Chun sandwiches, Fabel Freit truffle mayo fries, Salvo bakery’s cookies, and more – I tried Amsterdam’s most famous food so you know what is worth your time and worth the money. I added a few places that you may not have seen but that have been continously recommeded to me. Below you’ll find ratings, reviews, and images for each location. As always, if you want to get right into the results, you can jump to the TLDR instead.
Chun Sandwich Shop
Japanese Style Sandwiches
Taste: 8/10
Atmosphere: N/A, takeaway due to lines
Value for money: 6/10, still hungry after
Worth it if you are nearby? Yes
Worth it to go out of your way or wait for? No
Unfortunately, the decision on whether Chun is worth it is heavily influenced by the fact that I had to wait 1.5 hours in line. For a sandwich!! The worst part was not actually the waiting, but the passersby laughing at us for being sheep and following a tiktok that would ultimately lead to disappointment. But hey, I live so close to Amsterdam that I wanted to give it a shot.
The sandwiches were good. Not melt in your mouth amazing, but good. I tried the beef bulgogi and the egg salad. The beef bulgogi was better in my opinion, but I also believe egg salad is a simple, packed lunch type of meal. So, I’d give the flavor of the sandwiches an 8/10. The downfall is mostly the sandwich design, where the filling only goes about 2/3 of the way down. This means all those pretty sauces you see on top of the sandwich are just design, because after 3 bites you’re left with dry sandwich. This is not the fault of the shop to be fair, since this Japanese style sandwich is made by filling a hole in a bread pocket rather than spreading something between two slices. Still, if I’m paying 14 euros for something and waiting 1.5 hours, I want a full sandwich.
The real winner was the iced brown sugar latte I got there. Now THAT was melt in your mouth good. It almosttt makes this experience worth it, but unfortunately the price, the line, and the only slightly above average flavor of sandwiches make this one not worth it. But if there’s no line I would even go out of my way for the coffee, and maybe have a sandwich as an afterthought.
If you still want to try these Japanese style sandwiches, I recommend going to Sando in Utrecht or Ikigai in Leiden. Both are much cheaper, more flavorful, and had no line. Those were worth it!
Fabel Friet
Parmesan and Truffle Mayo Fries
Taste: 7/10. They are just fries
Atmosphere: N/A, takeaway shop
Value for money: 7/10. Surprisingly not that expensive
Worth it if you are nearby? Yes
Worth it to go out of your way for? No
I could’ve told you this wasn’t worth it before trying, but for the sake of my credibility I tried anyway.
Now look, the fries are not bad, and the price isn’t absurd. But something you should realize about the Netherlands is that there is a fry shop (or a kebab shop with fries) on every street. If you’re from the U.S. you’ll probably be disappointed in the fries because they lack flavor and salt (I know what you’re gonna say, that I only think this because Americans overdo it, but I am just issuing this warning for readers with a similar taste preference. The Dutch and the Belgians get really offended when I critique their fries since they are a Belgian invention. I’m sorry, but the Americans have perfected fried food!)
Anyway, the Dutch eat their fries with mayo. Truffle mayo isn’t uncommon, and now that this fry has become viral, the truffle mayo and parm combo can be found a lot of places. It’s about 7 euros for the parmesan and truffle mayo fries at Fabel Friet. At these other fry shops, you’ll probably pay 4-6 euros for the same thing. So, not a terrible price hike.
Overall fries don’t taste bad, but it’s not worth trekking across town for. If you’re craving fries and are nearby, then sure.
Monty’s Tosti
Grilled Cheese
Taste: 12/10
Atmosphere: 9/10. Cozy vibe, friendly and attentive service, but not too much room
Value for money: 8/10. A little pricey but high-quality ingredients and top noch flavor profile
Worth it if you are nearby? Yes
Worth it to go out of your way for? Yes
I will tell you straight away that this is the only place on the list so far that has been melt in your mouth delicious. It is definitely at the top of the list and surpassed expectations!
