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Recommended Reviews - Sampurna
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Delicious Indonesian restaurant with a relaxed, cozy ambiance. We came here on multiple recommendations from friends, and I can see why Sampurna is so popular! We ordered the Kuning Rice Table, the smallest of the three tasting-menu-style options. Despite being the smallest it came with an unbelievable amount of food! I loved getting to try so many different indonesian dishes, everyone loved something different! The service was very fast, and the food was brought out on hot plates to keep everything warm. They are also very accommodating for vegetarian/vegans - they were able to swap out the meat dishes for the vegetarian in our group while still doing the full-table tasting menu.
SAMPURNA highlights its commitment to traditional Indonesian cooking and family recipes and that authenticity definitely comes through in the food. The restaurant offers a varied menu inspired by classic Indonesian dishes and promotes a relaxed welcoming atmosphere with the option to request specific dishes in advance including lobster or seafood with prior notice. We were seated without a reservation which was convenient and appreciated. The service was a bit grumpy and not the warmest but still attentive and functional throughout the meal. While the hospitality did not fully match the restaurant's stated philosophy it did not ruin the experience. The food itself was good and satisfying with rich flavors that felt true to Indonesian home style cooking. The rice table in particular looked absolutely delicious and tempting though our group ended up ordering more selectively due to picky eaters at the table. It is definitely something I would want to try on a future visit. Overall SAMPURNA delivers solid Indonesian food and a genuine traditional approach. Despite imperfect service I would return especially to try the rice table next time.
Absolutely loved my dinner at Sampurna on my last day in Amsterdam. I don't remember the name of what I had but it was some type of plate that came with different things. You can see in the video it had a chicken skewer, rice, veggies, and more. Everything was so tasty. One complaint is that I was sitting for a while before the server came to my table, like 15 minutes. But after that the service was great, very prompt. It is a small spot very chill but noisy when packed. I had to make a reservation as the first day I got there they had no tables so I made reservation for the next day. I would definitely go back if back in Amsterdam and also this was my first time trying Indonesian food so it definitely has me wanting to try more Indonesian restaurants.
We were a big group and reserved the prefixed dinner ahead of time. The place has authentic vibes and the service was excellent. For foods, most of the dishes were delicious but some were way too spicy for my taste.
Thanks to nearly 350 years of colonization the Netherlands is home to a sizable Indonesian population, and when it comes to Rijsttafel few places are so well regarded as Sampurna right in the heart of Amsterdam along one of the many canals. A low-lit space with religious carvings and tightly packed tables, the upstairs and downstairs separated by a bar, guests with reservations are greeted on time by pleasant staff happy to explain a menu built upon various shared "Rice Tables" plus a collection of a la carte dishes. Fairly priced with 35+ years of history, the "Sate Solo" just €31.50 for six skewers and ten side dishes plus complimentary Rice Crackers, plates designated as "spicy" are quite tame compared to Thai or Szechuan Cuisine, and fans of Sambal will likely love the boiled Egg atop a side of Rice. Busy without a lot of circulating air, the lower level quite warm even without the candles and heated serviceware, Cucumber Salad as well as one of Mangoes prove quite refreshing between tender bites of Meat highlighted by Sauces ranging from Soy to Peanut. Adding dried Coconut for Texture, this plus the Sauce from Goat Skewers perking up fairly basic Noodles, Desserts look interesting but ended up being skipped as a few large parties overwhelmed a single downstairs server leading to a lengthy wait for both the check and more water.
This was noted as a touristy restaurant, likely given its location across from the flower vendors along the canal, but this is a great way to try Indonesian food if you haven't had it before. The restaurant is narrow so this really limits it comfortably to a group of four. If you have four I recommend ordering one of their Rijstaffel, or rice table, dinners. If you order this you get a choice of one of two starters, which each member in your party can choose something different. The Rijstaffel is great because it is a multi-course sampler so that you can try so many things. We really liked everything we got but the surprise favorite for our table was the Sate kambing- a delicious marinated goat skewer. Service was fast and they expect many diners who have not had Indonesian food before.
