Sama Sebo

Came on a recommendation from my hotel and was not disappointed. The staff were tons of fun, chatting and giving me recommendations on the food and where to go on my trip. The rice “plate” was an enormous spread of food fit for an entire family rather than one person, and every dish was delicious. I ate it all. No regrets. Reasonable prices considering the amount of food provided. I will 100% be coming back!

I stumbled upon Sama Seba, a hidden gem in Amsterdam's Museum District, and I'm so glad I didn't read reviews beforehand - it was a delightful surprise! I was informed that this Indonesian restaurant has been a cultural hub for years, earning the nickname "the living room of Amsterdam" due to its cozy ambiance and special connection with its guests. As I walked in, I felt right at home, surrounded by the warm and inviting atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome. Kinda like the "Cheers" pub in the United States. The chicken satay with peanut sauce is an absolute must-try - it's a game-changer! Our waiter was fantastic, ordering for us and making recommendations that didn't disappoint. What struck me was his passion for the restaurant, having dined there so often that he decided to join the team. The rijsttafel is another highlight, with over 20 items to savor. Its was cool to learn about Sama Seba's rich history - the server informed us that it's the oldest Indonesian specialty restaurant in the Netherlands, and its guestbook is filled with autographs from international celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Johan Cruyff, and David Bowie. The location is perfect, just a stone's throw from the luxury shops and the Museum District. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a unique dining experience, Sama Seba is a must-visit. With its affordable price range and generous portions, you'll leave feeling satisfied and already planning your next visit. So, come for the food, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with unforgettable memories! That being said, we were told that it is a very popular place, so either come experience this place during lunchtime or be prepared to wait a bit should you come for dinner and drinks.

A wonderful experience! The variety and choices of dishes is unparalleled. We enjoyed trying so many different flavours and aromas. The service is super friendly and attentive. I was not blown away by the food, which was pretty average.

The restaurant staffs and owner are super friendly and very helpful. Came there with my brother and parents after sightseeing in Amsterdam. Will definitely come again. One of my favourite places to visit when coming to Amsterdam.

I came here for dinner and mixed up my reservation dates, but the staff was so understanding and accommodating. They were able to sit my partner and me in just a few minutes despite the mixup. We were treated very well by the staff throughout our meal. They explained the dining experience and offered recommendations for us. We tried the Sama Sebo Special and it was absolutely delicious. Hands down one of the best meals we’ve ever had. The desserts were delicious as well and a great way to end a wonderful meal. My only regret is not going with the larger portion so that we could try more of the food. I’m sad to be leaving the country soon because I will be craving this over the next few weeks! This restaurant is a must try!

The service was very nice and the food was very tasted, highly recommend if you go to Amsterdam and would like to try Indonesian food.

I used to frequent this great Indonesian Restaurant 35+ years ago and it still has great food, great service and atmosphere. Truly Amsterdam.

Never got a chance to eat the food because they gave our reserved time to someone else. First claimed we never made a reservation (made it on The Fork), and then accused us of canceling our reservation (why would we be there if we had?). We had proof of our confirmed reservation and received an email the next day asking how our meal was. No apologies, no effort to accommodate us other than to come back later when they weren't so busy. Glad for them that they are so popular they can ignore simple courtesy.

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!

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).

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.

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.

We had a great time here! The owner and staff were welcoming and lovely. We had the Rijsttafel-it is a lot of food! The service was great, it was very busy but we were well looked after. I would definitely go back.

The food was okay, but the manager made a point of telling us that the tip was not included. No other eatery in Amsterdam asked us for a tip. I feel that it was an attempt to steal money from us because we are Americans.

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.

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.

The concierge's at the Hilton in Amsterdam recommended this restaurant. He was out of his mind. From when we entered, the staff was rude and thoughtless. We took the concierge recommendation to do the rice table for two. It is it is recently increased in price from €21-€35 per person. It is not worth a quarter of that. They are plates and tastings of overcooked, soupy food and pickled vegetables. It was worth maybe €5-7 per person at best for value. Really. One of our guests had a severe peanut allergy. We alerted the person that took our order to avoid all things made or prepared with peanuts. When our food came out, delivered by another person and they were various peanut dishes being served to us. And we pointed out to him that we had a severe peanut allergy, he became very hostile and started yelling at us, indicating that we needed to not speak to him in such a way. He finally calmed down, but not after slamming our dishes down on the warming grills that were on our table to keep our food hot. From there, the dinner never improved. The food was mediocre at best, and some of it was terrible. Avoid this restaurant at all costs. And spread the word how awful they treat their customers.