I think this shop is owned by a Brit, which is already a good sign. The man at the counter gave me the type of service I miss from before moving to the Netherlands (i.e. service with a smile and a quick chat). I ordered “The Chutney One” having no idea what chutney was but deciding it sounded good and boy was it!
The sourdough bread was perfectly crispy, the onions were perefectly caramelized, and the chedder cheese gave a cheese pull worthy of being in a food ad. You may be thinking that I am exaggerating, and that it’s just grilled cheese, but Monty’s has made magic with a few simple ingredients. This is probably because they put care into sourcing their ingredients. The Montgomery cheeses come from Somerset, England (Manor farm, by cheese maker James Montgomery) and the sourdough from an Amsterdam local bakery (Fort Negen). You can optionally add a side of truffle mayo, which I opted to do. It tastes good with the sandwich but isn’t necessary to complete the flavor profile.
The sandwich costs 16 euros, which is slightly pricey but 1) you get 1.5 sandwiches and 2) it’s a capital city with a space issue, so you can expect these prices anywhere. I was sufficiently full after the meal, and respect the dedication to using good ingredients, so I am content with the price. The atmosphere of the shop was also quite cozy and has about 3-5 tables. Overall this sandwich shop is a must-visit!
Salvo Bakehouse
Famous for their cookies and daily specials
Taste: 6.5/10, depends on item.
Atmosphere: 8/10. Lots of room to sit, quieter part of Amsterdam, friendly service, modern interior
Value for money: 6/10, quite expensive for mediocre outcome
Worth it if you are nearby? Maybe
Worth it to go out of your way for? No
This bakery has gained fame for it’s cookies, although it boasts many other delicious-looking items, including daily specials. I opted for their miso Biscoff pecan cookie and their apple bread pudding. Since the cookies are the main attraction, let’s break those down first.
They offer 4 flavors of cookies and while they may change their flavors, they are always quite unique. When I visited there was the miso Biscoff pecan, a triple gooey chocolate, a hazelnut and chocolate, and a pistachio. Now, I don’t like nuts in my cookies, so it was bit disappointing not to have an option without, and if you have a nut allergy you’re out of luck. Still, the pecans were soft and well balanced in the cookie, so it ended up being okay.
The overall flavor of the cookie was unique and you can tell they really put care into getting a distinct yet delicious cookie, which makes me respect the price a little more. The cookies were all between €5-5.50, which is quite expensive for a cookie about the size your palm or smaller. But I can tell they require a lot of effort and quality ingredients. Despite the cool flavor, it wasn’t a mind blowing experience nor was it a comfortable, familiar indulgence. Does that make sense? It wasn’t so cool that it was special nor was it so good that it it elevated a traditional item. My other complaint was that the texture was too soft, almost underbaked. But I like little crunch on the outside of my cookie, so if you are all for soft cookies, maybe this is for you!
Apple Bread Pudding
Despite being beautiful, the apple bread pudding really let me down. Bread pudding is already controversial, so maybe it was me who made a poor choice. I like sticky and fluffy bread pudding, but this one was dense. It also just tasted not great, in a way I don’t know how to describe. If you like a more subtle flavor and a denser bread pudding, this could still be for you. I think the biggest letdown was that I expected the cute little dollop on top to be a sweet icing, but instead it was bland and unflavored.
Final Thoughts
Salvo had many other items in the case which I wasn’t able to try such as sandwiches, croissants, cheesecakes, and more. Since I only got two things, I refuse to completely write off a place with so many options. BUT if you saw their cookies on Instagram and are thinking you have to have them, you don’t. If you happen to be in the neighborhood and want to try, and you don’t mind the steep price, then I might recommend it.
