Sie-Joe

I heard Dutch-​Indonesian food was a thing, so I Unilocaled and found this place. I got the tek tek with tofu, and it was pretty much pan-​friend noodles with vegetables and tofu. The tofu didn’t have much flavor, and the rest was really watery. The noodles weren’t chewy enough, and the flavor was very mild. It was average. Good quality, good quantity, although no credit cards. Well, that’s what she told me and I went to find an ATM for cash, but then I saw a. Credit card machine on the counter and I saw someone who got take-​out use it, so I’m not entirely sure what’s up with that. Food is just average though, maybe try another place.

This is no fancy restaurant with rijstaffel buffet like other Indonesian places in Amsterdam, this is a simple restaurant that serves simple classic Indonesian food such as nasi goreng (fried rice), bakmi goreng (fried noodle), gado gado (mixed salad with peanut sauce), soto ayam (chicken soup) and so on.
I ordered a nasi rames and had my chicken switched with sate kambing (lamb satay — because I don’t eat poultry) and it tasted so good, just like my mom made it. I ordered a cendol drink as well, a traditional drink made from coconut milk and tapioca-​like «bubbles» in it and both meal and drink tasted authentic.
Don’t come here in large groups as they might not have the room for it, but you can definitely drop by for lunch and have some good old fashioned Indonesian food like in «warung» (small food eateries by the street in Indonesia) back home in my country.
Go for the nasi rames/​campur if you want to sample most of the dishes, or if you know what you want, get the individual menu. The soto ayam (chicken soup) is tasty so I heard but the portion is quite small so you could probably have it as appetizer.
PS: they have bapao snack as well! (Bapao is similar to Char Siu Bao, only halal) :P

OVERALL
Pretty good as far as Indonesian food goes! Not the absolute best I’ve ever had but surprisingly good for Amsterdam. I approve!
ITEMS
Gado Gado (8.75)
Not my favorite dish. The vegetables were cooked really crispy, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the sauce itself. A little too light for my tastes but definitely an incredibly healthy dish!
Chicken Satay (8.75)
Comes with a side of rice and an arrangement of skewered chicken drizzled in sauce. The chicken was very soft and the sauce was quite sweet and nutty.
Chicken Fried Noodles (8.75)
Really savory and sweet. Light sauce, not very heavy. Feels incredibly healthy and I really enjoy the thin noodles.
Kambring (Fried Rice with Lamb)
By far my favorite dish! Really flavorful and an incredible mix of fresh meat, eggs and veggies. I could definitely eat this all day. HIGHLY recommended!

Nothing so special. The quality is OK, and the price is good. Very small place. Good if you want to have something simple and eat alone, but nothing like the best in town. There are so many great Indonesian restaurants in town, this one pales.

One of the lesser known (by tourists) joys of Amsterdam is the wealth of Indonesian restaurants throughout the city. In fact, I would venture to say that outside Southeast Asia, you are unlikely to find more Indonesian cuisine. This is a legacy of the fact that Indonesia was a Dutch colony for hundreds of years, resulting in the people of the Netherlands developing a taste for the cuisine.
Sie-​Joe is a family affair run by a man who, he tells us, has been in The Netherlands for over thirty years as well as his wife and daughter. As my wife was from Indonesia, they were more than happy to chitchat and gave us many insights on the city. Among these is that virtually every Dutch inhabitant loves the cuisine.
Now, to the food. Of the (limited) sampling of Indonesian restaurants in the area, this is the most authentic… if not precisely what you would get in Jakarta. The Gado-​Gado was well executed, and the satay was tasty (and in fact used a more tender meat than the strictly authentic article). My wife’s Bakmi Tek-​Tek (a mix of soupy noodles with stir-​fried veggies and chicken) was Ok, but probably not as good as the other items.
Also, you can taste the backing-​off of the spiciness to suit European tastes.
The Es Chendol had good flavor, and correct, although it was a bit sweet for my taste with perhaps not enough ice to balance the syrup.
Bottom line is good food, friendly service and run by a very nice family.