We came here during our most recent vacation. It was certainly one of the highlights of our Amsterdam visit. Full disclosure before I begin: I am Indonesian, so my opinion may not necessarily be the same as others on this page. However, I will do my best to not compare my mom's cooking to the dishes at Sama Sebo :-) This is a very popular restaurant near the Rijkmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. So if you are planning to spend the day in one of the museums, stop by the restaurant first (or call) to make your dinner reservation. It's a short walk from the museums. Indonesian cuisine is very popular in the Netherlands because back in the days, Indonesia was a Dutch colony. You didn't think you were going to get a history lesson, did you? Anyway.....Sama Sebo is undoubtedly the most sought after Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam, thanks to all the TV travel shows. The restaurant is tight and food is plentiful. After seeing all the photos of Rijsttafel (which is a smorgasbord of typical Indonesian cuisine in one sitting), we thought why not. We were hungry and those pictures certainly looked mouth watering good. As soon as we ordered it, our waiter attached an addition to our table and 3 portable heated warmers. We knew it was going to be big, but we didn't anticipate this whole production. I ordered white wine and my husband ordered beer. By the way, my wine was super cheap and I happily ordered 2. It didn't take long before they brought over the whole buffet to our table(s). While the waiter explained each dish to us, we couldn't help but laugh. Not at him, but at the ridiculousness of eating this whole thing. We managed to eat 3/4 of it. The verdict, slightly disappointed. While the heated warmers were essential and a great idea, they also overcooked everything on top of them, all of the meat dishes basically. One cannot expect to eat Rijsttafel in a hurry, so you are there for more than an hour. As a result, overcooked dry chicken, beef. etc. The 2 most popular Indonesian dishes: gado gado was bland, so was the nasi goreng. I couldn't figure out why they were so stingy on the spices. That's what Indonesia is known for, for goodness sake. I do have to be honest though, my husband LOVED it! Loved everything about it. Couldn't stop talking about it for days. Well there you go. I don't regret going there. It certainly was a fun experience. Would I recommend it to my friends? Probably because I don't have a single Indonesian friend who would know otherwise. Ha!

Great service, delicious food and fantastic atmosphere. Located right around the corner from the Van Gogh museum, we heard this restaurant was a must do for Indonesian food. We started off with yummy hot tea and ordered the Rijstaffel for lunch. One with fried rice and one with noodles. Each bite had so much flavor and we loved it! The server was very sweet and there's WiFi!

Indonesian cuisine is a must-try if you're in Amsterdam at any point. This place is located right next to the Rijksmuseum and offers three options: a rice platter dinner at 33 euros per person, dishes à la carte, and lunch platters at around 19-20 euros per person. The menu items are in Indonesian, but contain English descriptions. Check the restaurant hours on their website rather than relying on Google. The lunch platters are also available at dinnertime, so we ordered those. The main difference between two of the lunch platters is that one has noodles while the other has steamed or fried rice. These patters include a sample of items from the rice platter dinner, including fried coconut, fried bananas, mixed pickled vegetables, and several meat dishes. I found the meat to be a bit boring but the meal as a whole was solid. The food came out very quickly. Restaurants in a tourist/museum district tend to be overly formal or pricey, while this one was not and this was refreshing. Another review noted that they asked for tap water and ran into a situation where the waiter may have attempted to trick them into paying for bottled water. In my situation, I requested tap water and the waiter misheard (dunno if purposely or accidentally) and ended up bringing bottled water.

We ate at the bar early in the evening as all tables had previous reservations. We were lucky enough to get the only unreserved bar seats. Make a reservation as restaurant and bar fills fast. Great meal and personable and attentive staff. The staff were gregarious and lots of fun to be around. We were not sure what to order and our server brought us a variety of dishes, each of which was perfectly prepared and tasty. Highly recomment for authentic indonesian food. Wonderful flavor profiles from savory to sweet.

