Samalain in Prins Alexander

First time but certainly not the last! Delicious food & great service.

Nice place and delicious food. Friendly staff.

Unfortunately… yes, unfortunately, I can only give 5 stars to this beautiful restaurant with super service and friendly staff. They deserve more than 5 stars! What an amazing experience! Restaurant Samalain is one of those places where everything is just right. The food is truly fantastic: full of flavor, prepared with care, and clearly made with passion. But what makes this place truly special to me is the service. You are not treated here like just a table or a number. The team makes genuine contact with you as a guest, is attentive, personal, and gives you the feeling that they really care about you having a wonderful evening. It is precisely that combination of delicious food, personal attention, and a warm atmosphere that makes Samalain special. You can tell from everything that people work here who enjoy what they do. So, if you are still looking for a restaurant where you not only eat well but are also truly welcomed as a guest: be sure to put Samalain on your list. You will leave here with a smile and a satisfied feeling. We will definitely be back! ❤️

Kambing satay was not grilled à la minute today, but reheated with a minimum of ketjap sauce. You can order extra sauce if you would like it. It was a disappointment.

Katak Mas: Good food. Busy. Always make a reservation. You can sit inside or outside. Neat. The only downside is that the restaurant allows dogs. Samalain: Less good food. Smaller portions and huge prices for both takeout and dining in. It is neat, though. Service is fine. But the chef has changed and that is not good. Very unfortunate, used to like going there. Visited in 2025.

Had a delicious vegetarian rijsttafel. Friendly service. Family restaurant. When the weather is nice, it is also lovely to sit outside by the water.

We had a delicious meal! Enthusiastic and very friendly service. We went for the Katak Mas rijsttafel. Very tasty.

Very friendly staff. Very good food.

What a wonderful experience at this restaurant in Rotterdam. Every single piece of food was excellent and beautifully presented. The satay on the oblong platter, in particular, immediately stood out due to the rich garnish of fried onions. The flavors were deep and authentic. We truly enjoyed every bite and will certainly be back soon for another meal.

I never knew this place was here, and now that I do, I will definitely be back. Because choosing is difficult, we went for the rijsttafel. It was super tasty and plentiful. And for dessert, of course, dadar guling (the green pancake). The staff were super friendly and polite.

Excellent, great staff and very good food. We had krokant duck and chicken with coconut sauce, and fried rice with eggs. The homemade tea / juice is also super tasty. We will definetely come back.

We had a fantastic time at this restaurant. The food was excellent. As a vegetarian, the vegetarian menu was very varied and tasty. The welcome was very friendly and the staff took the time to chat with the guests, which was very pleasant.

Delicious food and incredibly friendly and nice staff! We really love eating here.

Delicious food, good, attentive staff. Sometimes a bit too often different staff members came to the table asking the same question. Price a tad high for the amount of food you get with a rijsttafel. Had a nice and good meal.

Delicious food and friendly staff. The rijsttafel is highly recommended!

We had a delicious meal, everything is perfect. Worth repeating.

Amazing food, great service, and special view of the lake.

Even though we've only had the starters now, it's too good.

Great rijstafels with a good variety of dishes and a well thought out layout. The service was perfect, the water view is calming, so its definitely a unique dining experience! My favourites were their green beans in coconut curry, the fried fish, and the spiciest beef dish. The only con is I found some dishes a little too sweet (for my liking).

Had a delicious meal here! Super friendly service. The decor is also very beautiful. Highly recommended!

A surprisingly cozy little place at the bottom of a residential tower. And when you step inside, you discover that they are situated pleasantly by the water. Friendly owner and attentive staff; the food was served quickly and was delicious. Highly recommended, and I will be back here soon.

Fantastic food and service that you hardly find anywhere anymore. Friendly, attentive, and super fast. We will definitely be back here!

We thoroughly enjoyed the good food prepared with care, as well as tasty traditional dishes; it is nice to have good Indonesian food closer to home, as normally the mix is ​​always with Chinese food... Furthermore, the service is a real breath of fresh air: neat and polite, making you feel like a true guest. A host who chats with everyone like a proud owner, and everyone who works there is top-notch! Terima Kasih!

