Amsterdam has a curry house on almost every corner, so finding a truly good Indian restaurant in Amsterdam takes more than a quick look at the menu photos. Two places can list the same dishes and serve completely different meals. The difference is in the details, and most of them are easy to spot once you know where to look.
We have been cooking for this city for more than 20 years as a family-owned Indian restaurant in the Jordaan, so we know what separates a memorable dinner from a forgettable one. Here are the 10 things we would check ourselves before choosing where to eat.
10 Things to Look for in an Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam
1. A Menu With a Clear Regional Identity
India is not one cuisine. Punjabi cooking, Kashmiri dishes, Goan curries and Bengali fish dishes all have their own techniques and flavours. A good Indian restaurant knows where its cooking comes from and builds its menu around it.
Our kitchen is rooted in North Indian and Punjabi cooking, which is where many of the favourites people know, like tandoori chicken, naan and rich tomato-based curries, come from. Our guide to Punjabi food and its regional roots explains why, and you can find more in our posts on North Indian food.
2. Every Curry Tastes Different
Here is a simple test. Order two different curries and taste them side by side. If they share the same base sauce with a different colour, the kitchen is taking shortcuts. A korma should be mild and creamy, a madras sharp and hot, a rogan josh deep and aromatic.
If you want to know what each curry should taste like, our guide to korma, madras and vindaloo and our post on bhuna, dhansak and saag are good places to start.
3. A Real Tandoor in the Kitchen
The tandoor is the heart of North Indian cooking. Britannica describes it as a cylindrical clay oven heated by charcoal, used for meats marinated in yoghurt and spices and for naan pressed against its inner walls. Nothing else produces quite the same smoky char.
Look for a proper tandoor section on the menu. Ours includes tandoori chicken, chicken and lamb tikka, seekh kebab, fish tikka, tandoori prawns, paneer tikka and a mixed grill. Read more about authentic tandoori food in Amsterdam and how dishes go from tandoor to table.
4. Bread Baked Fresh to Order
You can tell a lot about an Indian restaurant from its naan. Fresh naan arrives soft, warm and blistered from the oven. Bread that has been sitting around is pale, chewy and flat.
A good kitchen also offers a choice. We bake plain, butter, garlic, onion, cheese, kulcha, keema and Peshawari naan, plus roti and paratha. Not sure which one to pick? Our guide to naan, roti, paratha and kulcha explains the difference.
5. Spice Levels Made to Your Taste
Not all Indian food is hot, and a good restaurant never assumes it should be. Curry is a broad word: Dictionary.com traces it to the Tamil word kari, meaning sauce. Behind that one word sits a huge range of dishes, from gentle and creamy to fiery.
A kitchen that cooks fresh can adjust the heat for you. At our Indian restaurant in Amsterdam, most dishes can be made anywhere from mild to very hot, so just tell us what you like.
6. Staff Who Know Their Allergens
Indian cooking uses plenty of dairy, nuts and wheat, so allergen knowledge matters. In the Netherlands, restaurants must be able to tell guests about the 14 main allergens in their dishes when asked, and the NVWA checks this during inspections, according to Dutch hospitality association KHN.
A good restaurant answers clearly and without guesswork. Our staff can help with any dietary requirement. Before you visit, read our guide to eating Indian food with dairy, gluten and nut allergies, and always tell your server.
7. Real Choice for Vegetarians and Vegans
Vegetarian food is not an afterthought in Indian cooking. Look for a menu where meat-free dishes have real variety, not just one vegetable curry.
We cook vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes. Our vegetarian options include palak paneer, paneer butter masala, chana masala, tarka dal, bombay aloo, bhindi bhaji and aloo gobhi, plus a full vegetarian set menu.
8. A Setting That Suits the Occasion
Good food deserves the right room. Some nights call for a quick takeaway, others for a long dinner with friends or a romantic evening. Check the atmosphere and location before you book.
Our restaurant sits in the Jordaan, which Time Out calls arguably Amsterdam’s most charming neighbourhood. It is a lovely area to stroll before or after dinner. Our cosy dining room works well for a date night or a small group. Find out what keeps guests coming back in our post on what makes an Indian restaurant in Amsterdam worth visiting again and again.
9. Set Menus and Fair Prices
If you are new to Indian food or ordering for a group, set menus take the stress out of choosing. They also show how a kitchen thinks about a balanced meal.
We offer several set menus, including the Shahjahan Menu, the Mumtaz Menu, a Vegetarian Menu, a Fish Menu and a Children’s Menu. Our guide to set menus vs individual dishes helps you decide which suits you.
10. Takeaway and Delivery That Travel Well
Sometimes the best Indian meal is the one you eat on your own sofa. A good restaurant offers takeaway and delivery, and packs food so it arrives hot and fresh.
You can order online from us for takeaway and delivery. For ordering ideas, see our guide to samosas, pakoras and onion bhajis or read why Indian takeout is always a good idea.
Why Choose Shah Jahan as Your Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam
We built our restaurant around the same things on this list: fresh ingredients, traditional spices, our own family recipes and a team that cares about every guest. If you want to dig deeper, read our 10 signs you are dining at an authentic Indian food restaurant, or start with a favourite and find out where to get the best butter chicken in Amsterdam.
Browse more of our guides in the Indian Restaurant Amsterdam category, or come and taste the difference for yourself.
- Address: Eerste Anjeliersdwarsstraat 18, 1015 NR Amsterdam (Jordaan)
- Phone: 020 624 0122
- Email: info@shah-jahan.nl
Contact us to book a table. We look forward to welcoming you.
FAQs About Choosing an Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam
How do I find a good Indian restaurant in Amsterdam? Look for a clear regional style, curries that each taste different, a real tandoor, fresh-baked bread and staff who can explain the dishes and allergens.
What is the best area for Indian food in Amsterdam? You will find Indian restaurants across the city. Our restaurant is in the Jordaan, a charming neighbourhood close to the canals and easy to combine with a walk.
Can Indian restaurants make food less spicy? Yes, if they cook to order. At Shah Jahan, most dishes can be adjusted from mild to very hot.
Are there vegan options at Indian restaurants? Indian cooking has many plant-based dishes, such as chana masala and tarka dal. We serve vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes, so ask your server which options suit you.
Do Indian restaurants in Amsterdam have to share allergen information? Yes. Dutch restaurants must tell guests about the 14 main allergens in their dishes when asked.