Bun Bun
Filled croissant buns
Taste: 9/10
Atmosphere: N/A, takeaway only
Value for money: 7.5/10. Expensive
Worth it if you are nearby? Yes
Worth it to go out of your way for? Yes, if the line is not long
Bun Bun is one of those places I was sure would be all hype where the flavor didn’t live up to the pretty pastries, but I was pleasantly surprised. They specialize in buns made from croissant dough. Think of cinnamon buns mixed with filled croissants. They are quite famous, also because they claim to be the smallest bakery in the Netherlands on their website. As a result, there is no seating. I have to say, the building was pretty cute though, with the counter being at the point where two building edges come together and trays of buns being displayed in the windows. If you asked AI to generate a cozy cinnamon bun bakery window, this would probably be it.
As far as the buns go, they have a lot of unique flavors. I opted for strawberry cheesecake, but they also had pistachio, apple crumble, chocolate, and of course original cinnamon bun. My bun was mouthwatering, almost mind blowing. I wanted to eat 5 of them. The one thing holding me back is that the fillings really make the bun. I nibbled on the croissant part and thought it wasn’t great especially considering I can get a supermarket croissant for 40 cents and this one cost 5.50. Once I had the dough and filling combo though, everything changed.
I was lucky that there was no line, which helped make the pastry worth it. I think there often is a line at this place though. I would be willing to wait for these buns, but not more than 10-15 minutes. So, this place is worth it but beware that it is really dependent on the flavor and know that it is really about fillings and ambiance.
Les Petits Canelés
Taste: 7.5/10
Atmosphere: 7.5/10
Value for money: 7/10
Worth it if you are nearby? Depends, they only sell one product so you must like that
Worth it to go out of your way for? No
This bakery isn’t exactly “viral” but they recently opened and have been featured in many food pages I follow. The review of this bakery really depends on if you already like the one item they sell: Canelés. It is a small French pastry with a caramelized and crunchy crust and a soft custard-like center. The best comparison I can make to help you decide if you will like these is to crème brûlée. Very different desserts structurally, but somewhat similar in flavor profiles. If you like that, there is a good chance you’ll like canelés.
As far as canelés go, this is a good place to get them. They have a variety of unique flavors. When I went, they had original (basically vanilla), coffee, and pumpkin, and one or two more. They cost 3.5 euros each, which is a bit expensive considering they can be eaten in 2-3 bites. They had the right amount of crunch on the outside and the perfectly soft center, even though I stopped by around 4pm when you would think things start to go stale.
There were two tables inside, and a friendly staff. So, this was a pleasant experience. However, it is quite a niche product. You aren’t guaranteed to like it just because you like sweet things, and I think it is a more traditional canelé and not quite as sweet anyway. I wouldn’t go out of my way for this, and I am not the biggest Canelé fan, but if you are or think you might be, definitely try this shop!
De Laatste Kruimel
Beautiful bakery with a large variety
Taste: 8.5/10
Atmosphere: 10/10. Cozy, two floors of seating
Value for money: 9/10. Cheaper than other nearby bakeries
Worth it if you are nearby? Yes
Worth it to go out of your way for? Yes, especially if you want a sit down place
This is another place that is not viral but rather one that I stumbled upon. Its atmosphere was so cute and cozy that I had to share. I was drawn in by the store window which looked like something out of a movie, and definitely something I would put on my fall Pinterest board. There were so many options I thought there is no way they could bake it all in one day! And, a rare find in Amsterdam, two floors of seating!! Every table in the place was taken, even though it was late afternoon on a weekday which tells me they’ve got something good going.
I only had room in my belly for a chocolate chip cookie this day, but I was already sold. The cookie was the size of my whole hand (this picture does not do it justice) AND it was cheaper than the cookies at Salvo. The flavor was akin to a traditional chocolate chip cookie, which I liked.
I wish I tried more, but I got the vibe that most of the items would give you the flavor profile you were expecting, instead of trying to be inventive. I say this as a compliment, because this place goes for tried and true, leading them down a successful path. If you are looking for a sit-down place with good ambiance, an incredible variety of options, and something simple, I would go out of my way to get here.