For sure this is my favorite go-to place in Amsterdam for rijsttafel! I know there are a few less that positive reviews on Yelp, but I have never had anything but delicious Indonesian food here, with great service. I would highly recommend making a reservation if you plan on going there during prime meal time, as I have observed that it gets quite busy sometimes. They also have a nice (but small) bar area, to have a drink while you are waiting on your table. If you know what you want, you can order a-la-carte, but for me it's more fun to have all 17 items in the rijsttafel!

This was my first experience with Indonesian rice table and it was incredible. We had a 7:30 reservation and when we arrived, they said the table would be a few minutes so we had a drink at the bar. The waiter came over with menus so we could have a look and asked us what we were thinking for dinner. We all wanted to do the traditional rice table, so we let him know. 10 minutes later they told us our table was ready so we go to sit down, and ALL of the food was already on the table! Despite the immediate eating, it didn't feel rushed at all- there was a ton of food and it was all amazing. We had no idea what we were getting but it was delicious. For €31 a person, it was a deal for the amount of food on the table. Would definitely recommend if you want to try Indonesian rice table, I haven't experienced anything like it before!

We enjoyed the Ricetable. Interesting selections and nicely spiced. Service was good and the staff friendly. The Satay was excellent compared to Satay I have had elsewhere. There were 4 of us and we shared 3 RiceTables per our servers recommendation.

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.

When in Amsterdam, it is essential to try the Indonesian food! I found Sama Sebo out of the Fodor's guidebook. It was close enough to our tram stop and halfway back to our hotel. Plus we were too starving to make the trek to Restaurant Blauw. What a great find! This place was packed on a Saturday night. I now know why you need reservations for the good spots in Amsterdam. You're SOL if you come at the wrong time. We found the last two seats in the house (at the bar) and shortly after we were seated around 9:30, they told the couple next to us that the kitchen had closed. Whew! We were this close to drinking beer and eating peanuts for dinner. The rijsttafel we had originally come for was $29.50 euro per person. After going over the menu and realizing we wouldn't care for half of the options, I went a la carte and ordered like a boss! I had no idea what I was ordering. It all came out of my mouth in a panic but in the end, it turned out to be the perfect amount and the right combination. We had a little bit of everything from beef and pork to goat and tofu. We ate everything with noodles and had the obligatory vegetable dish (which was really good!). All of the flavors and sauces were fantastic. We had crunchy textures, savory meat, sweet sides and a topping that just went well on everything! Coconut! Serundeng (fried coconut) Bami (Noodles) Pisang goring (fried bananas) babi sateh (pork skewers) Kambing sateh (goat skewers) Gado-Gado (vegetables) Daging Madura (meat in madura sauce) Tahu Goreng (fried tofu) For that dinner, I give Sama Sebo five stars. As good as it gets! Then again, I didn't have a chance to try Restaurant Blauw. But five minutes into Sama Sebo, I had long forgotten about Restaurant Blauw.

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!

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.

I really enjoy rijsttafel, but this place disappoints. In visiting Amsterdam I asked a colleague to book one of our restaurants so we could have rijsttafel, and this place was recommended. Too bad. It did not score for food, service, or atmosphere. First off, we had a reservation for 7:30. By 8:00 we still did not have a table (apparently we had a specific planned table, but the patrons there did not understand that they needed to eat and leave, so like normal people they took their time). In the meantime, they took us to wait by the bar (but no seats). No one offered anything to drink to any of us. The place was really packed, to the point of very uncomfortable. They were setting up their tables and service plates just about anywhere they could. Again - the place was totally packed, so either others love it or they got the same recommendation we did. When we finally got seated, we had a pair of surly waiters, who ticked off poor on the service box. They managed to get drink orders and then get on to the rijsttafel. We chose the set menu, as most seemed to do. It was a poor example of rijsttafel, with very little thought put into any dishes. Three portions of beef, which we all had a very hard time distinguishing. Some pork skewers in peanut sauce. Some vegetables. So crowded they put half the food on hot plates on our table and the other half on a table next to us, so my colleague at the head of the table had to pass back and forth. Not the near magical experience I've had with rijsttafel in the past. Also very hot - stifling. Big time bummer all around. Look elsewhere for a great rijsttafel experience.

