were not interested in. Please treat your customers right and be courteous!! Be more welcoming no matter who is stepping in to spend their money on your store as there is no dearth of great kitchens in Amsterdam. Time for her to take a crash course in EDI and how to avoid (un)conscious bias!! Good luck!

An extremely unpleasant experience, terrible attention, is attended by a very rude tall man, I do not recommend visiting this place.

Food was expensive and we were awkwardly forced to tip.

First time trying Indonesian food, it was great! Our server was very helpful with recommendations and sizing of portions.

Got the small rice table (having had the standard (or very large) rice table before). Thought we'd go small as there was always a lot of left over food on the standard. Food was well prepared, as always, but, as virtually everything was on one plate all the flavours and tastes were mixed together, so you couldn't really get your own taste choices together. Also as it's a single plate, the sense of an event meal is gone, it's a plate of food, that's it. It feels like there's space for a 'medium' rice table, like a slimmed down from the standard range of plates, but more than one plate. Throw in the pushy 'service charge is added, do you want to leave a tip? No. Are you sure?' conversation when we were paying and I don't see us coming back. The meals gone from something we have to have when we're in Amsterdam, to something we probably won't bother with, which is a a shame, as the food is good, but one or more compromises too far have been made.

Since when did tipping become mandatory in this country? I had no issue with the meal and was enjoying the experience, but the owner completely ruined the mood at the end by pressuring me for a tip. A good meal should not end with customers feeling uncomfortable or forced into paying extra.

I orders one plate with everything for one person. Food was okay. Nice atmosphere and friendly staffs, but it was busy and a group of customers was quite loud.

Wholesome family-owned Dutch-Indonesian restaurant. The food was amazing and the service was perfect. Great vibe, people are really kind and smily. Would definitely come again. Recommend 100%

Stopped by for a quick lunch as it was close to our hotel Park Centraal. Indonesian food is popular in Amsterdam. The menu had multi course lunch options at 79 euro and 39 euro but unmoored for an ala carte option with chicken. Curry vegetable and rice and a beer. It seems they use the same peanut sauce across many dishes and many restaurants. Sama sebo has burners they put dishes on to keep the food warm.

Walked in without a reservation. Which was my bad. I politely asked the waiter for a seat. Although he saw he enter first he approached an ang mo who was behind me. I am Asian. He probably assumed I was from mainland China and could see his disadain for Asians. He attended to the ang mo first and gave me a very condescending look. I was utterly disgusted and walked off. Don’t waste your time. Lots of great places elsewhere to eat

Not what I was expecting. When you think Indonesian food, you think strong flavors and spices. Everything was very mild. We got the small rice table special for 27 euros per person. It included 9 items. Appetizer was shrimp crackers with dipping sauce followed by all the other items on one regular sized round dinner plate. It does say they serve on one plate on the menu. Some items were on top of each other. I would have preferred to have them not piled so closely. Seemed like used canned green beans and not enough spices. Same for chicken which was crispy but no flavor. Coffee was good and server was friendly and politely asked if we wanted to add tip.

Food was delicious!! Ordered the Beef Rendang, Babi Ketjap, Ajjam Indonesian special and nasi goreng. Flavors were rich but not too spicy and overall very filling for a good price. Would recommend!

It was really great, delicious food and great staff.

Wonderful restaurant! We popped in for lunch after visiting the Van Gogh Museum and before the Anne Frank House and they were very accomodating with our timing. It was our first time trying Indonesian food and it was amazing. Food came out quickly and well prepared - I definitely recommend getting one meat, one side (like rice or noodles), and one veggie per person. Would definitely come back and try all the rest of the delicious menu!

Authentic Amsterdam and Indonesian food; we were served with Amsterdam humor and banter, and we also had a delicious meal! Next time, as agreed, we will bring a rijstevlaai from South Limburg!

Such delicious food, everyone is so kind

Delicious Indonesian rijsttafel in a cozy atmosphere. It's a pity the waiter spoke almost no Dutch, but that is quite often the case these days.

