Warung Spang Makandra in Oude Pijp

Our favorite restaurant in Amsterdam. Spang Makandra is definitely a must-visit when we're in Amsterdam! The food is simply incredibly delicious, and the guys are fantastic! Everything is prepared fresh daily, so it can happen that dishes like roti or teloh aren't available if you arrive right when the restaurant opens. But even then, there are plenty of other tasty options. The guys always take the time to advise you if you're not familiar with Surinamese cuisine. We give it a full 5 stars!

The food is really really good 10/10. Flavour is there, portion sizes are good. I see why Anthony Bourdain talked about this place so highly. The waiter was another story. Wearing all black with a black cap. As I do get it was lunch rush and really busy but he was really condescending and rude when I would ask questions. Plus gave me no time to check the menu when I sat down so I asked for more time and he came back an hour later even after calling him multiple times. Definitely wanted to rush me out of there as a solo diner. All the other staff there were there were amazing and kind and accommodating just not him lol.

Amazing food, fast service, and reasonable pricing. Highly recommended.

I went here recently with a friend. I got the vegetarian spang makandra special. The servers were incredibly friendly, though service was a little slow—it was very busy though, so that was likely why. Overall, they were very friendly though, and the food was delicious. It was very affordable too, prices were really good for a meal in Amsterdam. Would definitely recommend to others.

It's really delicious. I'm not just saying this. It's really delicious. The portions are surprisingly large, so if you're coming alone, you can probably order just one!! The staff is also very friendly.

The food and service were both fantastic. I highly recommend checking it out.

This was our first Surinamese dining experience and we loved the level of spice. Service was super fast and attentive and they played a nice mix of old and contemporary RnB. The food was super tasty and A LOT- so come hungry, you won’t be disappointed.

I would have given 5, but the fact that they do not give tap water only to charge people an extra 3 euros for bottled water is unaccaptable and very unsustainable as well. Water is a human right. How can you say you do not have tap water when someone is asking for water? You do have a tap and it has water running. Everything is great other than that but i am not okay with this nonsense policy. The staff at the welcome desk was the kindest person with a sense of humor.

Cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. Great satay sauce 👌🏽 We'll definitely be back!

First time trying this cuisine. Very tasty

I saw Phil's dinner and wanted to try Surinamese cuisine, but the flavors might be a bit like peanut butter and soy sauce for East Asians. The noodles were a bit like Japanese yakisoba (not as sweet). The chicken was good, but I didn't quite understand the seasoning. Also, be careful of the wooden chairs; one of my companions (of normal weight) broke a leg sitting on one.

Excellent food, well organized, fair prices

The Nasi Rames is in the top five dishes I’ve ever had in my life. I am a 4 star giver and I would give this 6 if I could. Why don’t we have Surinamese food in CA?! I could eat it three times a week easy. They would be under a waterfall of cash. I could taste why it’s considered some of the best cuisine in the world. If you’re American, abandon your ideas of what constitutes good service and learn local customs.

Very tasty and quite spicy The soup was delicious

I loved it, fantastic food great atmosphere and service is excellent despite how busy it is

Delicious food at a great price. Nice big portions too. I've been coming here for 10 years and it never gets old.

I had dinner reservations at Warung Spang Makandra in a Friday night for 7:30 PM and the restaurant was incredibly busy and crowded. After we checked in, I think we wait about 10 minutes before being seated. Bakabana (fried plantain) - I loved plantains and peanuts so a fried plantain with a savory peanut sauce was right up my alley and it was delicious. The plantain was crispy on the outside but soft in the inside. One thing to note is that one order is an entire plantain so just something to keep in mind. Teloah (fried cassava with salt cod) - this was also delicious. It's like a French fry but different. We got it with the salt cod but I ended up dipping it in the peanut sauce from the fried plantain Spang Makandra Special (fried rice - noodles, chicken filet, chickens satay, long beans, egg, potato sambal and perkedel (fried potato)) - a really good entree for someone who wants to try a little bit of everything. The chicken satay was great Mixed Meat (chicken & lamb) Roti - this entree was huge and full of meat. You can pick which cuts of meat you want (ex. chicken filet vs chicken on the bone). Lots of different things to try with the curry and roti. Very delicious and filling A really fun and new experience with Suriname food. Definitely recommend trying if you haven't had this cuisine before.

Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Will definitely come back anytime I’m in Amsterdam.

Such incredibly good food. A lovely, relaxed atmosphere, relaxed service, everything is possible, and the prices are fair. It's such a shame it's so far away, but when we're in Amsterdam, this is our regular place to eat.