I completely agree that this was a waste of a meal in Amsterdam. I was so disappointed. One problem is their heavy reliance on the peanut sauce which was average. One beef dish was very tough. In addition, I don't believe that there is good value for the expense. The vegetables, tofu, eggs are not pricy items.

Delicious lunch. Had no idea what we ordered (we're American, menu is not), but thanks to the most delightful waiter ever - Woulter, we were culinarily surprised, satisfied and sated. A cozy, hole in the wall which should not be missed. Highly recommend.

Make a reservation! My husband and I decided to stop by at around 6:30PM on a Friday after visiting the Van Gogh museum, which is down the street, but they had no more tables left. Almost forgot about this place but decided to give it one more chance on our last night in Amsterdam. Called at 6PM and asked if we could make a reservation for 7PM that same day, and they put us down without any hesitation. You have to go in recognizing that this place, although called an "Indonesian restaurant", is supposed to have a heavy Dutch influence due to historical colonization etc. Your first hint should be their most popular item on their menu: rijsttafel, which is dutch for "rice table." Not gonna go into detail about rijsttafel here (insert wiki link), but that's the main reason why my husband and I were drawn to Sama Sebo -- for the cultural (DUTCH) experience. The flavors of the dishes we tried weren't exactly traditional indo flavors, so if you're craving authentic Indonesian food, then don't go here and go somewhere else like Warung Spang (closer to Indo but honestly, not 100% indo either). Anyways, now that I've prefaced my review and managed expectations, I can honestly say that we really enjoyed our experience. The food came out super quickly and there were around 20 dishes (not bad for 33 euros pp). We were stuffed by the end of the feast, and our tastebuds were 100% satisfied. We were in Indonesia a few months back, so we were partially nostalgic about authentic Indo food at the beginning of the meal when nothing they brought out looked familiar, but when we started eating we really appreciated the unique Dutch spin to everything. Now I don't actually know if each of these dishes would be considered authentic to a true colonial, but I'll take Sama Sebo's word for it. Docking a star off for the systematic feel to the dinner. It was a very get in - get out procedure where they sat us down, pushed us to order, brought out the food within 5 min (so everything was probably already sitting there in vast pots waiting to be scooped or something instead of being freshly prepared), and then gave us the check as soon as they saw that we put our utensils down. They were just standing around our table throughout dinner and every time we emptied a dish they took it away immediately. We didn't really get to sit down and enjoy everything -- but I guess this is what happens when a place becomes touristy (who am I to talk I guess.. I, as a tourist, contributed to it).

Worst Indonesian food I've ever had. Greasy overly sweet peanut sauce and bland food. we were 2 for lunch on a Saturday and our recommended Indonesian spot was not open so we tried this as it was near our hotel and we had limited time until our cab to airport. The waiter seemed kind enough and he looked the part with his long beard and nice costume. When I saw their fried bread and tasted it with the peanut sauce I knew we were in trouble. Warning: nothing authentic here! They have oversugared and ruined the peanut sauce and failed to spice the food appropriately. Sad really, since Indonesian spice combinations are magic and like a gift from God if done properly. No discernible spice here, no aroma, just flat oil. When our waiter came by to ask how the food tasted and we politely described our disappointment he admitted that this food was not for Indonesians but made specifically for Europeans. Well, we are Americans so maybe their formula works for the European tourists that eat here, but not for us. We wanted authentic food, not a "European derivative". We had to slather our dishes with hot sauce to give them some taste and eradicate the overly oily and sickly sweet peanut sauce from our tongues. Seek other venues for Indonesian cuisine. There are many good ones here as Amsterdam used to have it as a colony, but not this one.

Never exprienced Indonesia food before . This place has a very unique take on this cuisine. Food is served tapas style (a very dutch Indonesian style only found in the netherlands and is called Rijsttafel) Most of the dishes are coconut flavoured and some are fried like tampura all in all a communal feast. Taste is a mixed medley but over all the experience is great.