A cozy atmosphere and very good food

What a fantastic restaurant! Top-notch service, attentive and friendly staff, and delicious food! Highly recommended!

So close, and I'd never been there before 😪...But on my birthday (February 15th), my family and I finally made it there! And I didn't regret it at all; what a fantastic place, beautiful to see, super clean, delicious food, and of course, the very kind/sweet staff...As if I were back in Bali for a bit 😍 We'll definitely keep this one, and I can recommend it to anyone who loves Indonesian atmosphere and food.......SUPER 🙏🏼♥️🫰🏼

Been here a few times, super friendly people. Great food, keep up the good work!

Delicious food, friendly service with good explanations of the menu, and a pleasant setting. Highly recommended!

Delicious, authentic Indonesian food in a lovely atmosphere with excellent, correct, and friendly service!

The food was delicious. The presentation and hospitality were top-notch. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a warm atmosphere. The menu is clear and concise. We will definitely be back.

Had a delicious meal. We will definitely come back.

A very good authentic Indonesian restaurant. The staff is very attentive. Our favorites are the Rendang and the Crispy Duck, Bali Chicken, and Chicken Satay.

I came here for lunch and was very happy with the service and the food. The place is well decorated on the inside with plenty of space and a nice view of the pond/river outside. We were seated quickly and our serves was nice and patient with us as we had a few questions since this is the first time we were trying this cuisine. The food was fantastic. It is served on hotplates in the middle of the table so that it keeps warm and that way it is easier to share. I got try try a few dishes, from the appetizer, to beef and pork dishes and fried rice and noodles. Everything was delicious. 12.2025

I had a delicious rijsttafel dinner at the invitation of a good friend, and they served me a special spicy sambal made with rawit... delicious! The staff were hospitable and friendly. I'll definitely be back.

The host is fantastic, it's lovely by the water. And man, oh man, the food is so good! I took a huge bowl of sambal trassi home with me. Highly recommended.

This place is definitely worth a star. Delicious food, very cozy place by the water. The staff is very friendly. The place is always full, so reservations are recommended.

Enjoyed the Indonesian rice table with the family tonight. Besides the delicious food, especially the rendang, the service was fantastic. There are few places where you still feel heard and seen. Thank you for this evening!

Great food and just a great place.

Delicious food and friendly service. Unfortunately, the tables are not nicely set and are bare without tablecloths.

Just had a delicious meal here with four friends/family. These Indo people know what they're talking about. The service was excellent. The food was also delicious.

Great food, with lots of flavours. We had rijsttafel Samalain, which was nice but somewhat expensive.

I highly reccomend eating here. We had the Rijsttafel, and it was a delicous mix of dishes. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive.

Beautiful location, delicious food, and the best service. If you want value for your money, this is the place to be.

This was a little surprise for me, with two lovely office friend we had a Indonesia's rice table "Samalain" and as add-on sate kambing and rendang. All the food was great, flavored and delicious. Just spicy enough thanks for the good food. So for sure I'll be back soon.

Great restaurant. Delicious food and super nice service. I highly recommend this restaurant.

For our party of 55 dinner guests (and 125 evening guests), Samalain provided a fantastic rijsttafel (rice table). We thoroughly enjoyed all the delicious dishes and the delicious snacks later in the evening. Our guests were unanimously enthusiastic and gave us plenty of compliments about the superb catering. Everything was perfectly arranged, the organization ran smoothly and effortlessly. It truly made our party complete – highly recommended!

We had the rijsttafel (rice table), which was delicious. The staff was very friendly! Great place!

The Rijstafel (rice table for adventurers) was incredibly delicious. I've often walked past it and thought, "Oh yeah, we really have to eat here sometime." And now I finally did, and I definitely don't regret it. Super friendly staff, we'll definitely be back.

Delicious food, beautiful restaurant. It's a shame some of the staff only speak English. Not a problem for me, but not everyone speaks English, and in the Netherlands, you'd expect to be able to communicate in Dutch. Otherwise, a very good experience.