It's not great. Dirty, dirty chicken. Not washed. Not cut. Chicken satay was okay, just the satay, but no chicken.

The food was good enough. However the server was very forgetful and we had to ask multiple times for our drinks and our food. And when we got our food, one of the plates still had the allergen we informed the server a head of time about. He said he would remake it and we waited for a long time and it never came out. When we asked our server where it was he acted like he had never heard of it before. Honestly I don’t know how this kind of service is permit-able.

Super good food, I was so satisfied. Amazing prices too

Awful service unfortunately. so much we waited for 45 min for seating and there's no room to wait. manager was unkind to those waiting. unorganized, we sat at bar finally even though we could have much earlier. we asked about gluten and they had no explanation but to say nothing was gluten free just because of "traces in the kitchen" which is fair but we wanted to know about wheat in the food. even if nothing was, the delivery by the manager was awfully rude and not helpful at all. no accomations made, just shaking their head and saying no. we left. they didn't need our service, it was extremely busy but doesn't matter. I bet food is delicious which is why I give 2 stars instead of 1, but treatment of even normal customers is not there. many others had to leave after waiting too.

It used to be great. Now, under new ownership, it's terrible. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives nearby, like Albina.

Took 2 hours for the food to get to the table. In the end we asked for take away because it took so long. Really disappointing.

I have no idea what happened to this place but I had no good experience in past two years. Every time I am thinking it was a bad luck, they were busy etc but no! It’s changed a lot. The staff is acting like they are doing you a favor with serving you (as if they can manage to do it properly anyway). They don’t accommodate any question or request. Also, last time when our order got ‘lost’ in the kitchen, we waited for an hour, there was no apology or anything. I accepted the fact that this place is no longer good to take friends and family. Out of my list now!!

The best and must try place for Surinamese food in Amsterdam. You will never regret coming here. Food was delicious with so many different flavours of spice on a same plate. Do try their recommendations as it makes it easier to choose from the variety of options in the menu. Good service but was way too noisy in there.

Feel terrible for the fact that I’ve tried this place one more time. I strongly believe that they should stop calling it a restaurant. As a countryman I’m totally a shamed of the food presented. Absolutely disgusting. Shame on you. Feel sorry for people who go here to try Surinam food. Our kitchen is so much more than this disgusting microwave frozen food joint.

It was my first time trying Surinamese food, and it was delicious. The portions were generous and the atmosphere was great.

I had a curry sandwich and some ramekins. They tasted average. I ordered the Bakanana, thinking it was fried bananas, but it tasted more like sweet potato fries. The peanut sauce that came with it was really tasty.

Great atmosphere and vibes. Staff are friendly and accommodating. We had the chicken satay and Spang Makandra special. Both dishes were really good. Peanuts were not as finely chopped but the texture was actually okay. The ginger and passionfruit juices were delicious. Servings were decent. All in all, great value for money. Lots of tables to accommodate groups of all sizes. We came during lunch without a reservation and did not have to wait long to be seated. We would happily eat here again and recommend this to others.

Can highly recommend both the soup and the pom!

The food was delicious and I liked the vibe as well. Not providing tap water for free when you're already ordering a meal is a little ridiculous though.

We had a very tasty meal, saoto soup and the house special.

This is a great place to find yourself in. Reasonably priced food, busy and friendly, I always love coming here

Love this place! Great food and service :)

After a long day of walking this place hit the spot!!!

Excellent food! Very impressed with how quickly food arrived and the flavours were delicious! Best value we had in the city.

The food was absolutely terrible! The noodles and nasi tasted stale. Saoto was outrageous!!! The food used to be delicious, what a huge disappointment!! My daughter only had stomach cramps and had to throw up... she only ate saoto. Never again!!!!

First time having surinamese food and was definitely not disappointed! Everything was delicious and we had to go back a second time during our trip! Highly recommend :)

Today I bought noodles with roasted chicken and bakabana. The noodles had no flavor, and the roasted chicken was also flavorless and undercooked. The bakabana was greasy. The manager speaks English and is unresponsive. I used to be a regular at Spang Makandra, but from now on, no more Spang Makandra. The quality has deteriorated so much.