A tasty plate of Indonesian food for a fair price without much fuss. A beer on the side. Absolutely top-notch. As for the atmosphere and service, a solid 10. The staff is engaged, full of (Amsterdam) humor and willing to do anything; great dynamics, good hospitality with a sense of timing. They visibly enjoy their work and that makes for the atmosphere. Many a restaurant or shop could take a leaf out of their book. Definitely coming back soon, looking forward to it!

We had a great experience at lunchtime today; our server was lovely. The dishes we ordered were generous and delicious. A wonderful introduction to Indonesian cuisine.

Got lucky to get in. Reservation is highly recomended. The food is very tasty. Amazing.

Good Indonesian food, reasonable prices. Reservations recommended as it's always very busy.

We got take out and this was the best Indonesian food we’ve had in a long long time. The portions were hearty and affordable. The beef rendang was aromatic and delicious. The chicken satay was perfect. Plus, the staff were so silly and cute. They made us laugh many times while we waited for our order (which only took five minutes to prepare). It feels like the staff actually enjoy working there and the food was made with love. Highly recommend!

What fantastic food at Sama Sebo! From the moment we walked in, we received such a warm welcome. The people who work here are truly—really—friendly. Incredibly hospitable, with humor, and a visible joy in their work. You can immediately feel that in the atmosphere. We each ordered our own plate, and it was truly fantastic. Everything was so delicious that the photo we added shows only empty plates 😄 That says it all. The flavors were amazing, perfectly balanced, and prepared with care. Excellent service, delicious food, and a lovely, warm atmosphere. Absolutely recommended—we'll definitely be back!

Fantastic. What a delight. That combination of a traditional Dutch pub and amazing (real) Indonesian food. I'm a fan.

we came during the pandemic so we were asked for proof of vaccination. i didn't have it on an app, but I had a yellow vaccination book. the man--i think the owner said , "no, anyone could've forged this document''. so I am never going to eat there, as he basically accused me of forging my vaccination document. he was so discriminatory!

Got a table for the same night by contacting the restaurant direct, instead of using the reservation services. Service & food was excellent!

Advise to visiting tourists. I live in Amsterdam for over 40 years and never visited this restaurant. My experience this week was very disappointing. Expensive, small portion (small rijsttafel) served on a plate. And overcooked.

First meal in Amsterdam and it did not disappoint. Very good service. Very good flavours. Decent portion size. Lovely and friendly host.

A true Amsterdam classic with an Indonesian twist We had a wonderful dinner at Sama Sebo. The atmosphere feels like a typical Amsterdam „kroeg“ – cozy, relaxed and very gezellig – but with the spicy, aromatic twist of Indonesian cuisine. We ordered the mini rijsttafel, which comes with a selection of classic dishes served together on one plate, and everything was absolutely delicious. The chicken was perfectly crispy, the satay was well seasoned, and the rendang was rich, tender and full of flavour. What really stood out to us was the friendly and attentive service. This was especially refreshing, as many places nowadays tend to offer rather indifferent or rushed service. This place has instantly become a new favourite for us. We’ll definitely be back.

Good Indonesian food in a family type of ambience..an old restaurant with very friendly staff who will guide you through the menu. Enjoyed our meal very much

Never had such bad Indonesian food. It started with the reservation, which they couldn't find. We were given a table anyway, but they told us we had to be ready in an hour. Very hospitable!!!! The food was so bad that we left before then. Everything tasted the same, like the green beans, tofu, and bean sprouts. The sajor, gado gado, and frikadel were okay, but the babi, daging, and satay were terrible. The food wasn't even warm enough. Note: I'm Indonesian myself!

I'm a little late to the party; we went a few weeks ago, tourists from France. Besides, I don't like giving 5 stars, nobody's perfect. But I highly recommend this place; honestly, we had a wonderful evening. Indonesian cuisine and a pleasant atmosphere. Be warned, it's packed, full of regulars, and if, like us, you're just passing through, it's best to make a reservation. But you can go without hesitation; you won't be disappointed. If you're not familiar with Indonesian cuisine, this is also a great opportunity to discover it. And contrary to what I've sometimes read, the waitresses are very friendly and the other customers were in good spirits.