Small, very badly ventilated, Indonesian restaurant. I simply did not like the food they serve which I got it with a grumpy attitude. You can see how they prepare the food as the kitchen is actually at middle of the place so you can soak into food smell.

This restaurant is just fantastic, loved the experience of sitting outside with the flowers and all. There are no alcoholic beverages in the menu and that was not good for me because I’m used to drink a beer with my lunch always but the food was INCREDIBLE. Totally recommended!

Lacking flavor and spices. That’s a cardinal sin when it comes to Indonesian (or any Southeast Asian) food, right?
When I was living in Amsterdam (back in ’98-’04) I used to love this place and would go there weekly. I was disappointed during my recent visit (2013) … not sure whether the quality has come down or whether my taste has changed :)
Food — 2 stars
As I wrote above, the biggest complaint I have is that the food was lacking spice. I had the lontong and my wife had the bakmi tek tek. While both were okay I expect such an authentic place (and they are, as the owners/​cooks are Indonesian, and the items on the menu are not ‘adapted’ to the Dutch Indonesian cuisine) should have the same level of spice and punch as what I used to eat back in Indonesia growing up.
Service — 4 stars
Always friendly and attentive, and always personal
Atmosphere — 3 stars
This is a small place, so space is limited. Also, they prepare everything in the open kitchen (good) but sometimes you do see the mess (bad). It’s intimate and cozy though.
Price — 3 stars
I can’t remember precisely how much they charge (cash only, so I have no records). However, I do remember that the price was reasonable compared to the portion sizes. I remember the portion was on the smaller side but the price was also rather cheap.
To conclude, this isn’t a bad place for a quick bite. However, I was disappointed by the lack of flavor offered by this authentic looking Indonesian restaurant.

I absolutely love this place! I miss it, cause I don’t live in Amsterdam anymore. The place is tiny with just a few tables. It’s ideal for a warm lunch. My fave is the nasi goreng kambing (fried rice with lamb). You’ll get a big portion that will leave you satisfied for the rest of the afternoon. Their gado gado is also quite nice. The food is cheap and the staff is friendly. This is where a lot of Indo’s go for their lunch.

One of my favorite experiences in Amsterdam. We went according to Unilocal reviews, but learned it’s chef recommended once we got there. It is a TINY place, so my family sat at the bar. We each ordered something different (meat and vegetarian) and were able to watch it all being prepared. The food was fresh, delicious and very flavorful. The pepper sauce on the tables met my dad’s spice need — he was sweating. The best part of the evening was the service. The chef came to sit with us and chatted for about 20 minutes. He was incredibly sweet and made the whole experience even better. Fabulous food and even better service.

They close at 8pm, so be careful when you go for dinner. We got there at 19:35 and they were totally cool with getting us in. Food was quick, tasty and affordable.

having lived in Indonesia for years, I can tell you: these folks just don’t put any love in the food! Soto Ayam was tiny and flavorless. Krupuks were stale. Sambal was sriracha, not cool!

Sie-​Joe in Amsterdam, must say it’s one of the best Indonesian restaurants in the city. This tiny little place, hidden in an alley has a homey feel to it. From great staff, to great food. Food tasted great, almost similar to real home cooked Indonesian meal from Indonesia! Very reasonably priced, and wont break your wallet. If you don’t know what Indonesian food is like, don’t hesitate to ask the staff on recommendations as they speak very good english, and of course Indonesian & Dutch! Overall, the couple of times I have been to this restaurant I have had a great experience and would definitely return the next time I am in Amsterdam.

The last time I was there the food was mediocre. I go there very often, but it must have been a bad night because nobody in our group enjoyed their meal and the Lantong Special, which I get every time left something to be desired.
I think the trick is to come for lunch. The last time I had been there, I got there late in the day. They prepare everything fresh in the morning and when its gone its gone. So, my advice, is get there while the gettin is good!

