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Sama Sebo

3.5 (108 reviews)
PriceyIndonesian
Open • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Sama Sebo Photos

SAMA SEBO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Sama Sebo

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Reviews With Photos

Shelley S.

This was our first Indonesian experience. The service was quick and we opted for the small rice table option. It was a variety of lots of traditional Indonesian foods. I'm so glad we tried it. Lots of new flavors. The seating is somewhat tight, and decor makes it unique. Service was great and food was good. Worth trying if you are by the museum in Amsterdam.

Rajiv K.

Casual bar and Indonesian spot. While our server was amazing, some of the food was outstanding and other dishes just OK. Cleanliness from the inside to bathroom could have used a little more attention. The chicken satay with peanut sauce is a must. We kept ordering portions. The mixed small shrimp dish was disappointing. The shrimp skewer was flavorful but only had one shrimp on it. Mixed veggie gado gado dish was standard as the shrimp crisps. The sweet potato sambal added some crispiness to the sort of underwhelming nasi and Babi (fried rice and noodles m). Place was a little run down, but also think that's their vibe (pub style). Had a nice beer there since it seemed appropriate! Not so much selection for the wine people. Ultimately, I'd say pop in for the beer and satays. Not bad for Indonesian but don't expect anything fancy nor mind melting (outside of the satays).

Rijstaffel for one

One of the few places that do rijstaffel for one. The place has an old school, dark wood paneling kind of vibe. Service is relaxed and very friendly. Most of the dishes are very good, and it's worth getting the rijstaffel to sample a lot of different things.

Steamed rice & green beans in a spicy sauce
Deb S.

I'm actually glad I didn't read the reviews prior to coming here as I had no expectations on what to expect on our first foray into Indonesian cuisine. We chose this location based on the distance from our hotel in the Museum District--just around the corner. I wanted to try Indonesian food as it had been a former Dutch colony. My reasoning was it would be similar to trying Indian food in England (flawed thinking or not). The dishes we chose were based on what flavors we both prefer (hubby heavy on peanuts). We didn't select the "Rice Table" as we weren't that hungry. However, the menu suggests at least 5 dishes, which including rice, was just fine for 2 people. The dishes are smaller--not like the size of Chinese restaurants in the US. You will not have leftovers! We had reservations via the Fork app for 5pm. We were seated promptly by friendly servers. We chose local craft beers to help with the spiciness of the food. Other walk-in folks wanted patio service as it was a pleasant day outside, but they explained it was drinks only outdoors. Inside is a little dark & the ambiance isn't much, as other reviewers mentioned, but we came for the food. Our drinks were delivered first as we looked over the menu. The food order was taken after drinks arrived & metal warmers lit in anticipation of the plates to come. It was a pretty short wait before the food arrived--all the dishes at one time. Other reviewers mentioned it felt like it was pre-made & a little "tired" from being held in the back. Since we were early in the evening, we didn't experience that. Food was fresh & tasty including the green beans. As we had no point of reference culinarly, we enjoyed everything we ordered. Yes, we were in and out in 45 minutes, but for us, it really didn't feel rushed. We didn't order dessert or after dinner drinks, although offered. It really isn't a place to linger, after all. I couldn't see myself as a "regular" here, but it did serve the purpose of letting us dip our toes into a country's offerings that we hadn't tried before + the added bonus of being nearby after a full day of sight seeing in this wonderful city!

Food
Laura C.

The fare is average/good. I like the two male servers, they were very friendly. But the female server was very unfriendly. The spicy green beans with shrimp is just ok, overcooked. They had completely lost their bright green color. The beef was pretty tasty, as were the noodles. The Indonesian in California is way, way, way better...but, of course, this is Amsterdam. The location is amazing right near the Rijksmuseum. Overall, the prices are too high for the amount and quality of food you get.

Sandy W.

Our 1st time at an Indonesian restaurant and it was so good. We heard it's a must try in Amsterdam and we weren't disappointed. We had the rijsttafel you get to try a ton of different things and they were all delicious. Service was great. I'd definitely recommend this place.

Mehrnaz H.

This restaurant was highly recommended by a Dutch/Indonesian friend and honestly I was not impressed by their food. The menu is such that you are forced to have a set menu of €33/pp for dinner. There is a lot of food for one person to consume and it just goes to waste. The rice they served was on the dry side and lacked flavor, the various meats/curries on the set menu had similar sauces and nothing that made one stand out compared to the other. Very disappointing!! The service was good and the servers were all friendly and efficient. I am sure there many more Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam at a more reasonable price and more flavorful meal.

combination plate :D
Risa Y.

