Moved back to the Netherlands, and I'm hungry.
August 15, 2012 11:36 AM Subscribe
Mefites of Holland! Send me to your favorite ethnic grocery stores and trattorias in de Randstad. Bonus points for North Holland (esp. Haarlem-A'dam-Alkmaar), and you win 1,000 internets if you know of a real Mexican, Thai or Indian grocer anywhere within 250k of Amsterdam.
Spice (Indian) looks promising! It's in Amstelveen, so in the right area, but I've never been there myself so I can't vouch for it.
posted by Ms. Next at 12:40 PM on August 15, 2012
posted by Ms. Next at 12:40 PM on August 15, 2012
Hon, we are so gonna talk on Saturday. In the meantime:
For Thai groceries you want a toko. Dun Yong is one of my favorites, as is Amazing Oriental, both have branches in A'dam's modest Chinatown and there are other tokos in the same neighborhood, so what one doesn't carry, the other will.
For Indian groceries, the one I used to go to is now closed, so I pick up things at tokos (they also carry some Indian ingredients). But here is a site with specialized stores - scroll down.
For Mexican, I have to admit I usually buy the stuff available at large AH stores... but a friend has ordered here and says I should too.
This list might help some for other locations/cities.
Oh, and for when the craving for processed food hits - and it will - you know about these guys, right?
posted by likeso at 1:10 PM on August 15, 2012
For Thai groceries you want a toko. Dun Yong is one of my favorites, as is Amazing Oriental, both have branches in A'dam's modest Chinatown and there are other tokos in the same neighborhood, so what one doesn't carry, the other will.
For Indian groceries, the one I used to go to is now closed, so I pick up things at tokos (they also carry some Indian ingredients). But here is a site with specialized stores - scroll down.
For Mexican, I have to admit I usually buy the stuff available at large AH stores... but a friend has ordered here and says I should too.
This list might help some for other locations/cities.
Oh, and for when the craving for processed food hits - and it will - you know about these guys, right?
posted by likeso at 1:10 PM on August 15, 2012
This page also lists a Kashmiri Foodstore on Lindenlaan 380 in Amstelveen, but I've never been there so I can't vouch for its quality or even its existence.
Amstelveen has a large Indian expat community, so the presence of Indian grocery stores isn't surprising. The website of the Indian Expat Society might provide more leads.
posted by rjs at 1:12 PM on August 15, 2012
Amstelveen has a large Indian expat community, so the presence of Indian grocery stores isn't surprising. The website of the Indian Expat Society might provide more leads.
posted by rjs at 1:12 PM on August 15, 2012
Response by poster: These are all very helpful, thanks!
posted by digitalprimate at 11:56 PM on August 15, 2012
posted by digitalprimate at 11:56 PM on August 15, 2012
If you're ever in the Amersfoort area, I would suggest a visit to Toko Tjin. It's located here, and they appear to have an online shop.
As for general advice, take a walk around Amstelveen and you'll see plenty of Japanese and Indian grocery stores (quality varies greatly).
posted by fakelvis at 12:16 AM on August 16, 2012
As for general advice, take a walk around Amstelveen and you'll see plenty of Japanese and Indian grocery stores (quality varies greatly).
posted by fakelvis at 12:16 AM on August 16, 2012
I've got a half-decent Indian store in Nijmegen, Toko Taj Mahal, which I can swing by before Saturday if you have emergency needs. As one might.
I've also heard great things about Los Pilones.
posted by knile at 1:29 AM on August 16, 2012
I've also heard great things about Los Pilones.
posted by knile at 1:29 AM on August 16, 2012
Amsterdam:
Mexican restaurant: Tomatillo!
Thai restuarant: Thaicoon (yes, really) - it's amazingly good.
Indian catering: See if you can catch up with the Curry Queens.
Makro has a surprisingly good selection of ethnic foods. I got some cracking lime and chilli pickle there the other day. Vomar also has a good selection. At least, the one on Middenweg does.
Oh, and don't buy AH's own brand tortillas, they're disgusting.
posted by ZipRibbons at 1:53 AM on August 16, 2012
Mexican restaurant: Tomatillo!
Thai restuarant: Thaicoon (yes, really) - it's amazingly good.
Indian catering: See if you can catch up with the Curry Queens.
Makro has a surprisingly good selection of ethnic foods. I got some cracking lime and chilli pickle there the other day. Vomar also has a good selection. At least, the one on Middenweg does.
Oh, and don't buy AH's own brand tortillas, they're disgusting.
posted by ZipRibbons at 1:53 AM on August 16, 2012
True dat. "Casa Fiesta" is the brand I meant. Not great, but not yuck.
Hey, Makro, yeah. And Hanos - but you have to qualify for membership (small business owner, purchaser for non-profit organization, etc.). Isn't that still the case?
posted by likeso at 2:27 AM on August 16, 2012
Hey, Makro, yeah. And Hanos - but you have to qualify for membership (small business owner, purchaser for non-profit organization, etc.). Isn't that still the case?
posted by likeso at 2:27 AM on August 16, 2012
Yes you do have to be a business to shop at Makro. Oh! But opposite the one in Amsterdam Zuid Oost there's this really interesting looking "Asian food market". Huge! Haven't been in yet though.
Oh, and: Pure Markt is a relatively new mobile market thingy that's well worth checking out.
posted by ZipRibbons at 5:01 AM on August 16, 2012
Oh, and: Pure Markt is a relatively new mobile market thingy that's well worth checking out.
posted by ZipRibbons at 5:01 AM on August 16, 2012
Yeah, we are members, but I thought maybe the requirement might have changed. :)
That huge Asian food market in ZO is the Amazing Oriental wholesale location and it is pretty great! But, wholesale, so business requirement there, again.
posted by likeso at 8:39 AM on August 16, 2012
That huge Asian food market in ZO is the Amazing Oriental wholesale location and it is pretty great! But, wholesale, so business requirement there, again.
posted by likeso at 8:39 AM on August 16, 2012
Response by poster: This is all fantastic! And I did see that Asian Food Market last time I was at that Makro in ZO.
...and yes, I too have been reduced to buying Casta Fiesta. If my friends in New York ever found out, I'd be excommunicated.
posted by digitalprimate at 3:42 AM on August 17, 2012
...and yes, I too have been reduced to buying Casta Fiesta. If my friends in New York ever found out, I'd be excommunicated.
posted by digitalprimate at 3:42 AM on August 17, 2012
STOP PRESS!
I just spotted a new Indian shop that will be opening in Amsterdam Oost at Eerste van Swindenstraat 16 in a month. Looks like it's going to be selling all sorts of Indian ingredients, spices and pickles.
Hopefully, they'll even have a box full of warm samosas for sale behind the counter...
posted by ZipRibbons at 11:54 AM on August 18, 2012
I just spotted a new Indian shop that will be opening in Amsterdam Oost at Eerste van Swindenstraat 16 in a month. Looks like it's going to be selling all sorts of Indian ingredients, spices and pickles.
Hopefully, they'll even have a box full of warm samosas for sale behind the counter...
posted by ZipRibbons at 11:54 AM on August 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
tex mex: the taco shop, amsterdam Tolstraat 200 and the Amstel. My goto for when I'm hungry.
posted by Spumante at 12:36 PM on August 15, 2012