My experience at this location was somewhat disappointing. The staff was very inattentive and completely ignored us for the first 5-10 minutes of our arrival. Despite us having a 8:30pm reservation and ordering shortly after being seated, we were not served our food until 9:50pm. The food came out cold and rice was severely undercooked. I will say the lamb chops and curried chicken although cold, was very tasty and flavorful. We were seated in the very back near the restrooms, which gave off an unpleasant, no -food smell even though there was ample seating available in the main dining area. We ultimately felt as if we were unwanted guests.
I was surprised to find out that there is a rather large Indonesian community in Amsterdam. For foodies, that means there are lots of opportunities for delicious Indonesian cuisine. I don't think I've really had an authentic Indonesian experience before so there's not much for me to compare to but whether Sampurna is authentic or not, it is very delicious and I highly recommend! Since we had a large party, we made reservations online and large groups have to do their set menus. This is a great way to try a bit of everything, especially if you don't know what to order. The amount of food will be tailored based on your party size. There are different set menus but we went for the slightly more expensive one (Sampurna Rice Table) since we were on vacation. Our friends went on a different day and complained a bit about the service but we didn't experience any issues and the food arrived at a normal pace. My favorites were the Daging blado (braised beef), Ayam mentega (Chicken with a sweet soya sauce), Ikan Bali (Cod fish in a spicy Balinese sambal sauce), and Domba bakar (Grilled lamb chops). I thought Indonesian food was traditionally spicy and I was very worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it. Everything on the set menu was not spicy at all and I'm not sure if that's a step away from tradition or not but I enjoyed it! If anything, a lot of the dishes were a mix of sweet and salty. The side bowls of vegetables and salads were a nice break from the heavy meats too. One of my favorite meals in Amsterdam and if Sampurna is out of your budget, then definitely try to find an Indonesian restaurant during your visit!
One of the main things I was looking forward to while visiting Amsterdam was experiencing Dutch Indonesian food, especially none other than rjastafel. This dish literally translates to rice table in Dutch. It is basically a hodgepodge of various Indonesian dishes that you eat together. In some ways it reminded me of Korean barbecue, not necessarily in terms of flavor, but the concept of eating a variety of things at once. My favorite was the chicken satay and some of the vegetable dishes (This place is Halal so that is a plus for me). me and my friend both enjoyed this place and we were very full afterwards. The price point is ok too (FYI it is per person charge). We came on Thursday afternoon around 2:30 PM and it was fairly empty . That was a relief because I heard this place was not very big and gets crowded. However, I would still make a reservation just in case.
Incredible, amazing, delicious food! We got the set meal for two, and every bite was scrumptious. It was a lot of variety, and so much food. The price was reasonable too. Service was excellent, even though the restaurant was very busy with only one server. Our waiter was efficient and kind, even though he had a lot of tables to serve. Ambiance is really nice! I love how the room was decorated. The only mild warning for patrons is the room was very loud and boisterous. It may not be the best setting for an intimate, romantic lunch or dinner. Sampurna is an excellent restaurant to visit for a delicious Indonesian meal!!
When we found out Amsterdam is known to have amazing Indonesian food, we knew we had to try it for ourselves! I've never had Indonesian food before, so I didn't know what to expect. We made a reservation for our large party of 8. For large groups, you can't order a la carte, so we went with the Sampurna Rice Table set menu. Our chip appetizer and starter dishes came out relatively quickly, but after that we waited around 45 minutes to get the rest of our course. Other tables by us also waited a long time, so it seems like the kitchen was just backed up. We also had a large group so it probably took them a while to prepare everything, so that everything could be brought out and arranged on the table at the same time. I think it would have been nice to get each dish as it was prepared so we would constantly have something to eat, but the wow factor of seeing all the food presented on our table at the same time was pretty cool and definitely a big part of the experience. My favorites included the spicy sauce for the chip appetizer, the skewers and the fried rice. Come hungry because they give a decent amount of food! We weren't too hungry since we had a late lunch, so we did end up with leftovers. It was super stuffy and hot inside when we came in July, so just something to be aware of. We didn't even realize until we got up to leave that there was actually a wall AC unit right next to our table, but it was so hot we didn't even feel it. Overall, delicious food and a cool experience but I'd recommend setting some extra time apart for this since it took longer than expected. I wouldn't mind coming back the next time I'm in Amsterdam, but if we have a large group again I'd probably want to split up so we can do a la carte.