When you are in Amsterdam, you have to try the Indonesian "RIJSTAFEL" (litterally: Rice-table). Restaurant Sama Sebo is one of the oldest and most famous Indonesian restaurants of The Netherlands. Their specialties are of course the Indonesian Rijstafel. Since we didn't really know what to order so we ordered the combination where you get a taste of everything on a plate. Bami Goreng € 16.50 p.p. - Bami Goreng - Indonesian Stir Fried Noodles - Babi Ketjap - Pork in Sweet Soy Sauce - Sambal Goreng Tauge - bean sprouts and tofu - Sambal Goreng Kering - crispy fried potato - Mata Sapi - eggs - Atjar - Cucumber, Carrots and Shallots - Rudjak Manis - Hot indian fruit salad That was what we saw on the menu... I had no idea what they were but we just went for it, but I googled it and this is what I got. It's weird because it's missing a skewer and a chicken drum stick up there but it was definitely on my plate~ (haha take a look! - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Qizoh4IwAtMrqxO3pvWQZw?select=n6tC7Xw-9gO0Kk7pIN2vAg) Ordering the plate we definitely didn't get the Rijstafel experience but the food was pretty good! I would definitely come back here again but next time, I will do the real rijstafel!

Andrea T.

Before I went to Amsterdam, I was told there is great Indonesian food there and to have some. Lucky for me, another of my co-workers was told the same thing. So, we looked into a few. Many of them were expensive so we decided to try one for lunch. Since this was my first Indonesian food experience, I did not know what to expect. From the outside, the place did not look very busy. Once inside, you could see there were quite a few full tables. After being seated, our waiter explained our options. I opted to get the lunch with the noodles while my co-workers selected it with rice. When the food came, I knew I would not be able to finish it. I had read how to eat Indonesian and tried my best to follow suite with the spoon and fork instructions. I loved all the different flavors. I wish I was headed back to the hotel to take the leftovers. The only drawback I found was that the women's bathroom was strange.

Rice table
H P.

What's not to like? So much love for this place and Daniel the owner. We got in last min (hint: call for a reservation) and had the rice table. Such an amazing meal and a great crew. Felt like a family dinner.

Nasi goreng lunch
Sol C.

Strange, funny restaurant in the museum quarter. The decor is bizarre with unusual relics dangling from the ceiling. We went for lunch in between museum hopping and were quickly ushered to a table. Service was friendly and our waiter suggested the lunch special (18 euro per person, if I remember correctly) for the nasi goreng (rice dish). We went for this as the a la carte menu was not in English and we just didn't have it in us to try to dechiper. The nasi goreng lunch special included a big bowl of rice with toppings such as meat skewers in peanut sauce, bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, cooked banana, etc. It was good but not great and the meal was rather pricey.

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13 years ago

Awful food, rude service, I have had wonderful Indonesian food in Amsterdam and this is not the place for it.

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12 years ago

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9 years ago

Great experience. Prices high. Service was fast. Very good meal after Heineken tour. Good for kids (they let them share off your meal).

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10 years ago

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11 years ago

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14 years ago

A disappointing experience, despite a great verity the food was bad, chewy beef, over cooked chicken and green beans and poor seasoning

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10 years ago

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Page 3 of 3

Sama Sebo Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Sama Sebo

“Make sure to reserve and order the 'rijsttafel', which is a complete selection of the most important Indonesian dishes”

Mentioned in 15 reviews

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Kartika

Kartika

4.3(314 reviews)
0.6 km•Helmersbuurt, West
•€€

Absolutely AMAZING!! Dad is Dutch Indonesian, and every dish tasted just like his cooking. The…read morepeople I was with never had Indonesian food and they were in Heaven!!! We went to Paris Amsterdam and London, we all agreed it was the best meal of the trip!!! Go here!! Trust me!!

Kartika serves good Indonesian rijsttafel (multi-dish sampler of spicy meats, vegetables, rice, and…read morenoodles). I don't have Indonesian food where I live, so was excited to try this in Amsterdam. I thought the dishes were all flavorful and gave a good mix of meat, vegetable, and rice dishes. The individual servings were small, but filling enough because of the heavy coconut milk used in most dishes. 1 star off: The attitude of the waitstaff was abysmal. First of all, their website does not offer reservations and they rarely answer their phones. So my family and I arrived at restaurant opening to get a table. The first thing they said to us was "Do you have a reservation? If you don't, I can only give you a table if you get out by 6:30PM." in a stern way. We said okay. The group that came after me also raised the issue that no one at the restaurant answers their phone for reservations. The waitstaff did not respond to that, but begrudging seated them. 1 star off: While we were ordering food, the waitstaff noticed that my son had a water bottle with him, and proceeded to give him a lecture that water bottles are not allowed and that we have to order water from them. He is a teenager...he does not know he was supposed to conceal his water bottle at this restaurant. We all ordered drinks, including water, but the experience left my family feeling unwelcomed.

Photos
Kartika - Amazing food!!!

Amazing food!!!

Kartika - Rice table! Delicious

Rice table! Delicious

Kartika

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Puri Mas - Daging Rendang - Spicy beef slow-cooked in a rich blend of traditional Indonesian herbs and spices

Puri Mas

4.3(56 reviews)
0.4 km•Centrum
•€€€

One of the most intriguing meals I kept seeing for years before I visited Amsterdam was the…read moreRijsttafel and knew I had to get it. I went with 6 other friends on this trip and talked it up for days. Some were apprehensive since it's out of their comfort zone but I'm happy to report this was almost everyone's favorite meal throughout Europe! We decided on the Rijsttafel Special which was 15 courses laid out in order from mild to spicy, perfect since there were some who don't do heat. There was a mix of different vegetable, fish and meat also perfect for the non meat eaters. The flavors of everything was so insanely good but my favorite was the Babi Kecap, pork braised in soy with cinnamon and star anise. The portions given was exactly the right amount for us all and the service was very kind. Definitely a must go for travelers!

