Best budget restaurants in Amsterdam

Under €10

For food on the go and quick eats

Dumplings

This epic food stall on the corner of Westerpark serves traditional wallet-friendly snacks that have long been a staple of Chinese and pan-Asian cuisine. The menu encompasses Chinese crepes made with mung beans, noodles, egg, and spring onions, doused in soy sauce with optional roasted pork or duck. They also serve a great variety of dumplings, baos, spring rolls, and noodle plates that will fill you up for as little as €6.50.

Dumplings | Nassauplein 60, Westerpark

Tigris & Eufraat

Arguably one of Amsterdam’s most famous falafel spots, this Syrian spot in Oost has a dedicated following from all over the city. Serving up crispy falafel complete with crunchy salad and lashings of sauce, alongside other wraps that include chicken thigh, shawarma and halloumi, there’s always a queue for good reason. Grab these for €8-€9 and enjoy one of the city’s best snacks on the go.

Tigris & Eufraat | Javastraat, Oost

Yemaya’s

Vegan food reaches new heights where sizey portions combine with 100% plant-based ingredients to memorable effect. Opt for a spicy tempeh pitta and a spelt roti roll, or better yet, build your own box on a base of wild rice and plantain, with toppings like sweet & sour tofu, mushroom, kimchi and Surinamese vegetables for a under €10 lunch you’ll be coming back for. 

Yemaya’s | Reigersbos 3A, Zuidoost

Beste Döner

This superb institution on the Dappermarkt is not called the best for nothing. Over the last 20 years, owner Hasan Karaca has built a loyal fanbase of kebab-hungry devotees seeking the perfect spicy, herby meat sandwich. These mouthwatering döners are hand-made traditionally, with lamb carefully stacked on a spit and slow-roasted over several hours. The smell of the kebab draws everyone in, and there is a long queue in the afternoons. 

Beste Döner | Dapperstraat 4, Oost

Sir Pita

Sir Pita is the go-to spot for Middle-Eastern streetfood, which borrows its components from the region’s kitchen. We can’t get enough of the sabich roll, which is drippy, messy, crunchy, hearty and fresh all at once. Fried aubergine, hummus, salad, pickles, onion-sumac, herbs and a tangy pickled mango sauce are lovingly stuffed into a delicious soft pita for your munching pleasure.

Sir Hummus | Ruysdaelkade 181, De Pijp

Under €15

Substantial meals for substantially low prices

Pie-Nong Thai

You’d be forgiven for walking right past Pie-Nong Thai. A tiny eatery on the Nassaukade, this Thai restaurant is one of the city’s best-kept secrets and most reasonably priced. Located in a small hut-like structure, you’ll find a range of thai classics like Pad Thai, Keng Kai (red curry, and Pad Sieuw all for around €10 if you go for the veggie option (meat is a few euros more). Grab a freshly prepared dish from the lovely team behind Pie-Nong and sit out on the benches for a perfect summery meal.

Pie-Nong Thai | Nassaukade 54 t/o, Centrum

New Fusion

New Fusion lives up to its name: a modern crossover of cuisines, old and new staff and local culinary history where you’ll find surprisingly complex, tasty specialities spanning Surinamese, Chinese and Indonesian traditions. Locals favour Surinamese-Chinese classics like moksi meti, typical Chinese recipes like char siu (slow-roasted pork) and tsiu yim ha (crispy prawns). Then, Indonesian and Surinamese elements complete the fusion: ketjap sauce, bami noodles and nasi rice. The portions are massive, so the normal moksi meti at €10 is a steal, but if you’re hungry, the large option at €12 will satisfy even the hungriest of eaters.

Tip: If New Fusion is busy, try Albina next door for a similarly priced and equally good Surinamese-Cantonese meal. 

New Fusion | Albert Cuypstraat 47, De Pijp

Fou Fow Ramen

Nothing warms the soul and fills the belly on a budget than a giant bowl of noodle soup packed full of goodies. The clue’s in the name at Fou Fow Ramen, with three locations in central Amsterdam. Order a generous bowl of fresh Japanese noodles, sliced meat, soft-set boiled egg, crunchy seaweed and greens in a fragrant house-made chicken, pork or vegetable broth for anywhere between €12.50 and just over €15. For more noodles, check out the most slurp-worthy ramen bowls in Amsterdam.

Fou Fow Ramen | Elandsgracht 2 & Prinsengracht 411, Centrum / Van Woustraat 3, De Pijp

Burger Bar

The Burgerbar is the best place for those who like DIY and those who are always on the lookout for the perfect burger. The build-your-own system lets you choose every element of your own customised burger. And the options are extensive, from the meat – Irish beef, chicken or Wagyu? – through the toppings – fried egg, blue cheese, avocado – to the sauces. It’s hard to not go overboard here, but create with care and you will be rewarded with your perfect burger.