I didn't realize Amsterdam had such a big Indonesian community, and after a few friends did some research on must-go places in the city, we landed on Sampurna. The restaurant is not large, and most seating arrangements are for smaller parties, so I would highly recommend making a reservation in advance! We had a party of 8, and it seemed like the only place that could fit us was in the back of the restaurant. It is quite stuffy inside, and although there is an AC unit/fan blowing, the heat is just overwhelming. It was very busy when we arrived, and continued to be busy throughout our dinner. At first, I thought it was due to our large party that our service was delayed, but it seemed like the kitchen was just extremely backed up as other tables near us also got their food very late. Between the chip snack and starter dish into the main meal, we waited almost 40-50 minutes! That wait combined with the heated environment made us pretty unhappy. When the large food spread arrived, it definitely got better as we were just able to enjoy our meal. Food was pretty tasty, and we even had leftovers to take back to the hotel, where one of our friends said even cold the food was good. Thinking our slow service was just a one off, and hope they continue to get good business.
I came here without a reservation so was told to return in 30 minutes for a possible table opening, and it did. I did have to go inside the restaurant to try get someone's attention for it. Once seated the atmosphere is amazing, clean, with golden light pieces around with clean tables. Lots of locals and tourists, all enjoying delicious food. I got the vegetarian sampler which was delicious! Absolutely loved it. From the spice level on the various dishes to the texture of the different tofu and tempeh and vegetable dishes, it was filling and satisfying all the way around. I don't think there was a single thing I didn't like. I also had a desert drink, which was fun and tasty. Absolutely great intro to Indonesian food! Worth coming
1 year ago
1 year ago
Good food, service and ambiance. Booked 2 separate tables for our group of 7. Multiple choices for set meals and a la carte. read more
11 months ago
TLDR: solid 4.5 star with a great dinning experience. Came here for lunch one day after seeing someone's vlog highlight their rice table. We came around 5ish and we ordered right after we were seated. Rice table is lots of small dishes that you eat with rice, think Korean bonchons, or Chinese dim sum. I think we got a little more than 10 small dishes, I was worried about the food portions because it looked so small. We were pleasantly surprise by EVERYTHING that we had. All the dishes had their own characteristics, and we throughly enjoyed trying everything. Yelp wouldn't let me give half star otherwise it would be 4.5 star, it missed half a star for me because the food got a bit sweet towards the 2nd half of the meal. read more
2 years ago
As we passed by this restaurant, I noticed this restaurant was packed for a Thursday night, so we had to go in. The ambiance was romantic and conversational. My bf and I enjoyed a goreng dish, and my cousin ordered a fish dish--that he found wayyyyy too spicy. Dinner was delightful to the senses. Every texture and unique flavor, enlighten dulled American tastebuds to a level it has never experienced before. Service was great. I recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking fine Indonesian cuisine in the heart of Amsterdam. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Came for a dinner with my mom. Atmosphere is 5/5. Service 5/5. Food is 4/5, because it was a bit too salty. We ordered Nasi Goreng and Nasi Java. Traditionally, these foods are super high in sodium and super salty. I get that they want to mimick it, but it was super delicious. Great place by the water for an Indonesian dinner. It was packed and had a queue, so suggest coming early to get a good spot. read more
11 months ago
Kita tinggal di Hawaii dan bener2 nggak ada makanan Indo sama sekali. Jadi kita main ke Belanda untuk kesempatan dapat makanannya. Wahhduuuhhh enak banget! Aku milih rijttafelnya. Dapat nya: Kerupuk Kari ayam Ikan Bali Rendang sapi Sate ayam Lumpia Sayur lodeh ...the list goes on! Pengin nya pindah ke Belanda biar sempet makan di sini setiap minggu! read more
4 years ago
