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Nam Kee, Restaurants and Cafés, Chinese food, Amsterdam
Photograph: Nam Kee

The 7 best cheap eats in Amsterdam

From fluffy falafel to canalside street food, you're spoilt for affordable choice in the Dutch capital

Ella Doyle
Edited by
Ella Doyle
Written by
Time Out editors
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You’re in Amsterdam, so you could spend your days queuing for TikTok-hyped restaurants all day, if you wanted. Or you can spend your life savings on (admittedly delicious) tasting menus at one of Amsterdam’s best restaurants

Well, you’re welcome to. But not everyone coming to Amsterdam has funds to spare. It might just be that you’re interrailing, or you’re strapped for cash, or you blew all your money on the first night in one of Amsterdam’s best clubs. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. Here are the best cheap eats in Amsterdam. 

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At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines

The best cheap eats in Amsterdam

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Dutch
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended
Hungry but hard up? You need some of the Dutch grandma cooking served up in this canteen with a living-room feel. 'Yummy Bite', near Leidseplein, will happily pack your empty insides with meat and potatoes for not much more than €8.
Nam Kee
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Chinese
  • Red Light District
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

Nam Kee has somewhat of an iconic status in the Dutch capital, serving terrific dim sum, duck and pancakes and, perhaps what it’s most well known for, oysters in black bean sauce. If you needed any proof of its popularity, there’s actually three branches across the city, so if it’s too busy, shoot off to New King (Zeedijk 115-117, 625 2180) or Nam Tin (Jodenbreestraat 11-13, 428 8508) nearby. 

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Chipsy King
Photograph: Shutterstock

3. Chipsy King

Well, you’re in Amsterdam. You’ve got to get a tray or a cone full of fries, and cover them in ridiculously good mayo, right? Well the good news is that you can get every sauce under the sun for your fries order, and your lunch will still cost you less than €7. One of the cheapest spots to get them is Chipsy King, branches of which you’ll find all over the city. If you’re a tourist looking for a chip fix, check this out. 

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended
A takeaway - with a few chairs - with superlative soups, sandwiches, salads and meals. Ask for a fork and hit a canalside bench.
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Peperwortel
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Global
  • West of Centre
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

One could survive for weeks eating nothing but takeaways from Riaz and the fabulous De Peperwortel ('Pepper Root'). After all, indulging in a wide range of dishes that embrace Dutch, Mexican, Indian and Spanish cuisines is always a pleasure, never a chore. Be aware that De Peperwortel offers a takeaway service only.

6. Pizza Beppe

There’s a reason we love Pizza Beppe (and it’s not just that it’s reasonably priced). The menu has pizzas costing all the way up to nearly €20, but a delicious marg, with delicate dough, a perfectly charred crust, sauces made with San Marzano tomatoes and gooey puddles of Buffalo mozzarella still comes in at €10.95. And it’s the best tenner you’ll ever spend. Trust us. 

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Vegetarian
  • Old Side
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended

Packed with kitsch and funky Finnish wallpaper - all of which, including wallpaper, is for sale - this little café serves up healthy juices and snacks all day long, plus vegetarian dinners based around couscous (from 6pm Thur-Sat).

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