Spang Makandra (Twitter handle: @SpangMakandra_) is a Surinamese restaurant in the “Oud-Zuid” district of the Amsterdam (a couple blocks away from the Heineken Experience). A local friend recommended we dine here. My husband had Surinamese food during his last trip, and said I had to have it. So we journeyed out here, by foot from Dam Square since there was a tram strike going on, but I’ll say, the journey was well worth it.
As soon as we got to the restaurant, there was already a queue of people waiting to snag a table at this tiny restaurant with only about 7 tables.
On the menu are rice and noodle dishes, soups, sandwiches and roti. Unfortunately, that’s all I understood since there were no menus in English – only French, Dutch, and German. The prices on the menu ranged from 4€ to 10€. Our waiter didn’t speak much English either, so we tried our best to ask for his recommendation, and he pointed us to the Javanese Rames for 8.50€. Javanese Rames is a Javanese version of the Indonesian “rice table” (aka Rijsttafel – referenced in my previous review of Indonesian food) or Nasi Rames.
At Spang Makandra, Javanese Rames consists of noodles, rice, vegetables (tomato, cucumber and onion), chicken satay over a peanut sauce, a beef stew, and chicken stew. All were absolutely delicious and flavorful. Oh how I yearn to have a plate now.
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| Javanese Rames |
We also tried the Spangmakandra Special for 10€. This dish is similar to the Javanese Rames but comes with fried rice, noodles, chicken stew, chicken satay, beans, Javanese sambel frikandel (potato) and prawn crackers. Another excellent dish I highly recommend.
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| Spangmakandra Special |
On the table are three sauces: yellow chili, a tomato-based sauce, and a chili oil sauce which reminded me of chiu chow chili oil sold in Asian marts. The food doesn’t need any extra flavor, but if you want to add some kick to your dish, add
To drink, we had a ginger drink called Gingabirie D’Leon which isn’t as intense as ginger beer, as how it sounds, but more like a ginger ale with light carbonation. They have other beverages as well, like Coconut Juice, which I had and paired wonderfully with the food.
If you’re in the area, I highly recommend coming here. If you do go, let me know what you think.
Spang Makandra
Gerard Doustraat 39
1072 VK Amsterdam
Tel: 020 6705081
www.spangmakandra.nl
Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 11am-10pm
Sunday: 1pm to 10pm
Closed Mondays