Ambiance: lovely! The wall is gold plated and yet they manage to make it tasteful. Not too loud. (The restaurant is in the middle of the flower market which is a five star location in my book, but if my husband knew that he would be carrying peonie roots across a Europe after our meal he might not have agreed to coming here!) Food: we wanted to try a bit of everything so we opted for the course meal. The "seafood option" has a curry with shrimp instead of chicken, for €29 per person; while the chicken version was €23. Unless you REALLY like shrimp, €2 per small shrimp is prob not worth it. Service: there was only one waitress when we stopped by for lunch with about 7 active tables, and yet she managed. Pretty impressive. No regular check in but that might be a European thing. Hey, less tip = cheaper for us! Overall this was a really yummy and interesting experience for us. Apparently this style of meal is Dutch influent due to colonialism, similar to the Dutch rice plate. Highly recommend! read more
2 years ago
This is such an EXPERIENCE!!!!! The food was sooo good! The restaurant is clean, service is fast and good, and the ambiance has a great dinner vibe. They take reservations, but we didn't have one. They sat us immediately, but the place got pretty busy right after we got there around 5pm. The amount of food was very sufficient for both me and my husband (and he eats far larger portions than I do). We did the family style dining experience. read more
2 years ago
Ever since we booked our trip to Amsterdam, I knew that Indonesian food would be high on my list. Sampurna was at the top of most lists and making reservations were easy enough. One rule they have is that if you order the rijstaffel (rice table), each person has to order one for the whole table. This ends up being a TON of food- I really wish you could split it up, but alas. Anyway, I ordered the meat one and my wife ordered the vegetarian one. There were so many different foods, I think my favorite was the beef or the fried chicken. My wife's were mostly tofu but there was one with nuts that was especially good. We didn't order drinks here, but ordered tea instead, which was quite tasty. Overall a solid place and worth a stop! read more
1 year ago
Get the Rijsttafel. Loosely translated from Indonesian into Dutch, it means rice table and it's kind of like tapas. Like a small sampling of dishes that are eaten frequently in Indonesia. It consists of many side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. Popular side dishes include egg rolls, sambals, satay, fish, fruit, vegetables, pickles, and nuts. In most areas where it is served, such as the Netherlands, and other areas of strong Dutch influence, it is known under its Dutch name. Unless you are allergic, my suggestion is just try everything. The tastes are layered and unique. It's tasty and awesome. A must visit when you are in town we enjoyed our experience at this place! read more
If you hadn't had Indonesian food before, the Netherlands is a great place to start trying! This location is right next to the tulips market and very central and convenient. We came during lunch and ordered off the lunch menu. They have more elaborate options that are served family style as well, which I would recommend if you're hungry! read more
4 years ago
Delicious foods. Friendly servers. Quick service. Cozy atmosphere. Clean toilets. This place was recommended by the flower shop owner right across the street. Don't forget to make a reservation especially around dinner time. This place gets very busy. Will recommend to friends. read more
4 years ago
My family and I were visiting Amsterdam and we had seen many Indonesian cuisine restaurants while walking around the city, so we decided to give one a try. We walked past this one our first day and tried to get a table right then, but they informed us that we'd need a reservation if we had hopes of eating dinner there. So we made a reservation for two days later online. We arrived 20 minutes before our reservation at 7pm and they were able to not only seat us, but also take our order and serve us before hitting 7pm. The service was very efficient! The servers were all very attentive and willing to explain how ordering worked and each dish that came out. It felt very welcoming to eat there. The food was very impressive! We did the Batara Rijsttafel menu, which is a set menu costing 29.5 euros per person and contains a variety of flavors and meats. For three people the portions that came out were perfect the fill all three of us. The food was presented where each dish came on its own bowl or plate and all the bowls were set on a heating tray. They also give you a large bowl of rice to eat on the side if you'd like. The flavor of the food was incredible! It wasn't too rich in flavor but had a complex profile of flavors that made it unique to other cuisines I've tried. I would come back here in a heartbeat the next time I visit Amsterdam! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
We ordered the Batara rice table and loved it. Nice vibe in the restaurant. Reasonably priced. read more