Coming to the Netherlands for the first time, I had no idea that Indonesian cuisine is just as much the Dutch national cuisine as is croquettes and hotsput. If you're in Amsterdam, in addition to experiencing how amazing Dutch gouda and shrimp croquettes are, you absolutely need to head here to round out the Dutch Trifecta of cuisine. I came here with a large group and we experienced their Rijsttafel style of Indonesian tapas - which was perfect; allowing me to try veritably everything on the menu. Absolutely every single item I tried was delicious! From the shrimp [Great Scott! the largest I've seen!], to the tofu, chicken, madura beef, pork, et al - everything was superbly flavorful. This place is also right around the corner from the Museums in Amsterdam - perfect place to fuel up after a long day admiring the amazing Dutch Masters!

The abundance of times I come to Amsterdam, I always pass by this restaurant and say, "I need to try it out one day!". You come to Amsterdam, one of the main things to do is try out Indonesian cuisine.. With me being half Indonesian it's always a treat to eat Indonesian outside of Indonesia. Sama Sebo (weird name) always seem to look deserted from the outside, but in reality it's busy on the inside so don't let it fool you! I visited the establishment during their lunch hours and ordered the: Bami Goreng special with a price of € 16.50 per person: - Bami Goreng - Indonesian Stir Fried Noodles - Babi Ketjap - Pork in Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce - Sambal Goreng Tauge - Spicy bean sprouts and tofu - Sambal Goreng Kering - Spicy crispy fried potato cut into little pieces - Mata Sapi - Boiled Egg - Atjar - Cucumber, Carrots and Shallots - Rudjak Manis - sweet/spicy fruit salad On top of all that you also get the following: Kerupuk Udang- Shrimp Crackers Ayam Goreng- Indonesian Style fried chicken Sambal Goreng Buncis- Spicy green beans So the € 16.50 is definitely worth it! I was full to the max afterwards. Overall, very great meal and very great service! They made sure you were satisfied with the meal. I highly recommend this place, and the next time i'm in amsterdam I will make sure to make some time to return and try out their dinner service.

We had a great dinner here! Our first time with this style meal, so we had no idea what we were eating, but everything was delicious. It was so fun to taste all the different things! The service was no nonsense, though they did explain to us what to do, but we stayed till the end of the night and made friends with them- very nice people. Honestly a very fun experience and delicious food close to the museums!!

I was a little worried after reading some of the more negative reviews but this place turned out to be great. We came for dinner and ordered the rijsttafel. There was a very good assortment of dishes all with nice flavors that went well together. Service was friendly and efficient. We were able to walk in at ~7:30pm and get a table for two with no reservation although this is in October, not peak tourist season.

Four of us dined at Sama Sebo. We waited about 20 minutes for a table and sat at the bar where we were tended to promptly, the alcoholic drinks were always full. A major plus. When we sat down we all ordered the Rijsttafel while waiting for our table. As soon as we sat down the food started coming out, plate after plate after plate. There was more then twenty plates that stretched four people. I can relate this experience to eating tapas in Spain. Some of the food was unidentifiable, but we were brave an ate it anyway. The food was served luke warm, hence why I only gave three stars. Luke warm food is a major turn off. We assumed that the we each should have received twenty something small plates each, we paid € 29,50 per person and we had to share twenty something plates. We left still feeling a bit hungry. I ordered what sounded good at the time, I was in a state, hence my selection, buttered tea. I got what I ordered, butter cooked inside my tea, the tea tasted more like butter then anything else. I couldn't drink it. That was the end of my feeling adventurous. This joint is more of a local eatery. I stood up to take pictures of my first rijsttafel and I was quickly noticed by all the patrons who stopped and stared at the weird American taking pictures of her food. That and I am a Yelper. Would like to try Rijsttafel again but at a different restaurant.