We had dinner here. We had the rijsttafel (rice table) and the food was delicious. Among other things, they had good rendang and tasty satay, but it was a shame they only gave us one skewer per person. However, we thought the price per person for the rijsttafel was a bit high for what you got. The staff were friendly.

The food was delicious! You can really taste the authentic Indonesian flavors. The staff is super friendly.

Super friendly service, and the food is excellent.

Ordered a 1-person meal (nasi rames) and it was delicious! Good meat without fatty bits and the flavors were all delicious. A problem with the receipt was immediately solved with apologies and I could also easily change or add something to the meal. I will definitely order here again!

The rice table was very tasteful and well taken care of, with a lot of variation in the dishes. However, we found the price-quality ratio a bit skewed; for this amount we expected a bit more refinement.

First time eating, brought mothers and family. Really cozy and friendly people. Tasty Indonesian really worth repeating. Gem in Alexander

Good food, no overpowering sweet taste as you sometimes encounter. Good sate kambing, right size and not dry. And the sambal was great (madame Jeanette and Rawit combo) that made the meal complete. Service very good, friendly staff. Will definitely come back.

What a fantastic place!! You don't expect it from the outside, but when you walk in there is immediately a very nice atmosphere, the staff is super friendly and OMG the food!! It smelled just like in grandma's kitchen and everything tasted perfect!

Always tasty. We like to eat a la carte!

Good restaurant with fast service and good and tasty Indonesian cuisine, but they are not very cheap so keep that in mind.

Super tasty food, good serves, top spot on the water

Delicious food, nice atmosphere and good friendly service. Highly recommended!

Great Indonesian restaurant. Nice owners, delicious food, one of the best in our area. We also often pick up. Just as well.

Really TOP, not a single downside to mention. Even when it's busy, you don't have to wait long for your food.

Tasty food, friendly service, nice music. In short, highly recommended.

What a lovely meal we had. We always love to go to an Indonesian restaurant when visiting the Netherlands. This one have been recommended by the hotel staff we were staying at (we recommend the hotel too... motto by Hilton). Even tho the restaurant is not in the city center a short metro ride and a 10 minute walk will take you there. Wonderful setting with nice views over the lake. The food is really tasty and the staff friendly. We are definitely coming back next time we're in Rotterdam.

Very tasty food and friendly service and that comes at a price.

Really delicious food, super friendly staff and a beautiful place. Definitely come back!

Delicious food and very attentive service

Walking through the door we were greeted by Friendly and welcoming staff, we had the rijstafel and it was definitely a highlight! Fresh flavourful selection that hit the mark on every bite! The spice level was perfect with even the kids going back for seconds. A highlight and a definite must visit spot in rotterdam. Thank you Samalain!

Had a great time celebrating my mother's birthday here. Service was perfect and the rice table was delicious!! Biggest thanks to the Samalain team, you made her day!

Delicious food, wonderful atmosphere and great service

Delicious food, nicely seasoned and certainly not too spicy!

Delicious food. Very hospitably received. Ordered a rice table and was regularly asked if we wanted anything supplemented. Had a very nice evening with very tasty food, highly recommended!

Delicious authentic rice table. Friendly staff. Was pleasantly busy on a Sunday.

Beautiful restaurant where service still comes first. If you have been on holiday in Indonesia wondering why things in the Netherlands can no longer be arranged as pleasantly, well and with love, this is definitely the place for you. Then you see that it is still possible here too. Authentic dishes, good flavors and good quality ingredients, together with the staff, ensure that you really have a pleasant evening. Also highly recommended for takeaway. A small mistake was recently made with an order and this was completely corrected without discussion and that is almost exceptional these days. I don't write many reviews, but Samalain deserves that exception because they are also an exception!

Celebrated my birthday here with family tonight! Eating is a small celebration and the service is very nice people. Second time I come here and will definitely make it a regular outing. Delicious cocktail with lychees. Rendang a bit pricey but very tasty.