Excellent Indonesian restaurant. Even with the tasting menu—and it is just one menu—you get the chance to sample a multitude of flavors and combinations. Although we hadn't made a reservation—highly recommended, as it was packed on a Tuesday night—they found us a spot at the bar and then seated us at a table when one became available. The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the service was quite fast. We were surprised by the great atmosphere among them, and we ended up talking about Johan Cruyff with the owner—I knew him and his family. We promised to return when we visit Amsterdam again; it's an excellent place.

Simply TOP! Delicious food and a great atmosphere.

Really good Indonesian food. Nice atmosphere.

Very nice place, great food and great service even though we didn't speak the language.

Great place! Had a wonderful meal with my daughter. Fond memories of dinner with my dad.

Sama Sebo is the BEST and Oldest Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam… No matter what you order it will be an experience….the Rijsttafel is the dish to go for….you won’t regret it.

Great place! Cozy and good food!

Delicious food, highly recommended. Service was super friendly, we'll definitely be back.

We made two visits – first for a small meal, second for the rice table. Investigating dinner options within walking distance of the Hotel Park Central, we stumbled across what turned out to be an Amsterdam culinary institution. Sama Sebo, established in 1969, is the oldest restaurant serving Indonesian food in the Netherlands. We reserved a table and returned to be seated at the bar – which itself dates to 1911. Our light meal comprised gado gado salad, beef rendang and some chicken satay skewers. The excellent flavours were a pleasant surprise and we mopped up with an IPA and a red wine. On a whim I booked dinner for the following night, requesting the rijsttafel. We were not disappointed and Daniel Sebo looked after us. A good table, and around 20 dishes came out to taste with the traditional rice to accompaniment. We enjoyed, prawns, meat dishes, salad, condiments and so much more. It was a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommended.

Excellent food and atmosphere. Heavly recommended.

Best Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam! The service is incredibly hospitable and very professional! We had a fantastic lunch!!

I'd describe this restaurant as trash. The food doesn't even resemble Indonesian food, not even a little bit. I'm a Chinese Indonesian who traveled to Europe for a couple of days to see the Van Gogh exhibition. I was looking for an Indonesian restaurant nearby, but I was caught. The biggest problem was that when I was unattended, I took out a bottle of water from my bag, and a woman gave me an unfriendly look and a low voice, immediately telling me not to drink. I thought I'd taken out a gun, she reacted so violently. The biggest problem was that their chicken was incredibly dry, and the pork smelled bad. Their signature Indonesian dish, the soy pancake, was also awful. Their rice was the worst part, it was just so repetitive and steamed.

Great server Food came super quickly and was delicious

Reserved a week later, but they still had a table for us. Food was tasty, and I’ve visited Indonesia and it the flavours are great, unlike some other reviews state. Very old school vibe in there. Loved it

Honestly, it's delicious and the service is very excellent 👍👍👍

A very good introduction to Indonesian cuisine. It's best to order a large or small rice plate. Note: We found the restaurant very busy, so reservations are recommended. Friendly and fast service, delicious food. Only the portion size could be improved. A lovely dinner in Amsterdam.

The food was delicious and the service was top notch.

Phenomenal food and reasonably priced. The rijstaffel here is stunning. Would definitely recommend!

Tourist trap. Overpriced and mediocre. To be fair it is in the museum area. Food was not made to order and came out in 5 minutes. 4 euro for a small water. 24 for the “special”. Not a traditional vibe as staff are Dutch. The reviews you see here are clearly marketing. Better and cheaper food at the stalls by the museum.

Authentic Indonesian food, so with a fork and spoon, but no knife. Here, Indonesian cuisine is still prepared and served as it should be! Delicious, and the service is VERY hospitable and attentive. It was our first visit, but before you know it, you'll feel like a regular.

