Amsterdam Food Guide: From Stroopwafels to Kaasbar
Amsterdam might genuinely be one of the best cities in Europe for street food and casual eats. That quickly became a major part of how we planned our days, not just what we wanted to see, but what we wanted to eat, and which neighborhoods we needed to be in to balance good food with minimal waiting time.
I’m always down to try viral food spots, but I draw the line at long queues. Anything over 30–45 minutes is a no for me unless it’s a sit-down reservation situation.
The good thing about viral food culture in Amsterdam is that most of these places are actually very focused. They usually do one thing really well, which means the lines move faster than you’d expect.
A perfect example is Van Stapele Koekmakerij, known for its famous chocolate cookies. There was a line every time we walked by, but since everyone is there for the same thing, it moves quickly. The cookies were genuinely worth it, rich, warm, and easily one of the best things we had. I didn’t manage to go back a second time, but if I had tried them earlier in the trip, I absolutely would have.
Fries in Amsterdam (and yes, they live up to the hype)
We made it a mission to try the famous fries, and ended up visiting two of the most popular spots.
First was Fabel Friet, a small shop with a fast-moving queue. What makes Amsterdam fries different is the toppings — and they do not hold back. We went with the classic combo: mayo and shaved Parmesan. When I say loaded, I mean fully covered in cheese. We did ask for mayo on the side (I’m not a huge mayo person), but overall — solid, addictive fries.
The XL cone experience
Later in the trip, while wandering the Nine Streets during a vintage shopping day, we found another iconic fry spot selling the massive XL cone, ‘t Pareltje Frietzaak.
And when I say massive — I mean it’s not really a “one-person snack” situation.
We tried anyway.
It was delicious, but even between the three of us, we didn’t finish it. Consider this your warning.
Japanese sandwiches at Chun Café
One of the more hyped spots we tried was Chun Café, known for its Japanese-style sandwiches.
We went to the Spuistraat location and timed it carefully, late morning to avoid peak lunch rush. It was a rainy morning, which honestly worked in our favor since the queue was manageable (about 20 minutes).
They also manage the line well, offering takeaway options if you don’t want to wait for seating, but we were happy to sit in since it was cold and raining outside.
We ordered:
- garlic shrimp egg toast
- tofu puff (vegan option)
Both were excellent, comforting, warm, and surprisingly filling. Would I wait over an hour? Probably not. But at 20–30 minutes, it was absolutely worth it.
And fun timing detail: as we left, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the line had tripled in size.
Albert Cuyp Market (and our accidental best food finds)
One of the best “food hubs” for us ended up being Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp, just a short walk from our hotel. I go deeper into our hotel choice in my Amsterdam trip planning post, but this location made a huge difference, we could casually walk to the market in the morning without it feeling like a planned excursion.
The market opens Monday through Saturday around 9:30 AM–5:00 PM. We usually went closer to 10:00 AM when vendors were still setting up, which actually made it easier to explore without crowds.
Our first visit was really just a walk-through to see what caught our attention — and we ended up finding two standout surprises:
A Peruvian pop-up stall
We stumbled across a small Peruvian food stand and had to stop immediately. After chatting with the owner, we tried a tamal that reminded me of my grandma’s cooking, which is about the highest compliment I can give. They also had alfajores and empanadas in the morning, and it felt like a little unexpected piece of home in Amsterdam.
Greg Monsieur (the grilled cheese stop we went back to twice)
Another highlight was Greg Monsieur, a grilled cheese stall inside the market.
I had an Italian-style grilled cheese with tomato and pesto, and it was honestly perfect, simple, warm, and exactly what you want mid-travel day.
We liked it so much we came back the next day and ordered it again.
They also have a few small tables nearby, which makes it an easy stop to sit, eat, and keep moving.
Beyond Dutch food: unexpected international finds
Honestly, I hadn’t done much research into traditional Dutch dishes before arriving. Aside from the obvious street food staples, we didn’t have a strict “must-try list,” which ended up working in our favor.
We discovered a lot of international food instead, especially in De Pijp, it made every meal feel different.
One standout dinner after our tulip day trip was Nanxiang Soup Dumplings, where we were just craving something warm. I had the braised beef noodle soup, and it absolutely hit the spot. My sister and cousin went for soup dumplings and were equally happy with their choices.
Another night, I was craving pasta (specifically carbonara), so we found a nearby Italian restaurant within walking distance. It wasn’t the most authentic version I’ve ever had, but it completely satisfied the craving — and sometimes that’s enough when you’re traveling.
Stroopwafels: the Amsterdam essential
No Amsterdam food guide is complete without stroopwafels.
Funny enough, my only prior reference point was the packaged ones sold for long-distance running snacks, so I was excited to try the real thing.
We ended up trying them in two places:
- Hans Egstorf near Dam Square
- Albert Cuyp Market
The “official advice” is usually to avoid tourist shops near Dam Square and stick to markets for better value and freshness, but honestly? We didn’t notice a huge difference. Both were warm, fresh, and delicious, so I’d say try both and decide for yourself.
Kaasbar (cheese conveyor belt experience)
One of the most unexpectedly fun food experiences of the trip was Kaasbar, where you sit at a conveyor belt of rotating cheeses and pick what you want as it comes around.
We only managed to go on our last day, when my cousin had already left and my sister and I had a few hours before heading to the airport, but it ended up being the perfect way to close out the trip.
I loved it. The variety of cheeses was great, and the whole experience felt fun without being gimmicky.
My only wish? Smaller portions so I could have tried more varieties. Since I was the main cheese eater at the table, I ended up getting full quickly. If I could do it again, I’d go earlier in the trip with the full group so we could share more.
Still, highly recommend.
Final thoughts on Amsterdam food
Overall, we genuinely enjoyed everything we ate in Amsterdam. What stood out most wasn’t just the viral spots, but how easy it was to find good food everywhere, from markets to cafés to random neighborhood finds.
Amsterdam is especially great if you’re traveling with different tastes or want a mix of cuisines beyond local Dutch food. You don’t need a strict plan, some of the best moments came from simply walking around and deciding where to stop.
And the best part?
You’re going to walk off all the calories anyway.