The food is delicious and delivered quickly after ordering. The portions are a bit small. The flavors are good but a bit "Dutchized", missing the authentic taste and spiciness. Service is good and hospitable.

Delicious food. Beautiful rice table with lots of taste and variety. Cozy atmosphere in the shop, nice view and very friendly service.

The food was tasty and the presentation was good. The menu deserves a beautiful cover. The tables could use a cloth or something. Quite bare.

Ate for the 1st time. How wonderfully delicious. Real Indonesian. Among other things, the dish with goat meat and satay was great. Service great and with explanation. Perfect furnishings and beautiful views over the water. Recommended.

Delicious food. Very friendly service and very hospitable.

A very nice location by the lake, interior and service are perfect. The Food itself was a totally enjoyable ( we took the Riistaffel) and tasty. We really recommend this reataurant

Nice restaurant, excellent food and very friendly service. Advised!

Delicious food and friendly staff

Finally found a good Indonesian restaurant again. Delicious food, very friendly service.

Went and got takeout. For my taste the daging Rendang was very spicy. Daging smoor and the satey were delicious.

We had dinner with a group of 8. We were received very hospitably. Beautiful, warm appearance. Eating inside is very pleasant, and with nice weather like last night it was also very pleasant on the outside terrace. Smooth service, very tasty food. Excellent price/quality ratio. Absolutely recommended! Simply a gem in Prinsenland!

Cozy, top staff. Food mediocre.

Did we have a nice meal? Yes. Was it fun? Yes. Was it special? No, I didn't think so. It is recommended to share the portions, but the portions are actually just a little too small for that. (English) Staff are friendly and helpful. The owner regularly comes to check whether everything is well. Are we going to eat there again? Yes we do!

Delicious food, but the cocktails are also very tasty. Service is great, they even told you in what order you can eat the rice table for the best taste experience. Recommended!

The food was delicious and especially the rice tables and explanations from the staff, yes I will definitely go back and it is definitely recommended

The site is not great for takeaway, but the food is unparalleled Incredibly good taste

one of the best food experiences in my life .. delicious and decent place we like it as a family you will not regret..

Everything 5 stars except the outside, doesn't look inviting.

Authentic Indonesian, really good food + a very good host/owner. More than worth a visit

The food was delicious as usual. The service was downright bad. Sherry was served instead of dry Martini. A glass of Campari is poured with the amount of liqueur and calculated accordingly. We ordered rice table. We received a separate bill for rice (rice table without rice??) Where the four of us spent €265, charging €1 for a glass of tap water is downright pathetic.

Great satay! Delicious authentic Indian satay with sufficient taste. Been looking for real top satay for a while, and found it! We'll go again tomorrow. Kambing delicious! Babi and Ajam wonderful! And the Oedang delicious. The satay sauce is also really good and homemade, they say. The food was really tasty and the structure was also good, not pre-cooked to pieces. Nicely laid out plates too. We had some more and the Babi Pangang was also delicious, crispy and with a good sauce without the gelatin. Delicious. Fried rice was also tasty and several sambals possible 👍🏻 The service was also so attentive and friendly, really very hospitable and friendly and took care of all your wishes. Great, many restaurants can learn something from this. The location was beautiful on the water, but look to the right otherwise you will see some flats instead of a body of water and it looked nice inside. We can't wait to eat sateh again and try something different from their menu.

Yesterday (28/1) my sister (together with friends) surprised me with dinner at Samalain. And how I enjoyed it! The food was DELICIOUS, the service was top notch and the atmosphere was good. We were received and treated so warmly. When we left there was no one left, but we never looked away. What a nice restaurant and the people who work there are warm, hospitable, cheerful and funny. Oh yes, if you eat there, get a rice table, you won't regret it. Everything was really great! Addition: Went back again today (2/5) and everything was great again. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great and the service was excellent, just like last time. You will receive a warm welcome and will not look away. Time flew by again. Highly recommended!

I found the food mediocre, bland and lacking in spices.

Try the asian food choices with a great view