Sama Sebo in Museumkwartier

TL;DR Beware of their rude waitress. Food is great though. We went there for the curiosity of Indonesian food. The food was delicious and decent portion of food for its price. Everything’s fine except for the service. The two waiters we met in the beginning were pleasant to talk to. I can see that the waiter with glasses was chit-chatting with the other clients to connect and create friendly/family vibes. Things went downhills at the end of the meal. We finished eating and I wanted to rinse my mouth by drinking a sip of water. When I was about to drink my own water bottle, the waitress shouted at me across the room saying “NO drinking water, ORDER the bottle here” (for the context, we already ordered coca-cola during the meal, which means, we already ordered drinks from them) I can understand that some restaurants do not like bringing outside food (even though I find it ridiculous for her to prevent me from drinking one sip of water AT THE END OF my very oily meal) Her rude attitude made me not want to order the water anymore.. If she had been more polite, for eg, instead of screaming across the room, she should’ve come to our table and inform us politely, I would’ve taken the water bottle at their place. Such a shame because, the food was great and other two waiters were very nice and friendly to us.

Sama Sebo is great! Go there to experience one of the iconic rice dishes in Amsterdam by trying the traditional Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table).

After a day at the museum, this is a great place for a meal. As mentioned in an earlier post, the place has more of a pub feel. The food is very good a affordable.

As a southeast asian, it doesn't get any better than this on this side of the world. The rendang was amazing.

I have heard great reviews about this place but was left slightly disappointed by the food. It’s supposed to be authentic Indonesian food but some of the food were not what I knew, like the goreng pisang. The chicken and beef rendang were good though. The services from the staff left a lot to be desired. It could have been a much wonderful experience if they had been more attentive.

The food and service here was good and if I was rating on that alone, I’d give them 4 stars. However, while eating lunch and sitting at the bar, I was sexually harassed by another patron who clearly felt comfortable doing so at this establishment. He knew everyone there, had friends with him and I was in a new place where I didn’t know anyone. I also know this isn’t the first time this man has harassed women there. On my way out, I told the manager what happened and he was appalled and said he’d tell the owner. But I don’t expect any action beyond was taken. The manager indicated this man is a regular who’s “an animal” when drunk. Apparently this was him sober, so I cannot imagine the things he says to women when drunk. To the owner- women deserve to feel safe in your establishment. Your choice to allow this man to continue harassing women is disgraceful.

Amazing food and a really cool waiter! You simply have to go here! 🤩

We did the rijsttafle for two and it did not disappoint. A very fun, lively and authentic feeling Indonesian dining experience.

We had another delicious lunch at Samasebo. We come here often, and it is a delight every time. The food is incredibly flavorful, fresh, and prepared with great care. The quality is simply very good, which is why we love coming back here. The service is friendly and attentive, but above all in a pleasant and natural way. You feel welcome without it being overdone or intrusive. A lovely place with delicious food, a good atmosphere, and exactly the right service. We enjoyed our lunch again and will definitely be back!

Tourist trap. They didn't even bring us water. Paid 104 Euro and the food was horrible. Rotten bananas, sauces from the cans. Eat fries on the street and save the money. Not recommended.

First time trying Indonesian food. Was really tasty. Highly recommended

Cozy traditional pub with good food.

The food is way too expensive for what you get. There are places in Amsterdam where you can get the same food for almost half the price. It is a run-of-the-mill Indonesian restaurant, but you pay top dollar. No idea why?

Average ok. The food was good but it was not with an authentic Indonesian taste. The service was ok. The price was ok.

Overpriced and not very authentic Indonesian food, go somewhere else. We ordered mixed rice for 27€. We expected something more, but the portion was small. The rendang was very ordinary, the green beans were just so-so, and the fried bananas were literally fried without flour and served with mixed rice, which was very strange. Overall, it was just so-so, better to go somewhere else.

Get reservations! Best Indonesian food in The City. Recommended by the locals, which is why we chose it.

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

We’ loved the food more than we expected

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Great server Food came super quickly and was delicious

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

The food was delicious and the service was top notch.

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.

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

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.

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)

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

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