A rijsttafel (“rice table”) is a Dutch-Indonesian feast of a dozen or more small dishes served around white rice: beef rendang, chicken satay with peanut sauce, vegetables in coconut, eggs in chilli sambal, pickles and prawn crackers. In Amsterdam it is a sit-down dinner at an Indonesian restaurant, usually for two people or more, and costs roughly €30–55 per person in 2026. Some dishes on a standard rijsttafel contain pork, so Muslim travellers should read the menu words below or ask for a halal or pork-free version.
The table fills up fast. Small bowls arrive in waves, warmers go underneath, and the waiter names each dish as it lands.
A Dutch invention with Indonesian flavours
The rijsttafel grew out of colonial-era Dutch households in the former Dutch East Indies, who wanted to taste many regional dishes at one meal. It came to the Netherlands with families returning after Indonesian independence.
You will not find it served this way in Indonesia today. In the Netherlands it is a celebration dinner.
Decode the menu before you order
Pork usually hides behind one word. Learn these and you can scan any rijsttafel menu in seconds.
| Word | Meaning | Halal? |
|---|---|---|
| Babi (e.g. babi ketjap, babi pangang) | Pork | No |
| Varkens-, spek, ham | Pork, bacon, ham (Dutch) | No |
| Ayam | Chicken | Only if the restaurant is halal |
| Daging / sapi (e.g. rendang) | Beef | Only if the restaurant is halal |
| Kambing | Goat or lamb | Only if the restaurant is halal |
| Ikan / udang | Fish / prawns | Yes, if cooked without pork or alcohol |
| Sayur, gado-gado, telur | Vegetables, salad with peanut sauce, egg | Usually yes; ask about shrimp paste and stock |
Halal note: Indonesian restaurants in the Netherlands vary. Some are halal, many are not, and a standard rijsttafel often includes a pork dish. Ask for a pork-free or vegetarian rijsttafel, and for meat, choose a restaurant that is halal. The Netherlands has a large Muslim community, and halal restaurants are easy to find in Amsterdam, especially in the west and east of the city.
Where to try one in Amsterdam
- Long-running Indonesian restaurants in the centre, such as Sampurna by the flower market on the Singel and Tempo Doeloe on Utrechtsestraat, have served rijsttafel for decades. Ask each about halal meat or a pork-free set before booking.
- Surinamese-Javanese and Indonesian takeaways (toko) – cheaper, simpler, and a good way to try single dishes like rendang or satay.
Booking is wise on weekends. Most restaurants set a two-person minimum for rijsttafel.
Phrases for the waiter
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Zit hier varkensvlees in? | Is there pork in this? |
| Is het vlees halal? | Is the meat halal? |
| Een rijsttafel zonder varkensvlees, alstublieft | A rijsttafel without pork, please |
| Niet te pittig | Not too spicy |
| Mag ik de rekening? | May I have the bill? |
Good to know
Is rijsttafel halal?
Not automatically. Many include pork (babi) and the meat may not be halal. Ask for a pork-free set, or choose a halal restaurant.
How much does a rijsttafel cost in Amsterdam?
About €30–55 per person in 2026, usually with a minimum of two people. Vegetarian sets are often cheaper.
Is rijsttafel Dutch or Indonesian?
Both. The dishes are Indonesian, but the idea of serving them all together is a Dutch colonial custom.
More in Amsterdam: raw herring and fresh stroopwafels. Next door in Belgium: frites in Brussels. See Netherlands food guides, our halal food travel guide, the Netherlands food budget calculator and tipping in the Netherlands.
Sources
- I amsterdam – official Amsterdam city site.
- Rijsttafel – history and dishes.