What a wonderful evening the food was amazing & the staff was attentive friendly & helpful. A wonderful birthday evening could not have asked for better

Only one shrimp in a shrimp dish - tiny one-, servers indifferent, owner very agressive

Such a delicious dinner! A family friend had recommended this spot and it did not disappoint. Would recommend having a reservation, as they get very busy. The staff are so kind and were able to accommodate me (no reservation, but party of 1 and I came early before the dinner rush)

I went there after seeing a review from a Korean, and it was the worst. The taste was so-so, the portions were for children, and above all, the service was the worst. I felt really bad after eating it as my first meal. Save your time and money.

Great place, dog friendly and easy

Got the rice plate. Really enjoyed the experience and the atmosphere!

Its a Indonesian cousine restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam. You need to book a table before going there. Food is awesome and the owner and servers are helpful.

Fantastic food, the nicest staff, and an authentic atmosphere. These are the main reasons our family has been going here for over 15 years, and the quality remains just as great!

Great food for a reasonable price, friendly and helpful staff, menu only in English

We had a delicious Indonesian rice table at Sama Sebo on PC Hoofdstraat. Recommended by friends. So if you're in the area, Adam, definitely stop by. Tip: make a reservation in advance.

I loved it!!! The best meal I had in Amsterdam. 10/10 service, even though I was traveling alone and spoke poor English. The only thing worth mentioning is that the plates are small. Or at least the skewers I ordered. The very friendly waiter recommended the rice. And a 10/10. I'd definitely go back again. I was a tourist...

Top restaurant with good food and friendly staff.

The restaurant is not honest on Google. After booking on Google and arriving, it turned out to be closed.

Came here and there was a mix up with the reservation. We were treated in an incredibly rude fashion. Unbelievable

We came without having booked, instead of kindly explaining to us that they had no space, the owner said no very curtly without smiling or thanking us. We could clearly see that the tourists were bothering him because we were stared at by everyone. We didn't have time to taste the food, certainly good and it didn't make us want to come back

The lady serving is rude - she forces you to order large dishes, she did not want to accept an order for smaller dishes from the menu. The beer is good, the dishes I have, the taste is not great. The large dishes with a mix of everything look bad - everything on 1 plate - vegetables, a mix of meat and a fried banana. We went tempted by good reviews in the area of ​​the museum but unfortunately we were disappointed

Come for lunch, Staff told server give "makanan enak" Then i got stomach ache at night..

I stumbled upon Sama Seba, a hidden gem in Amsterdam's Museum District, and I'm so glad I didn't read reviews beforehand - it was a delightful surprise! I was informed that this Indonesian restaurant has been a cultural hub for years, earning the nickname "the living room of Amsterdam" due to its cozy ambiance and special connection with its guests. As I walked in, I felt right at home, surrounded by the warm and inviting atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome. Kinda like the "Cheers" pub in the United States. The chicken satay with peanut sauce is an absolute must-try - it's a game-changer! Our waiter was fantastic, ordering for us and making recommendations that didn't disappoint. What struck me was his passion for the restaurant, having dined there so often that he decided to join the team. The rijsttafel is another highlight, with over 20 items to savor. Its was cool to learn about Sama Seba's rich history - the server informed us that it's the oldest Indonesian specialty restaurant in the Netherlands, and its guestbook is filled with autographs from international celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Johan Cruyff, and David Bowie. The location is perfect, just a stone's throw from the luxury shops and the Museum District. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a unique dining experience, Sama Seba is a must-visit. With its affordable price range and generous portions, you'll leave feeling satisfied and already planning your next visit. So, come for the food, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with unforgettable memories! That being said, we were told that it is a very popular place, so either come experience this place during lunchtime or be prepared to wait a bit should you come for dinner and drinks.

Indonesian food is not so light, the food I ate in Indonesia is sweeter, saltier, spicier and a little oilier. The food here has completely changed to the taste of Westerners.