3 years ago
This Indonesian place was recommended by quite a few people during our stay in Amsterdam, so we had to try it. I had made a reservation, but when we walked in, it took five minutes to get seated because all the servers were busy and they couldn't find our reservation. The restaurant itself had a nice ambience. Another pro was that the tables were not too close to each other. My table got the Sampurna rice table to share (38 pp), which came with many different protein, rice, and side dishes. Overall, the food was just OK. The best part was the fried fish in a sticky sweet sauce, but nothing else blew me away. A lot of the food was a similar flavor, and had too much ginger for my liking. Overall, it's somewhere I don't regret coming to for the experience, but I would not come back. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Excellent dinner! This was recommended by a tour guide and you probably need a reservation if you want to eat here, it's pretty popular. We got the rice table for 3 people. It was so delicious and had such a variety of food, lots of different meat, chicken and fish as well as vegetables. The spring roll appetizer was also delicious! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Popular Indonesian restaurant. They serve several family style menus that allow you to try many different items. However, they are not too flexible in case there are any items you want to switch. Overall, spice levels are moderate and flavors are very bold. The beef skewer in soy sauce and tempeh were probably my favorite. Service like many have said can be rushed and slightly rude. They will constantly ask you to get drinks and won't serve tap water unless you get alcohol. At the end of the night, they will also explicitly ask you for a tip, which was off-putting. Overall, food was solid, but not special enough for me to return given the service. read more
1 year ago
Visited back in December after reading some great reviews - I was very interested in trying a rijsttafel while in Amsterdam and this did not disappoint. We ordered the sampurna rice table. This was a seriously amazing meal, I am incredibly disappointed that I cannot find something similar in my home town. Service was wonderful, food was incredible and great quality. Highly recommend. Make reservations :) read more
Stopped by late Sunday evening and this place was packed! I would definitely make a reservation (super easy). Staff was super friendly. Place was comfortable and cozy. Food was phenomenal! Super tasty and reminded me of my mom's cooking. Would definitely stop by again! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The staff is super friendly and the food came out fairly quick for their prefixed menu. That being said, the food is gross. Everything was bland or too sweet or came with too much peanut sauce. Better luck finding Thai or Viet in Amsterdam. read more
2 years ago
you definitely need to have a reservation, I believe the location makes them extremely busy. 1st Indonesian meal so nothing to compare to. we ordered spring rolls, rice, noodles and chicken satay. Quiet, not too loud it seems they can accommodate different size parties as well read more
3 years ago
For the last meal of my trip, I had to satisfy my craving for Indonesian. Sampurna is a sleek, cozy spot not far from the flower market in the city center. Reservations are recommend, as this place will fill up pretty quick, though I got there early enough to snag a table without a wait. As soon as you're seated, you're greeted with a bowl of rice crackers and three sambals (sauces, not unlike an Indian chutney). The menu features a number of satay skewers, a selection of rice dishes, and a few rijstafel (rice table: small portions of several dishes for a table to share). Dining solo, a rijstafel was out of the question, but the ayam penggang seten caught my eye. I'm pretty sure the literal translation of the dish is "fried chicken in Satan sauce", which seemed apt: this was one of the most brutally spicy dishes I've ever eaten. Aside from the intense heat, the dish was actually very flavourful, with garlic, lemongrass, galangal, and other spices shining through. Every entree here comes with a number of small side dishes: white rice, pickled veggies, veggies in a coconut curry sauce, and fried tempeh. Everything was delicious, all the better when washed down with a glass of Bintang (an Indonesian beer). The staff was friendly, but harried. read more
3 years ago
Great Indonesian cuisine. As a first timer, I would recommend the rice plate especially when with a few people read more
3 years ago
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