This place was so bad it was comical on one hand and such a bummer that I wasted a meal in Amsterdam. If "0" stars were available, that's the prize Sama Sebo would win. The evening started well enough when we sat down at the bar and inquired about dinner - service starts at 5pm and they had availability. I had planned the day with an afternoon at the Rijksmuseum then Indonesian fare (rijstafel) just a block away - perfect! The bartender was friendly enough but distracted in setting up shop for the evening. At 5:05 we were told our table was ready so we walked the 5 feet over and sat down. This would be my second rijstafel and I was excited. Then the server - an older man of Asian descent - came over and in a very aloof-bordering-on-arrogant way he put down the silverware and asked, "Drinks?" while looking away from us. Ok...so I asked what kind of wine he had. "Red, white, rose," he said impatiently. Maybe that was a stupid question so I asked for red which was pretty good. 10(!) minutes later I finally had drink in hand. "Food?" he then asked. Now I know he spoke English because he has been tersely conversing with the table across the way so I was legitimately puzzled at his attitude. Surely we hadn't been there long enough to insult him. "We'll have 2 rijstafel please," we said and without a word or nod or semblance of acknowledgement he grabbed the menus and away he went. By then we got the gist of how it was going to be - fodder for a story later on. The dishes came one by one and as each was laid out my disappointment grew. We had eaten at Sampurna last trip to Amsterdam but this food was not on the same level. Very basic, nothing interesting looking, and not a single thing that tasted memorable. If anything, it was cheap cafeteria food and at €36 each it was not a cheap meal. Well, it is what it is and even a bad experience is an experience. My main takeaway from dinner was how poorly represented the Dutch were by the servers in this place. The Dutch are some of the nicest people on the planet but apparently the riff raff work here at Sama Sebo. The only logical explanation for why this place is still in business is because of the captive audience in Museimplein (museum district) where there aren't many restaurants in walking distance. If you're reading this looking for a nice meal, I'm not expert enough to tell you where to go but avoid this place at all costs.

Sama sebo is a local favorite. You'll always find people hanging out at the bar like they are giving away something. As a pescetarian the options are limited, but there are some good ones. If you don't eat meat, I'd avoid the ristafel and order a la carte. The grilled shrimp on skewers are really simple, but really tasty. I often have a craving for this and the long shrimp rice cracker (krupuk). If you like shrimp, I highly recommend both. Last time we went here, we were pleasantly surprised and funny enough, shocked by the quick service. That's because it's one of the first places we ate at in Amsterdam and never noticed this, but after a year living in the city, we've found prompt service to be extremely rare. :)

Omg, the food here was incredible. My friend and I are on a short trip in Amsterdam and happened upon this place by chance. A nice couple we met on a canal cruise recommended this place. We were not disappointed! We went in the evening but they allowed us to get the lunch special which was a sampling of a bunch of their most popular dishes. The food was heavenly!!!! Seriously, so flavorful and delicious. The staff was incredibly kind and gracious and gave us good recommendations.

I was excited to come here for dinner because considered one of best Indonesian restaurants around. I was disappointed. Lots of food definitely but quality mediocre- most dishes over cooked . Nice wine list.

The online reviews suggest this is one of the better Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam... unfortunately, it is not. We had just arrived in town and were tired and hungry. My wife and I had a simple lunch streetside on bistro seating (we were two of only four customers). The food was marginal at best and a bit on the spendy side for what we ordered. The less than exciting dishes were plated up and put on the table with virtually zero presentational pizzazz. Having eaten Indonesian food many times, we found the flavors lacking and the dishes reflected little care in preparation. Service was just okay and the facilities were rather old and tired. We got the definite sense that this is primarily a tourist clientele and that this establishment lost its glow long ago. Better alternatives are certainly available. We can suggest dinning at nearby Puri Mas -- very nice restaurant with yummy dishes at reasonable prices. Or better yet, if you're headed toward Haarlem, you'll get the real deal at very modest prices at Anak Blitar. It's a simple family-run buffet with an amazing selection of truly authentic dishes all handmade by the Indonesian chef (fabulous). Sadly, our recommendation regarding Sama Sebo is to dine elsewhere.

This is probably the worst Indonesian restaurant I ever had. The food was bland, a bit cold, and no way close to an actual Indonesian food. Even any of my friends could make a better Indonesian food than that. The service was OK, not great. Given it is a fine dining, ~30€ per person, I expect something more from these kind of restaurant. Such a disappointment. I would never recommend this place.

Overpriced for average quality. Looks and tastes like a tourist trap. Whenever I go to a new place I'll always ask for tap water first to see how they react. The waiter replies: we don't have tap water this is a restaurant. I replied that I wasn't a tourist and that it's illegal for a restaurant to deny a glass of tap water. He then pretended he had misunderstood my initial request and gave us the water. Avoid.

Although this place looks tiny from the outside its alot bigger then you think. The menu here is a little confusing. The servers didn't really do a great job explaining the food or concept, pretty much a set menu you chose if you want noodles or rice. In the end the food was great, flavorful, and good deal, as most Indonesian food is!

