Seven unmissable halal restaurants in Amsterdam

Photo: One of the many canals of Amsterdam, Netherlands. April 23, 2015 / Nenad Maric / CC0 1.0 / Pixabay.com

If you’ve been to the tourist centre of Amsterdam, you’ve probably noticed that the Dutch are more than a little partial to kebab. You will see several cafes, food stalls and restaurants that serve falafel, the Turkish doner kebab and shawarma, especially within the canal rings. However, not all of these are halal-certified, as many of them serve alcohol even if their meat is halal. If you aren’t sure, just ask.

After a morning of sightseeing, if you can’t find a suitable restaurant, you can look out for one of the many fish stalls around the city. Most of them offer batter-fried fish, fish sandwiches and smoked fish.

Photo: AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND - AUGUST 21, 2017: Three young Muslim women in white hijab in busy city street outside Kabab Falafel Halal food shop using mobile phones. / Brian S / Shutterstock.com

But in East and West Amsterdam, ethnically mixed neighbourhoods with prominently Muslim residents have a much wider choice of halal food. Areas such as de Baarsjes and Nieuw West are good options if you want to go scouting for a good halal meal. As a large majority of Dutch Muslims are of Turkish or Moroccan origin, you will find plenty of Turkish restaurants and Moroccan lounges and bakeries.

We’ve listed a few popular halal restaurants to get you started.

1. Eetcafe Noumidia is a Moroccan-themed restaurant that serves only halal meat and does not feature alcohol on their menu. It comes especially recommended on local Moroccan forums.

Interior of Eetcafe Noumidia / Source: Eetcafe Noumidia's Facebook page

Eetcafe Noumidia

Van Woustraat 5
1074 AA Amsterdam

020-221 43 96

2. Meram is a chain of halal Turkish restaurants located in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It claims the distinction of being the first to open an alcohol-free restaurant in the Netherlands.

Interior of Restaurant Meram on Pretoriusstraat, East Amsterdam / Source: http://meram.nl/amsterdam-oost

Restaurant Meram

Pretoriusstraat 22-24
1092 GG Amsterdam

020-665 58 95

Visit their website for the addresses of their other branches in the east, west and southeast of Amsterdam.

3. Halal Fried Chicken is what it says on the label, a fast-food chain with three restaurants in Amsterdam. They offer the usual buckets of fried chicken, wings, nuggets and some beef products.

Exterior of HFC Waterlandplein / Source: http://www.halalfriedchicken.nl/restaurants/

HFC North Amsterdam

Waterlandplein 280
1024 NB Amsterdam

020-737 30 27

Visit their website for the addresses of their other branches.

4. Restaurant Mesken is a local Turkish joint in East Amsterdam popular with families. They have a cheap breakfast buffet at €7 per head and a dinner buffet at €15 per head.

Exterior of Turkish grill and lounge called Restaurant Mesken / Source: http://restaurantmesken.nl/galerij/

Restaurant Mesken

Sumatrastraat 35-37
1094 LN East Amsterdam

 020-694 02 77

5. Star BBQ is an Iraqi restaurant with great bread and chargrilled meat straight out of their coal oven. It is situated on the popular Javastraat, in the east of the city.

Exterior of Star BBQ / Source: Star BBQ's Facebook page

Star BBQ

Javastraat 28
1094 HH Amsterdam

6. Restaurant MOZO is a Moroccan restaurant where the tajine dishes come highly recommended. They have an interesting selection of cold and hot tapas and couscous served the traditional Moroccan way. They even serve bastilla, the Moroccan savoury pastry, though not with pigeon. Over the weekend, they offer high tea for groups of 4–6 people minimum.

Interior of Restaurant MOZO / Source: http://www.restaurantmozo.nl/

Restaurant MOZO

Van Woustraat 89
1074 AE Amsterdam

06 875 766 16

7. Porto Marina serves seafood and tapas. The portions are generous and the service is friendly. They are located in the west of Amsterdam, on the lively Kinkerstraat. They are opening another branch further west of the city.

Interior of Porto Marina / Source: http://www.portomarina.nl/impressie/

Porto Marina

Kinkerstraat 369
1053 EX Amsterdam

020 370 3990

OTHER OPTIONS

In the city centre, the vegetarian chain Maoz serves falafel sandwiches for a few euros each. The Maoz outlets aren’t really places where you’d want to linger, but they are great for a quick bite on the go. Or you could pack your sandwich and head to one of the many city parks.

Photo: Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 2016; Outside view of a vegetarian fast food restaurant of the Maoz chain / www.hollandfoto.net / Shutterstock.com

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