Two years ago, we were here, and it was also busy, but we received friendly service and the food was very good. That's why we decided to return, but the service was incredibly poor. A bespectacled man, probably a store manager, stood at the door and didn't exude a shred of friendliness. He showed us to our table, and we ordered our food. Then, we received all our food, except for the roti sheets themselves. We asked the same colleague (a bespectacled man) if they were still coming, and he didn't really answer (just a nod), because he was too busy running the busy store. We then asked another employee, who said she'd check, and then we waited at least another fifteen minutes. The food was cold by then, and we asked a third employee again about the roti sheets. This person (we think) actually asked, and after a minute, a fourth employee brought them to the table. There was no apology or apology, just: "Here are the roti sheets." If an apology had been offered, we wouldn't have left this review. It's become a gluttony, where customers are just numbers to be served as quickly as possible. There's a huge line out the door, which means it's popular, but I lived in Amsterdam for a few years and know that (if you pay less attention to the restaurant's appearance), there are much better Surinamese restaurants. Unfortunately, a nice concept, poorly executed due to the service.

Perfect price quality with delicious sandwiches

Too bad I had a bowl of nasi chicken satay and the chicken was literally dry

An unforgettable experience, picturesque place, exotic and delicious food and friendly staff.

Couldn’t tell you about the food, host never gave me a menu and I went up to the bar and he ignored me again

Yesterday, after a long time, I ordered roasted chicken, and it turned out to be raw inside. The owner said, "This is how we make our chicken!!!" It was raw.

They kept me waiting for a long time to order until I had to go. They took a long time to serve until I told them I could only wait five more minutes, so the dishes arrived after two minutes. When I finished, I wanted to order dessert, but they never served me despite me signaling them. Of course, I got up, paid the bill, and told the cashier I was going to order more, but they wouldn't serve me. Clearly, they didn't care much, just a "sorry" in a tone that seemed like they couldn't care less.

Very disappointed they had no moxi meti I did not have the idea that I was in a Surinamese business

Customer service was poor! My experience of service with wait staff was awful. We got in just when they opened and they had sold out of most things we ordered, the bathrooms had no toilet paper - when I asked I was just told they’d fix it, quite rudely actually and then never informed me when they knew a customer was waiting, then when I went in they forgot to put in hand towels. When I got back and ordered my food they forgot to serve me my order. The chicken sandwich really just tasted bland, I don’t understand the hype. The noodles were average. Im a tourist so either people in Amsterdam don’t know their spices - or the surinamese palate isn't for me though I love regular indonesian food a lot. I was really excited to try Surinamese cuisine here. What a massive let down - from bad service.

Opening hours are there for a reason

A wonderful restaurant. We were visiting the city and specifically wanted to try Surinamese and we weren't disappointed. Everything we ate was delicious. The staff were fantastic and we were laughing out the door as we left. Thank you for looking after us so well!

The place is buzzing, the food was nice and good variety of flavours. I enjoyed being seated at the bars to suck in the vibe of the place

Really fantastic food for the price. Delicious and lots of flavor.

My wife and I tried to dine at this restaurant tonight. We were seated and then proceeded to wait 45 minutes just to find out our meals were never placed with the kitchen. The waitress said there was a problem with the kitchen, but about 5 other diners that came after us received their meals within 5 minutes of being seated. No apology at all and we were only notified after we kept asking about our meals. We decided to leave - again, no apologies. Please do better as this service was grossly unacceptable.

My husband and I were excited about going here. It is a busy place and we were seated pretty quickly. The waiter took our order but that is where the good part ends. We waited more than 45 minutes and our food never came out. Other people who came long after us got their food and finished eating and the food still had not come out. We asked a few times and they said it was coming. It turns out the waitress said “I don’t know what happened, there was a mix up in the kitchen.” They clearly forgot to put in our order. No apology, nothing! We got up and walked out. We ended up eating at a great Nepalese place around the corner they did not lose our order.

Very nice, the food was great. This was recommended to me by a friend and its probably one of the best recommendations I've had Ina while. It was my first time trying this kind of food and it did not disappoint. Plates are big, I went with a small plate and a recommended main dish and it was a bit much.

We have ordered noodles which had a taste of spaghetti.

Excellent food, lovely place that gets busy so booking recommended.

Really delicious food with generous portions and decent prices. A dish and a glass of wine came to around €20 per person which is reasonable in central Amsterdam. It is worth noting how busy it can get so it is worth making a reservation.

Highly recommended. Surprising and authentic food, full of flavor in a friendly and lively atmosphere.

First ever visit to Amsterdam and after learning so much it was nice to enjoy a historical meal from this famous and popular restaurant - tangi, a nyan switi!

Good prices and decent food but it took a while for someone to take our order, and the meat was not so tender as I would expect.

Excellent food really good service would recommend. £62 for 2 cocktails 2 mains and a big spring roll each. Nice people and nice vibe

Simply excellent! I have lived in culinary capitals like Las Vegas and had been disappointed with the options in Amsterdam. However this was a little gem! Well balanced flavors! Fresh and hot food! Loved it!!

