Today we’re coming to you from our home city of Amsterdam!  We’ve been showing you all of our favorite spots while we travel, but we figured it’s well past time to show you some of our favorite spots here at home.

Amsterdam might not be the cheapest city to spend your time in so we thought we’d use this video to share some of our favorite quick and less expensive eats in this city. Check out our video below to see them all!

The Dutch are known for their love of sandwiches, but not all sandwiches here are created equally.  For a sandwich that is truly worthwhile, head to Zero Zero.  They have two locations, one right in the center of the city and another in De Pijp.  Zero Zero makes stellar Italian inspired sandwiches.  They have lots of options that are filled with amazing fresh ingredients like straticella cheese and really high quality meats all served on delicious bread that they make fresh in house.

You can’t go wrong with a sandwich from Zero Zero, but today we both opted for vegetarian sandwiches. I went with the zucchini.  This sandwich is overflowing with perfectly grilled zucchini that is slightly smoky.  Then comes the stracchino cheese, which is basically the Rolls Royce of mozzarella, very soft and creamy.

The cheese is marinated in thyme and oregano to bring in a slight earthy taste. This sandwich is finished off with a generous dollop of basil pesto so fresh that it tastes like the basil was just picked out of the garden.  Finally, it’s topped off with some super high quality balsamic to bring it all together.

Mehmet went with the Melanzane which is basically an eggplant parm on steroids. It’s packed with grilled aubergine that is smoky and tender, creamy buffalo mozzarella that is pure indulgence, and a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano for a salty kick. 

This sandwich does not end there, it also has sundried tomato pesto that adds just the right amount of tangy sweetness and the fresh basil adds in a touch of freshness, also topped with a drizzle of that great balsamic.

Zero zero is a very popular place, so expect a line if you come around lunch time.  They also don’t have many tables, so it’s a good plan to enjoy your sandwich alongside a nearby canal.

Another must mention sandwich shop here in Amsterdam is Cora’s.  Located on the beautiful Prinsengracht canal Cora’s is a local favorite.  They also bake their bread in house and have a wide variety of both meat and veggie filled sandwiches.  

Today we went with a chicken one and a veggie option.  The veggie is one of my favorites, it’s overflowing with fresh vegetables like zucchini, spinach, eggplant and bell peppers. Which is all topped with a freshly made tapenade.

Mehmet went with the chicken sandwich. The chicken is very tender and will fall apart in your mouth! Topped off with fresh vegetables and to kick it up a notch inside the bread is smothered with habanero mango aioli, making it creamy, sweet and spicy all at the same time. The habanero’s heat was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the mango.

Of course, there’s more to eat in Amsterdam than just sandwiches.  Given the large Turkish population in the Netherlands, there is quite a bit of Turkish food here and one spot that we love for a quick and delicious lunch is Anatolia Kumpir.  Kumpir is a Turkish favorite, it’s basically a massive baked potato loaded with butter, cheese and pretty much anything else you want!  

Kuzey, who runs this stand brought kumpir to Amsterdam and serves us fresh, warm kumpir on the Roetersstraat outside the University of Amsterdam located in the East part of the city, which just so happens to be my favorite part of Amsterdam!

Kumpir is all about flavors and Kuzey knows exactly what he’s doing with each ingredient. We got two different kinds of kumpirs, both topped with tons of veggies, but Mehmet wanted to add in a little something extra and topped his off with kofte, Turkish meatballs. 

The mashed potato at the bottom of our kumpirs were so creamy and the melted cheese added in that amazing saltiness that we were looking for. The fresh crispy veggies and the garlic sauce on top truly elevated our kumpirs. 

This is such a filling, delicious meal and definitely the best thing to fuel you up for a day of exploring Amsterdam.

It’s no secret that Amsterdam’s weather is less than stellar.  There are many rainy days here, but there is one thing that makes a rainy day much better, and that of course, is ramen!   When we need a ramen fix we head to Tokyo Ramen, and to be honest we head here quite a lot.  

They have a wide variety of ramens, including vegetarian and chicken options which can be hard to find in other places in Amsterdam.  We’ve tried a lot of the ramen options here and haven’t found one we didn’t like yet!  Our favorites include the black tantanmen, which has tons of flavorful black seasame paste, adding a rich, nutty depth to the broth.

We also love the maze tantanmen which is more saucy than soupy with it’s thick, creamy, concentrated sauce that coats every noodle. Trust us, the noodles at Tokyo ramen are packed with flavor and if you’re looking for something to brighten up a rainy day, this is your spot!

Another favorite noodle option of ours is X’ian Delicious.  This spot is located smack dab in the tourist center of Leidesplein, but it is not a toursit trap.  It is a legit excellent noodle shop.  

The chili oil noodles here are insane.  They hand pull the noodles so they are perfectly springy and smothered in chili oil to be just the right level of spicy (don’t worry, the Dutch don’t eat anything too spicy so you can probably handle this even if you’re not big on spicy foods). These come with a choice of different proteins, today we went with the lamb which adds the perfect amount of smokey flavor.

We also got a noodle soup with chicken.  The broth is full of warmth and flavor and it comes with loaded with tons of green onions which I love.  During dinner time this place often has a line out the door, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait.  

Of course, you have to try some Dutch pancakes while you’re in the neighborhood.  Pancakes are a quintessential food here, and the Dutch make a unique version of your usual pancake.  The texture is something between a thin french crepe and typical thick American pancake and they come in both sweet and savory options.  If you’re visiting Amsterdam, we suggest heading to De Carrousel for some huuuge Dutch pancakes in a fun atmosphere.

On our latest visit, we went with one classic option, just some butter and lots of powdered sugar.  And one extra sweet pancake loaded with Nutella and strawberries.  Since these are fairly thin, the edges get a bit crisy, while the center is airy and soft. These are definitely a must try while you’re here and if you do, make the most of it with your toppings, the possibilities are endless!

One last suggestion while you’re here at De Carrousel, get a side of poffertjes, which are basically little balls of fluffy, sweet goodness! 

Last, but not least, the ultimate cheap and quick Dutch snack to try are bitterballen. Don’t be fooled by the name ‘bitter-ballen’ these are not bitter, the word “bitter” comes fron an old Dutch word for certain types of herbal liqueurs, which these were traditionally served alongside. 

Bitterballen are a popular treat here, made from a meat mixture that is breaded, and then fried which makes the exterior very crunchy with a creamy center. You can try bitterballen at almost any traditional Dutch bar, or at market stalls.  We think they are best enjoyed in front of a canal, alongside a local beer.