Burgerbar | Kolksteeg 2 / Warmoesstraat 21 / Reguliersbreestraat 9 / Prinsengracht 478 / Stadionweg 255

Skek

Skek is a student-run restaurant and bar that fuses traditional Dutch food with all the newest eating trends – it’s perfect for Amsterdam locals and visitors alike. They also host live music nights, adding to the stellar atmosphere. If one group appreciates a good bargain, it’s students, and Skek doesn’t disappoint, with dishes costing around €13 on average. The bar is fitted with various unique beers – completing that classic Dutch café vibe look and feel. 

Skek | Zeedijk 4-8, Centrum

Under €20

Quality food on a budget

Spaghetteria

Spaghetteria prides itself on its homemade, traditional and fresh approach to pasta – basing its culinary techniques on the cooking practices of ancient Italy. They serve six different kinds of pasta daily, all prepared in-house and overseen by an experienced chef. There are several locations, and each dish ranges from approximately €14,50 to €21,50, and while it used to be cheaper, it's still perfect if you want a good portion, a solid bowl of pasta and a more upscale ambience for a budget eatery. For more, our pasta guide has plenty of Italian goodness.

Spaghetteria Amsterdam | citywide locations

Burgermeester

Burgermeester is perfect for anyone hunting for a reasonably priced gourmet burger. Starting from €13, you'll find 12 delicious options on the menu, including beef, lamb, chicken, lentil, salmon or goat’s cheese. Or if you're entirely indecisive, opt for a variety plate of three mini sliders. And because a burger is always a deliciously wallet-friendly option, here’s our round-up of the best burger joints in town.

Burgermeester | Albert Cuypstraat 48 / Elandsgracht 130 / Plantage Kerklaan 37  

Blackwoods + Greenwoods

Once upon a time, a Dutch student dreamt up the idea for a diner somewhere along the canal belt where you could get a substantial meal for a good price. It was nothing groundbreaking in principle but that’s exactly what makes Greenwoods and their winter pop-up – in the Keizersgracht outpost – Blackwoods such a reliable favourite. This winter, Blackwoods is keeping out the cold with a stew-based seasonal menu; meat, vegan or vegetarian casseroles, served with artisan bread and a glass of wine (mulled optional), all for 15 euros. Beyond that though, it's comfort food galore all year round at Greenwoods, with hearty breakfasts that include shakshuka or homemade spice apple granola, all under €15 too.

Blackwoods | Keizersgracht 465, Centrum

Greenwoods | Keizergracht 465 / Singel 103, Centrum

La Perla

A beloved pizzeria in the Jordaan neighbourhood of Amsterdam, La Perla imports ingredients from Italy every week, including the southern Italian favourite, genuine buffalo mozzarella. La Perla’s pizzas are cooked in their colossal, wood-filled brick oven, and prices start at €12.50. Mamma mia! There is a bargain to be had on some of the finest pizzas in Amsterdam. Dough aficionado? Here’s our round-up of the best pizza joints in the city.

La Perla | Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 14, Centrum

Kauffmann Falafel

At this hangout in De Baarsjes, falafel pitas are the order of the day. Kauffmann serves delicious and reasonably priced Levantine-inspired fast food topped with combinations of grilled halloumi, mango, pineapple, spicy sausages, and green chilli tapenade. When the sun’s shining, the high doors open onto a fantastic terrace, making it the ideal spot to sip on the great selection of Dutch craft beers on offer. 

Kauffman Falafel | Reinier Claeszenstraat 4, De Baarsjes

Pho 91

Though pho was not invented until the early 1900s, this rice noodle and beef soup quickly became Vietnam's most famous street food dish worldwide. There are 40 types of pho in Vietnam, and you can find a selection of these at Pho 91. This De Pijp-based eatery is the perfect cosy spot to slurp a steaming bowl of noodle soup that won’t break the bank. There are also vegan, gluten, dairy and egg-free options.

Pho 91 | Albert Cuypstraat 91, De Pijp

Franggo’s

If the UK has Nando's, then the Netherlands has Franggo. This Portuguese flame-grilled chicken brand has been spreading the word about piri piri chicken so much that it opened its third location in Amsterdam. You’ll find spiced half and whole chicken, corn on the cob, and creamy pastel de natas here, with the best option being the menu for €16.50 where you get a main, side and sauce of choice. 

Franggo's Oost | Javaplein 35H, Oost

Notable Mentions

FEBO

An institution of Dutch culture, no night out is complete without a stop at FEBO; a snack bar where croquettes, frikandel and burgers await, hot and fresh from the vending machine. 

Fries!

If you want a snack but less of a meal, Amsterdam is filled with places for the fries of your dreams. Try the Frietboutique or Freddy’s Fryday for excellent but less-crowded spots, or explore our picks of the best fries in Amsterdam.

Free for kids

Head to the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton for WE ARE EDN; a new family-friendly all-day dining experience where kids under five eat for free between 12:00-16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. There's plenty of choice for adults, but for kids, expect a dedicated menu with staples like pomodoro pasta, chicken strips and a classic burger awaits, as well as a pizza station where kids can make their own pizza or decorate their pancake courtesy of different toppings at the table.