Food was great and service was top notch

Excellent Surinami Indonesian dinner. Abundant and well-seasoned dishes. Spicy recipes, often hot but flavorful. The atmosphere is lovely (a bit noisy, but bearable). Special mention for the "waiter"—super friendly, trendy, and kind! We found a seat even though it looked crowded (even outside waiting), but the service was actually fast!

One of the best halal option in the city.Very tasty food ,worth every penny!

We dined here with friends a few days ago. Unfortunately, while they were serving, they accidentally spilled sauce on my clothes. Because it was busy, I got Giancarlo's phone number. He was very understanding and accommodating, and yesterday the issue was resolved very well. Not only is the food delicious, but the service is truly top-notch.

Never had Surinamese food before. For a first experience, I would say that I’m somewhat spoiled now as the food was really really good. Full of flavour! I have marked down the service because it was really busy in there and that meant that the group of us got it meals at different times with some having to wait until most had nearly finished before being served. This could have been better, but again, the place was packed so there is some justification and the group was 14 people. The music was good, it’s in a decent location. The cost wasn’t bad either. If you want to experience good Surinamese food, this is definitely the place to come and do that.

Spang Makandra is an absolute treasure in the heart of Amsterdam! I had never even heard of Surinamese cuisine before – but it turned out to be an absolute dream. The food was simply outstanding – full of flavor, fresh, and unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before (see my photos). Every bite felt like a new culinary discovery, and the quality and price are truly excellent. What makes this place even more special is its story and atmosphere. Since 1978, Spang Makandra has been bringing people together through the rich and diverse Surinamese cuisine, blending flavors from Indigenous, Creole, Indian, Javanese, Chinese, and European traditions. You can really feel that sense of connection and hospitality the moment you sit down. The staff are incredibly warm and welcoming – their energy adds so much to the experience (just look at their smiles in my pictures). Eating here felt like being part of something bigger: not just a meal, but a celebration of cultures coming together. Honestly, I wish we had a restaurant like this back in Austria – it would instantly be one of my favorites. If you’re in Amsterdam, don’t miss this place. Highly recommended!

Made reservations based on Somebody feed phil glowing review. Arrived to find a long line out the door, confused staff and a wait. Eventually seated, menus forgotten, no drinks menu provided, cutlery dropped, ignored for 30 minutes. Attempted to flag a member of staff - to be told - I have only two hands you'll have to wait. Needlessly rude, inexperienced waitstaff, wont be revisiting. Note others were seated and served after we arrived.

This place is the perfect cosy/busy/reminds you of home yet affordable place to eat! The food was amazing, staff were so friendly and it really felt like you were walking into a living room. I have noticed some other reviews complain about noise/attentiveness of staff and waiting times. You get what you pay for. This is a very down-to-earth restaurant and is a gem in Amsterdam so expect waiting times (that is a sign of a good local spot), take the time to connect to the WiFi and order a drink at the bar. I took some time reading up on Surinamese culture which was nice to then sit down and try some staple dishes. This place is exactly as advertised! Five stars all around. Special shout out to the lovely young black gentleman who hosted as well as all the staff that gave me food recommendations and brought it in timely manner and answered my questions about the culture and how to eat the food conveniently. Perfect for solo travellers like myself as it was very cosy.

My first meal in Amsterdam for 2025. Always good to have rice and dishes! Not much space to eat in, best to take away.

Rude, I've never met such an unfriendly server. The owner was friendly, and we actually quite enjoyed the food, but the service was truly awful. No patience, and not a shred of friendliness. And that's coming from someone who rarely writes negative reviews. Such a shame...

Delicious food at a great price, excellent value for money. You can sit inside or outside. Service is fast, and the food arrives quickly.

The chicken satay and the Ayam pedis were fantastic, could eat this every meal for the rest of my time in Amsterdam

The overall atmosphere was lively. The food was delicious and generous. I chose the restaurant's recommended menu and was very satisfied.

Whatever this was, please don’t call it Surinamese food. Lacking taste and distinctive flavours, with dry chicken, peanut sauce clearly from a jar, and the famous baka bana (fried, battered plantain) made from unripe fruit — it was very disappointing. The service was genuinely friendly, which might almost have earned a positive note, if not for the fact that our take-out order was incomplete, despite us specifically asking them to double-check before we left...

The food was delicious! Highly recommended. It was very busy, though, and the service reflected that.

Excellent restaurant, friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere. Truly delicious! Highly recommended.

The sato soup and the warung spang special are incredible!

A no-frills spot with delicious Surinamese food. A few tables outside, but plenty of seating inside. At lunchtime, the outdoor tables were already taken. Plenty of choice, and with a glass of cava, you'll be sitting comfortably on this summer day.