First lunch in Amsterdam, 6 star staff, exotic food, good and recommended

The service was very nice and the food was very tasted, highly recommend if you go to Amsterdam and would like to try Indonesian food.

Wonderful food. Eating alone and a nice selection of dishes. Would be better with more people to share as is the custom.

Old Amsterdam, be quick it's dying out

Came on a recommendation from my hotel and was not disappointed. The staff were tons of fun, chatting and giving me recommendations on the food and where to go on my trip. The rice “plate” was an enormous spread of food fit for an entire family rather than one person, and every dish was delicious. I ate it all. No regrets. Reasonable prices considering the amount of food provided. I will 100% be coming back!

Never got a chance to eat the food because they gave our reserved time to someone else. First claimed we never made a reservation (made it on The Fork), and then accused us of canceling our reservation (why would we be there if we had?). We had proof of our confirmed reservation and received an email the next day asking how our meal was. No apologies, no effort to accommodate us other than to come back later when they weren't so busy. Glad for them that they are so popular they can ignore simple courtesy.

I had made a reservation for 6 people through The Fork website and received two different confirmation emails, however when we went to the restaurant they told us I had cancelled. I was able to show them my confirmation email, but they were never able to show me a cancellation request other than our name hand written and crossed out of a book. They were not able to accommodate us until 2 hours later and we were already hungry when we arrived. Even more frustrating was the follow up email from The Fork the following day asking how our dinner was the previous night. Make sure to confirm your reservation in person and not trust their website booking service! The restaurant smelled great and looked like a nice atmosphere, but it was very frustrating that our reservation was not honored even though I had a confirmation email, especially since we were a larger party.

What a culinary highlight. I stumbled upon this restaurant quite by chance. Make a reservation in advance, as it's always full. The Indonesian rice table is a DREAM. The quality and authenticity of the dishes are top-notch. If I/we come back to Amsterdam, I/we will definitely go there again. We went there as a family, and the service was very attentive, explained things well, and consistently friendly.

Great food, very nice people, cute little restaurant. Really recommended!

The food was fine, we ordered the rijsttafels. We have had better quality price ratio elsewhere but it wasn't bad. It did take quite a long time though even if most tables were empty. The drink options were good. The most annoying and irritating part to an otherwise ok experience (and the reason for this review), was the staff explicitly asking - pressuring - for a tip. Tipping is something done spontaneously and voluntarily when you actually appreciate a good experience, and we are normally generous tippers when the latter is the case. Here we felt pressured, so we said ok let's do 10%, and the staff said "oh only 10%, why not 20%?". Who says that!? Ridiculous also given that it's not like the US where salaries are tip dependent. Pity that we would otherwise come back only for the food if that, but not anymore.

This is a popular place it seems. The food is OK, but nothing special. What is worthy of mention though is the arrogance and rudeness of the staff, to the point where they seem to take pride in it. Perhaps it’s because they have a constant stream of customers that they feel they don’t have to be pleasant to anyone. If I was not in the company of someone else, I’m certain that I would have given in to my baser instincts and punched one or more of them in the mouth.

I used to frequent this great Indonesian Restaurant 35+ years ago and it still has great food, great service and atmosphere. Truly Amsterdam.

Wonderful food and service! The owner was super kind! A thousand points for you! Terima kasih!

Good location. Food is not very yummy. The last run the business does not communicate well and is rude. The other waiters are nice but are not familiar with their menu. Will not recommend 抱好吃 快跑

I recently went to Sama Sebo in Amsterdam with two friends. The service was just okay—not the friendliest or most attentive, but it wasn’t terrible either. We tried the mixed platter, but honestly, everything felt kind of jumbled together on the plate and it was hard to tell what was what. The food was edible but definitely didn’t feel worth the price. Also, there was only one type of wine available, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, it wasn’t the best experience, and I don’t think we’ll be going back anytime soon.

A plus across the board! Staff welcomed us and we ate like royalty!

Where you can eat the most delicious satay in Amsterdam