Amsterdam rewards curious eaters. Between the canals you will find Dutch, Surinamese and Indonesian kitchens, and plenty of Indian ones too. If you are in town and want to try Indian cuisine Amsterdam, a long menu can feel like a lot to take in, so we have picked the 12 specialties we would point any first-timer towards.
We are Shah Jahan, a family-owned Indian restaurant in the Jordaan, and we have been cooking for this city for over 20 years. Every dish on this list is on our menu, and most of them can be made anywhere from mild to very hot (OpenTable). Just tell us how you like it.
12 Must-Try Indian Specialties in Amsterdam
1. Butter Chicken
If you only order one curry, many of our guests would tell you to make it this one. Butter chicken is mildly spiced and slightly sweet, with a tomato, onion and cream gravy finished with butter. The usual story credits Kundan Lal Gujral, who opened Moti Mahal in Delhi after Partition and used the gravy to keep leftover tandoori chicken moist (SBS Food).
Not everyone agrees on who invented it. In 2024 two families with ties to that first restaurant took the question to court (WAMC). Whoever gets the credit, it is a gentle first step into Indian food. We have written more about where to find the best butter chicken in Amsterdam.
2. Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala starts with boneless chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices, roasted, then simmered in a creamy, usually tomato-based sauce. There is no single standard recipe (Wikipedia). Its birthplace is argued over too, with the best-known claim pointing to Ali Ahmed Aslam at the Shish Mahal in Glasgow.
It looks a lot like butter chicken on the plate, but the two taste different. If you are torn, our guide to butter chicken vs chicken tikka masala will help you choose.
3. Tandoori Chicken
A tandoor is a clay oven that was mostly used for bread until cooks began coating chicken in spiced yoghurt, skewering it and roasting it inside (SBS Food). The yoghurt keeps the meat tender, and the oven gives it that smoky, charred edge.
Tandoori chicken is a good order if you want big flavour without a sauce. Read more about what makes authentic tandoori food in Amsterdam and the craft behind cooking from tandoor to table.
4. Mixed Grill
Can your table not agree? Order the Mixed Grill. It comes from the tandoor section of our menu, which also includes Chicken Tikka Tandoori, Lamb Tikka, Tandoori Prawns and Fish Tikka Tandoori. One diner who reviewed us on OpenTable singled out the mixed grill as the highlight of their meal (OpenTable).
It works well as a sharing plate before the curries arrive, or as a main with a warm naan.
5. Lamb Kurma
Korma (we spell it kurma on our menu) takes its name from a Hindi-Urdu word for braising. It was cooked in Mughal court kitchens, usually with yoghurt as the braising liquid and often enriched with nuts (Wikipedia). As a restaurant named after a Mughal emperor, we have a soft spot for it.
Lamb kurma is rich and mild, a good match for slow-cooked lamb. If lamb is your thing, see our guide to lamb curry in Amsterdam, which compares it with our other lamb dishes.
6. Vindaloo
Vindaloo comes from Goa, which the Portuguese ruled for centuries. Its name and roots trace back to carne de vinha d’alhos, a Portuguese dish of meat marinated in garlic and wine vinegar. Goan cooks swapped in palm vinegar and added spices (Wikipedia).
In Britain the name later became shorthand for a very hot curry, and that reputation has stuck. Ours is properly spicy, and it suits chicken tikka beautifully. Not sure where it sits on the heat scale? Our korma vs madras vs vindaloo guide lays it out.
7. Palak Paneer
Palak paneer is spinach cooked down with spices and cubes of paneer, a fresh cheese that holds its shape in the pan. It is one of the vegetarian dishes we would put in front of any meat eater, because it is so satisfying.
Much of the North Indian food people love abroad has Punjabi roots, and we explore that in Punjabi food and its regional roots. If you like greens in your curry, our explainer on bhuna, dhansak and saag is worth a read too.