Not much interior space, but outdoor tables are pleasant during the summer– breezy side street, not too noisy. The menu is limited, but there are some daily specials. It is not open late, so go for late lunch or early dinner. Getting some good Indonesian food is a nice change of pace for an American.
The food is tasty, not overly spiced, but they can bring some good spicy seasonings on the side.
It was very homey. The waiter was really friendly and spoke english well.
There is no beer or wine, but various soft drinks are available. They take debit cards, not credit cards. The prices are moderate by local standards.
I would happily go back if I pass through again.

super nice food for a decent price
i had beef noodle soup + fried noodles w. tomatoes & veggies and both were pretty good

Great fried rice, chicken and vegetables! Given the amount of cheese and bread in the Netherlands, it’s great to find rice dishes with vegetables.
This place is located in the old part of town on a small windy street… A bit tricky to find, but worth it!

We were wanting to try some famous Amsterdam Indonesian food, and couldn’t get in the restaurant all the tour books recommend. Everything turned out great and for a fraction of the price! Our 2 entrees were the chicken satay and chicken with fried noodles, with the noodle dish being our favorite. We were in and out in 20 minutes. I would definitely recommend this place!

We had just arrived in a cold and rainy Amsterdam on a train from Paris. With the wonderful memory of Parisian food on our tongues we set out to find something warm and delicious.
I had been reading about all the wonderful Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam so when I saw Sie Joe I knew we needed to stop. The restaurant itself seats about 15 people on the inside. So it’s nice and cozy. We had arrived during the dinner rush so we sat by the kitchen counter. We got to watch our meals being prepared which is always fun.
I ordered the Nasi Gorang Kambing (fried rice with lamb) and my bf ordered the Lontong Special (rice cake in coconut milk topped with chicken, vegetables and pork or chicken satay, he opted for the pork satay). They were both delicious! The fried rice was perfectly seasoned, flavorful and topped with fried garlic bits, love it! The lamb was tasty and not gamey like it can sometimes be. The rice cakes from the Lontong Special were grains of rice compressed into chunks and the coconut milk with chicken and vegetables tasted brothy and homey. It was exactly what we needed.
When were were done both our plates/​bowls were practically licked clean.
On our last night in Amsterdam, we decided we didn’t want to leave without tasting the fare at Sie Joe one more time. And again, it was perfection.

Back in 2006, I was on a train ride to Amsterdam and I had the pleasure of sitting next to an old Dutch lady. It was my first time to Amsterdam, and I had asked her, «What do you recommend eating in Netherlands? Dutch food?» She told me, «No! Dutch food? Do you want to eat pickled herring?» I laughed, and she replied, «Indonesian food is the best food you can get in Netherlands, so be sure to try that!»
Speed forward 3 years, to December 2009, during my last trip to Amsterdam (with fellow Unilocaler Sigourney W.), it was my goal to eat Indonesian food. Since I don’t really speak Dutch (I speak German), I relied on the internet to find restaurants and stumbled upon Sie-​Joe, which was surprisingly good. At the time, the Euro to Dollar ratio sucked, so food was relatively expensive due to the conversion rate.
We had split the (1) nasi goreng and (2) sate kambing, all of which was fairly well portioned and very tasty, as Indonesian food should taste. We had sat at the window counter table, so we got a view of passerbys as we ate our food. Each table in the restaurant had different Indo condiments, including chilis and a sweet soya sauce, which to this day, we have not been able to find one as sweet and yummy as the one back in Sie-​Joe. The lamb satay was excellent – didn’t have much of the usual «gamey» lamb aftertaste, and was prepared perfectly, such that the meat was not overcooked. The nasi goreng was also equally good, similar to the nasi gorengs I’ve had back in the states.
Finding the restaurant proved to be a feat, since the streets in Netherlands are not very well marked by street names. But eventually we got there… as this restaurant, like most businesses in Amsterdam, are hidden/​nestled between many other small businesses.
Would I come back here next time in Amsterdam? YES. Tasty and one of the cheaper finds in Amsterdam for Ethnic food… hands-​down YUM!!!