I can't believe this is actually happening.... but I'm giving an Indonesian place three stars..... I mean.... normally they are so good I will vomit out stars for them, but Sama Sebo.... We had clients over for work and none of them had ever had Indonesian rijsttafel. If you've ever seen my face get worked up and animated while talking about rijsttafel, it's because I want to change my last name to McRijstTafel and spend the rest of my life with this amazing concept. So I tell these clients that rijsttafel will change their life forever so with no further discussion, we are eating Indonesian!! I work near the Rijksmuseum and since the clients didn't have bikes, we decided to walk to a close one.... Sama Sebo.... I've never heard of S^2, but I'm usually happy with most rijsttafels, so I didn't think much of it. Bottom line, it was bad, but it wasn't great. So meh to the point that I couldn't stop dreaming of my other favorites in the city. Luckily most rijsttafel virgins are tight and don't know better places so they like the food. They were however disappointed that there was no Bitang (Indonesian beer) At the end of the day, I won't go here again and definitely won't take RT virgins here!

Hands down my favorite Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam. The food, the people and the atmosphere all make for a unique and amazing evening out. The Rijstafel is, in my opinion, with out a doubt the best one in town.

If there was a .5 that's what I would rate this place. Unfortunately I didn't get to eat bc the service was so bad, we couldn't stomach paying money for the food. While our original waiter was a complete sweetheart, there was a bit of a language barrier when it came to describing the menu. Which was ok, and we were trying to look up the names of the items and trying to make it work. Apparently, we were taking too long for one of the workers there (not sure if he was the mgr or bartender & we were literally there all of 10 minutes), and he rudely told us to hurry up and order. He could have been helpful since he spoke our language, but instead decided to be annoyed with and hurry us up. At this point we decided to leave. What's the point of eating at a restaurant where you aren't helped with the menu and treated like an annoyance. Won't ever eat there after this experience.

Extremely rude host. We went there for lunch and even though a significant part of the restaurant was open said there was no space. Asked us to try come back at dinner time to see if they have space. I guess they think are god's gift to mankind ! Well we can take our spending elsewhere and I hope with a couple of similar reviews they will need total ether business elsewhere

It is overrated for me but I can see non Asian person may like their style, good presentation but the food taste ok

This was a god introduction to Indonesian rice table. Efficient by friendly service. Arriving at 6 pm on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. All 2 of us ordered the rice table. Soon the table was covered with dish after dish of tasty small bites. A bit pricey at 33 euros per person, but no one left hungry. The table next to us had vegetarian diners, and they were cheerfully accommodated.

Consistent in great food and service. A must visit when you are in Amsterdam. I always try to do at least lunch and than I order the nasi goring. A rijst Tafel at night is a must!

Our waiter was super nice. I'm a vegetarian and when I told him that he listed several options for me that weren't on the menu. There was good food in large amounts. Nothing to complain about except the check took a while to come.

Cozy, charming, authentic and delicious. The owner is the sweetest man who is also incredibly attentive. If you are not super hungry but want to have the Rijstafel experience, go for the combination platter. Fried rice over noodles is my pick - just so perfect. I could go there everyday just for the amazing shrimp crackers with the tastiest peanut dipping sauce I ever had. The outdoor seating is adorable, inside is a bit loud when they get packed. Definitely casual and comfortable. Best Indonesian food I had in Amsterdam for sure.

My friends and I got caught in a torrential downpour one day on our search for dinner. We happened to be going to another Indonesian place, but ended up at Sama Sebo because it was closeby and we needed to get out of the rain. We were greeted by a bartender who at first said they had no tables, then told us we could have a table if we left by 8pm (it was 7) - not a problem! We were happy to be out of the rain and getting a meal and everything looked interesting here. We honestly had no idea how to order as the menu was confusing, but the waiter helped us and suggested we each get the lunch meal. We were confused because it was dinner time, but we just went with it. My friends got the traditional meal with rice and I got some vegetarian meal with noodles. Honestly, the food was interesting...definitely unlike anything I've ever had before. I'm not the most adventurous of eaters so I didn't love it, but it was fine and the place was lively. Overall I had a good experience here and if you're into Indonesian food, then it seemed to be the place to be.