Great service and food. A nice open dining area with lots of space in the middle of Leidseplein…read more You need to walk up the stairs, so not very handicapped accessible. I fist went here in 2009 while on a work trip. It was also featured on a Rick Steve's Europe episode one time! It's a great choice if you didn't plan on anything, need a warm table, away from the crowds in the center of Amsterdam. As far as the food goes, I loved it all...but I don't have much experience with Indonesian food.

Photos
Puri Mas - Saté Ayam - Chicken Satay

Saté Ayam - Chicken Satay

Puri Mas - Sambel Goreng Buncis - Mild green beans, ground candlenut

Sambel Goreng Buncis - Mild green beans, ground candlenut

Puri Mas - Telor Bumbu Bali - Egg in light sweet spiced Balinese sauce

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Telor Bumbu Bali - Egg in light sweet spiced Balinese sauce

Tujuh Maret - Large Rijsttafel - YUM!

Tujuh Maret

3.9(38 reviews)
1.1 km•Centrum
•€€€

Thank you to my friend, Keandra, who recommended this beautiful restaurant for a Rijsttafel, known…read moreas a rice table. Definitely make a reservation as the narrow restaurant has limited seating. They turned away several parties on an early Thursday evening around 7 PM. A rijsttafel is an elaborate Indonesian meal that was adapted by the Dutch who colonized Indonesia. It consists of many, many side dishes served in small portions that are accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. Although the dishes served are undoubtedly Indonesian, the rijsttafel's origins were colonial. The Dutch introduced the rice table to impress visitors with the exotic abundance of their colony while showcasing foods from different regions. Rijsttafels strive to feature an array of flavors, colors, degrees of spiciness and textures. The dishes may be crispy, crunchy, chewy, soft, hard or velvety. Such a beautiful display. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Ordered both the large and small Tujuh Maret's rice table. The larger rijsttafel includes all the specialties of the chef, composed of 18 different dishes. The smaller rice table can be ordered as mild-medium or medium spicy including chicken and tofu satay, yellow rice, jasmine rice, sweet and sour salads and prawn or rice crackers. Chicken dishes included (from least to most spicy): Ajam Opor-Chicken in a mild sauce of coconut and kurkuma. Ajam Roedjak-Chicken in a spicy sauce of red peppers and coconut. Ajam Rica Rica-Chicken in a spicy sauce of assorted peppers. Beef dishes included (from least to most spicy): Daging Smoor-Beef in a mild soy sauce and nutmeg Daging Rendang-Beef in a spicy sauce of various peppers and coconut Daging Belado-Beef in a spicy sauce of red peppers and tomatoes. Satay dishes included: Sate Ajam- Chicken satay with peanut sauce. Sate Tahu- Tofu satay with peanut sauce. Side dishes included: Gado Gado-Mixed vegetables with peanut butter sauce. Sambal Goreng Telor-Boiled egg with spicy sauce. Atjar Kuning Menado-Sweet and sour salad. Krupuk-Prawn crackers. Emping-Vegetarian crackers. Seroendeng-Grated coconut with peanuts. Nasi Putih-Steamed Jasmine rice. Nasi Kuning-Yellow rice with coconut and lemongrass. Although everything was delicious, it was definitely hard to remember what was what, even after our hostess was graciously described each of the 30 dishes that were on our rice tables. Labels would have helped. Finished with a Pandan crepe filled with coconut. A beautiful way to end a really nice evening in Amsterdam.

Delicious meal in AMS…read more According to Google, rice table, or rijsttafel, is a traditional meal that combines dishes from different Indonesian food cultures and is served with rice. The Dutch adapted the dish during their colonization of Indonesia (1602-1942), basing it on the Indonesian feast nasi padang from West Sumatra. The word rijsttafel is Dutch and translates to "rice table". I was only visiting this beautiful city for a short time. My friend made a resy for us to enjoy a quaint and yummy meal at one of her go-to spots in the area. If you decide to forgo a resy and just walk in, you may have to wait, as there's very limited seating. We walked here and it was easy stroll, enjoying all the little shops & scenery along the way. When you walk in your greeted by a yummy smell of spices. It's definitely a family business. Tiny euro style restaurant. Food - we ordered the Rice table for 2. And bring your stomach space, because it's alot of food. We came hungry and still had leftovers. It's a progressive meal, from mild to spicy dishes. But I believe you can chose your level of spice with the server. 18 dishes come out all at once. Consisting of fish, chicken, beef, veg etc dishes plus rice. All with unique flavor and textures. Would highly suggest it if in the area. Even if it's not in your wheelhouse foodwise, still an interesting experience.

Photos
Tujuh Maret - Cute table for 2

Cute table for 2

Tujuh Maret
Tujuh Maret - Combo plate

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Combo plate

Sama Sebo - indonesian - Updated October 2026

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