How to choose a Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam
The traditional cluster sits along the Zeedijk and the streets around Nieuwmarkt, near the He Hua temple, in what is often called Amsterdam's Chinatown. Listings now spread well beyond it, into Amstelveen, Buitenveldert, and Oost, so the old center is a starting point rather than the whole picture.
Cuisine varies by region: Cantonese cooking (steamed, stir-fried, or roasted, and generally milder) is the most common style in the city, alongside Sichuan kitchens that lean spicier, Mandarin- and Beijing-style menus built around Peking duck and noodle soups, and Lanzhou-style restaurants serving hand-pulled wheat noodles in beef broth. Picking by the dish you want, rather than "Chinese food" as one category, narrows the list faster than picking by neighborhood.
Dim sum is its own format β small shared plates meant for brunch or lunch with tea, not a full evening menu β and not every restaurant on this page serves it. For wider context on dining norms in the city, from reservations to tipping, our guide to eating out in Amsterdam covers that ground.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between Cantonese, Sichuan, and other Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam?
Cantonese cuisine is the most represented style in the city, built around steaming, stir-frying, and roasting, with milder flavors than other regions. Sichuan kitchens lean spicier, with more chili and Sichuan pepper, while Mandarin- and Beijing-style menus focus on dishes like Peking duck and noodle soups. Lanzhou-style restaurants serve hand-pulled wheat noodles in beef broth, a tradition from the Hui Muslim community of northwestern China that is often served halal.
Where is Amsterdam's Chinatown?
It runs along the Zeedijk and the streets near Nieuwmarkt, close to the He Hua temple. It is small compared with Chinatowns in larger cities, but restaurants are concentrated there, from casual noodle counters to sit-down banquet rooms.
Is dim sum served all day in Amsterdam?
Dim sum is traditionally a brunch or lunch format, built around small shared plates and tea rather than a full evening menu. Not every Chinese restaurant serves it, and the ones that do usually keep it to a set window rather than all day. Check the hours on the individual listing before planning a visit around it, and consider one of our food tours in Amsterdam if you want a guided introduction to the neighborhood instead.
Are there halal Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam?
Some are: Lanzhou-style noodle restaurants in particular come out of Hui Muslim tradition and commonly serve halal food, including hand-pulled noodles in beef broth. Halal status still varies kitchen to kitchen even within the same cuisine style, so confirm directly with the restaurant rather than assuming from the style of food.
What does a meal at a Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam cost?
The category spans quick wok-to-order counters and dumpling bars up to multi-course sit-down banquets, so no single figure covers it. Menus and prices are posted on each restaurant's own page or storefront; check there or call ahead, since cost depends heavily on the format you pick.
Are there Chinese restaurants outside central Amsterdam?
Yes: beyond the Zeedijk and Nieuwmarkt cluster, restaurants operate in areas including Amstelveen, Buitenveldert, and Oost, reflecting the wider Chinese community across the city and region. If you're comparing across East Asian cuisines nearby, our Amsterdam Japanese & sushi restaurants directory covers another option in the same neighborhoods.