First time trying out Surinamese cuisine and it was simply excellent. We were craving Asian food during our long trip in Europe, and this place totally satisfied us. The flavours of each dish were unique and delicious, service was extremely friendly. We loved the platter which contains small portions of their signature items. Hot soup was a nice complement. The restaurant was bustling busy on a weekday evening. Although the wait wasn’t too long, I would make a booking in advance if visiting again in future.

Sadly, this place is no longer the same as it once was. A classic example of self-improvement. I gave it a third try, and every time it was the same, so no coincidence. The food is subpar—too dry, overcooked, everything microwaved, noodles stuck together, etc. The staff runs around aimlessly, with little sense of service. I genuinely think it's a shame, and I do wish the owner well, but you have to know what you're doing, and now it seems to be all about making a profit. It's a shame!

Really amazing food and reasonably priced. Great customer service I would love to come here again.

I never had Surinamese food before. My wife and I came with open minds and left with some of the best food comas we have ever had. I recommend the pom, the satay, and the bara. We sat outside on a great day. Service was fantastic. Please check this place out for a unique experience.

We enjoyed delicious roti with chicken breast. Truly fantastic!! The roti wrappers are good, and the chicken breast is wonderfully tender. The balance of onion, cucumber, egg, and long beans is excellent. The service is friendly but rather quiet, but otherwise, highly recommended!

Good food, good staff. If they took reservations, I'd come back even more often. You never know how long the line will be, and it's especially difficult to plan with children or older family members.

Excellent food, one of the best meals we had in Netherlands.

Went there Friday night, wonderful atmosphere! Wonderfully personable and friendly host. Highly recommended for delicious, affordable, good Surinamese food in a charming setting.

Boooomboclaaat! What an amazing Suriname experience. It was my first time…I’m already obsessed

Maybe it was a bad day. Went yesterday 31/07 and experienced terrible service. The asian guys running the floor were both VERY rude. One even pushed me to pass through while I was waiting a friend to sit, thus blocking the way. We ordered starters and mains altogether as we thought that starters would come first. Mains arrived before (not a problem for us at all) but while asking about the starters, the guy was very defensive and promptly "yeah, but I only have two hands". Food was nice. Beer was warm, but they changed for us. Again, maybe it was a bad day. But I won't be coming back.

We ate a delicious variety of food with the children, one of whom was vegetarian. Saoto soup, chicken with rice and soy sauce, barra, and plantains.

Today I ordered bami, nasi, saoto, satay, and bakabana for me and my family. Well, the sauto soup had a really chemical taste, and the nasi and bami were tasteless. And the satay came right back out!🤢 Literally, my whole family had diarrhea from this food!! I had good experiences with Spang Makandra from Osdorp, but I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!!! And it's also super expensive! I'd give you 0 stars!! WORTHLESS!!🗣️

I was looking for vegan Surinamese dishes and I am glad I came across this place. It was packed but manageable by the staff. The atmosphere was cozy.

Hey, I haven't been here in ages, I think it was years ago. I used to go to that other place nearby for my saoto, but... I think I've found my new saoto spot. I arrived without a reservation and was lucky enough to be seated on the terrace with six tables and 12 chairs. We started with a saoto, and once you're comfortable, you don't want to leave, but then you see all the delicious treats going by, so it didn't take long before we had a spring roll, pitjil, and satay. And honestly, that satay is amazing... 100% recommended. The atmosphere was great, you can enjoy a delicious meal. Njang is amazing (makandra). The seating was super relaxed, the service friendly. In short, I think I've found my new favorite spot.

Sizeable portions of tasty food for a fair price. Jokingly friendly service that make you feel welcome and at home at this popular establishment. Recommend you book in advance, even on weekdays.

We had a disappointing experience. After being seated, we waited quite a while before anyone brought us a menu — we eventually had to ask for one. When the menus finally arrived, they were dropped on the table without a word. We asked if someone could explain a few dishes, and while we did get some information, the explanations were minimal at best. The food took a long time to arrive, and once we finished eating, no one came to clear our plates. We waited for quite a while, but eventually I had to go up to the counter myself to pay. There, a whole new confusion started: they couldn’t find our bill, and I had to repeat what we had eaten and drunk five times. Even after that, they kept asking things like “Didn’t you have wine?” or “Maybe a smoothie?” — and we had only ordered water. To be fair, the food itself was very good. But the service was chaotic and inattentive, and overall the experience left a lot to be desired.

Great place for a nice experience with great food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere all around. This was the culinary highlight of our days in Amsterdam. Book in advance and enjoy.