8. Paneer Makhani
Makhani simply means butter, from the Hindustani word makhan. Paneer makhani sets paneer in a rich gravy of butter, tomatoes and cashews, and it is often traced to Delhi’s Moti Mahal in the 1950s (Wikipedia). Think of it as the vegetarian cousin of butter chicken.
The gravy usually includes cashews, so please mention any nut allergy when you order. Our guide to eating Indian food in Amsterdam with allergies explains what to ask.
9. Tarka Dal
Tarka, also spelled tadka, is a technique rather than an ingredient. Whole spices are fried in hot ghee or oil until they release their aroma, then the fragrant fat is poured over the dish (SBS Food). Poured over slow-cooked lentils, it turns something simple into something you keep reaching for.
Tarka dal belongs on almost every Indian table. Order it alongside a richer curry and some rice.
10. Samosas and Onion Bhajis
Every good Indian meal starts with something crisp. The samosa has travelled a long way to reach your plate. Its name comes from the Middle Persian sambosag, and it reached South Asia in the 13th or 14th century with cooks working in the royal kitchens of the Delhi Sultanate (Wikipedia).
Pair them with onion bhajis or a paneer pakora and a few chutneys. Our guide to samosas, pakoras and onion bhajis covers the differences.
11. Mulligatawny Soup
Mulligatawny is a soup with an unusual story. Its name comes from two Tamil words meaning pepper and water. It grew out of the South Indian dish rasam, and British families in India adopted it so keenly that it was fashionable in Britain by the 1820s (Wikipedia).
On a cold, wet Amsterdam evening, a bowl of something peppery and warming is hard to beat. You will find it on our menu as Muligatawny Soup.
12. Garlic Naan and Peshwari Naan
No curry is complete without bread to mop up the sauce. Garlic naan is the safe, crowd-pleasing pick. Peshwari naan is the surprise: it is stuffed with sultanas and almonds, sometimes with coconut, which gives it a gentle sweetness (Archana’s Kitchen). It pairs especially well with a hot vindaloo.
Curious about the rest of the bread basket? Read our guide to naan, roti, paratha and kulcha.
How to Order Like a Regular
Indian food is made for sharing, so we suggest ordering for the table rather than one plate each. One group of 13 who reviewed us on OpenTable found that around one main for every two people was plenty (OpenTable).
- Build a balanced spread. Pick one dish from the tandoor, one or two curries, a vegetarian dish, dal, pilau rice and naan.
- Set your heat level. Most dishes can be made from mild to very hot, so ask us to adjust.
- Mention dietary needs. We serve vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes, and our staff can help with dietary requirements.
- Cool things down. A mango lassi takes the edge off a spicy curry, and we also serve Kingfisher and Cobra beer.
Want more ideas before you visit? Our food lover’s guide to choosing an Indian restaurant in Amsterdam and 10 signs you are dining at an authentic Indian restaurant are good places to start. For a wider view of the cuisine, see our guide to the best dishes of India.
Can’t Stay for Dinner?
We offer take-out and delivery, so you can enjoy these dishes back at your hotel or apartment. Our guides to Indian takeaway set menus vs individual dishes and enjoying fresh Indian flavours at home will help you order well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian dish should I try first in Amsterdam? Butter chicken is a gentle, crowd-pleasing start. If you prefer smoky flavours without a sauce, go for tandoori chicken or the mixed grill.
Do you serve vegetarian and vegan Indian food? Yes. Our menu includes vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes. Palak paneer, paneer makhani and tarka dal are three vegetarian favourites, and our staff can help with dietary requirements.
Can I ask for a dish to be less spicy? Yes. Most of our dishes can be adjusted from mild to very hot.
Where is Shah Jahan? We are at Eerste Anjeliersdwarsstraat 18, 1015 NR Amsterdam, in the Jordaan.
Taste It for Yourself
Twelve dishes is a lot for one visit, so come hungry, bring friends, or plan a second trip. Browse our menu, then call us on 020 624 0122 or get in touch to book your table. We look forward to welcoming you to Shah Jahan, your Indian restaurant in Amsterdam.