Best Indian Fast Foods in Amsterdam (2026)

TL;DR 🍛

• 🌶️ Amsterdam's Indian fast food scene spans South Indian classics, Surinamese-Indian roti, and everyday curry spots across the city
• Saravanaa Bhavan at Stadhouderskade brings its globally recognized South Indian vegetarian menu to Amsterdam
• Roopram Roti in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid has earned a steady reputation among locals for its Surinamese-Indian roti
• Aarti2 at Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat blends Indian and Surinamese flavors — a combination unique to Amsterdam's food culture
• Deep Indian, Indian Express, and Ram's Roti West round out the map for reliable Indian fast food across different parts of the city

The Indian Fast Food Landscape in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's relationship with Indian food runs deeper than in most European cities, and the reason is historical. The Netherlands' colonial connection to Suriname brought a substantial Surinamese-Indian community to the city over several generations. These families carried roti, daal, and spice traditions that evolved over time into something genuinely distinct — an Amsterdam style of Indian fast food that differs from what you would find in London, Berlin, or anywhere in India itself.

Today, that foundation sits alongside more recent openings serving the city's growing South Asian expat community. The result is a compact but genuinely varied Indian fast food scene that is worth mapping out if you are new to the city, returning after time away, or simply trying to find your go-to spot.

The Full Lineup of Indian Fast Food Spots 🗺️

Aarti2 — 20 Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat

Aarti2 sits in the western part of Amsterdam and serves a menu that bridges Indian and Surinamese cooking traditions. This is one of those spots where the menu reflects Amsterdam's particular cultural geography — dishes that carry Indian ancestry but have been shaped and adapted over generations of Surinamese-Dutch life. The cuisine at Aarti2 is not a direct replica of either tradition; it is its own thing, and trying it with that frame makes the experience more interesting. Contactable at +31 20 486 7112 or info@aarti2.nl.

Deep Indian — 65 Van Moerkerkenstraat

Deep Indian serves Indian cuisine from its location in the southern part of the city. For residents of the Van Moerkerken area or nearby neighborhoods, this is the most locally convenient option on the list for an Indian meal without making a cross-city trip. Reachable at +31 20 613 4548.

Roopram Roti — 37A Van Woustraat

Roopram Roti is located in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, in the Oude Pijp area, and has built a reliable reputation among locals for its Surinamese-Indian roti. The format is straightforward: fresh roti paired with fillings that reflect the Surinamese-Indian cooking tradition. This is not Indian bread in the subcontinent sense — it is a specifically Surinamese-Dutch preparation that has become a staple of the Amsterdam food scene. Contact at +31 20 4710400 or roopram@roopram.info.

Indian Express — 37-H Pieter Langendijkstraat

Indian Express serves Indian cuisine from Pieter Langendijkstraat in Amsterdam. For diners in the south-central part of the city looking for a quick Indian meal, this is a conveniently placed option.

Saravanaa Bhavan — 123 Stadhouderskade

Saravanaa Bhavan is the most internationally recognized name on this list. A South Indian vegetarian chain with locations across the world, the Amsterdam branch at 123 Stadhouderskade brings the full South Indian spread to the city: dosas, idlis, vadas, sambar, rasam, and filter coffee done in the style that has made the brand a reference point for South Indian food globally. For anyone from South India living in Amsterdam, or for diners who want a specifically South Indian vegetarian experience, this is the primary destination on the map. Phone: +31 20 786 4880.

Ram's Roti West

Ram's Roti West serves Surinamese-Indian roti in the western part of Amsterdam. Part of a broader roti establishment that has become a fixture in the city's Indian food landscape, it is a reliable choice for the style of roti that the city has made its own. Contact through info@ramsroti.nl.

What Makes Amsterdam's Indian Food Scene Different

The Surinamese-Indian influence concentrated at spots like Roopram Roti, Aarti2, and Ram's Roti West sets Amsterdam apart from Indian food scenes in other European capitals. Indo-Surinamese cooking draws from many of the same base ingredients as Indian cuisine — lentils, cumin, coriander, tamarind, turmeric — but centuries of geographical distance, local ingredient adaptation, and cross-cultural exchange have produced something meaningfully distinct. The roti format common in Surinamese-Dutch Amsterdam is different from subcontinent Indian roti and different from West Indian roti. It is a specific Amsterdam thing.

Alongside this, Saravanaa Bhavan represents the newer wave of Indian diaspora food culture in the city: globally consistent, specifically South Indian, and designed for expats and food enthusiasts who want that particular style done properly.

Deep Indian and Indian Express sit in a third category — more everyday spots that serve solid Indian food for weekday meals, lunch runs, or evenings when you want something reliable without a long wait or a long commute across the city.

How to Choose Based on What You Are Looking For

The variety across these six spots means the right choice depends on what kind of Indian fast food you are after. If you want South Indian dosas, idlis, and vegetarian thalis, Saravanaa Bhavan is the specific destination. If you want Surinamese-Indian roti with Indian-origin fillings, Roopram Roti and Ram's Roti West are the places. If you want to experience the specifically Amsterdam blend of Indian and Surinamese flavors in a single meal, Aarti2 is the one to try. For convenient everyday Indian food in the southern part of the city, Deep Indian and Indian Express serve that purpose.

Insider Tip

Saravanaa Bhavan at Stadhouderskade draws a steady crowd of South Indian expats, particularly on weekends when it functions as a regular meetup point for the community. The weekday lunch slot — between 12:30 and 2 PM — tends to be calmer than the Saturday and Sunday peak. If you are visiting specifically for filter coffee and a dosa, Tuesday through Thursday gives you the most relaxed experience.

For Roopram Roti in Oud-Zuid, arriving just before noon or just after 1:30 PM helps avoid the peak lunch queue at one of the busier branches.

FAQ

Q: Does Amsterdam have Indian fast food options beyond South Indian and Surinamese styles? The spots on this list span South Indian, Surinamese-Indian, and general Indian cuisines. North Indian-specific fast food — chaat, rolls, or Punjabi-style dishes — is less prominent in Amsterdam's fast food category specifically, though it appears in full-service restaurant contexts across the city.

Q: Is Saravanaa Bhavan in Amsterdam vegetarian-only? Saravanaa Bhavan operates as a vegetarian restaurant chain globally. The Amsterdam location maintains that same profile.

Q: How does the Surinamese-Indian roti at places like Roopram Roti compare to Indian or West Indian roti? The roti served at Amsterdam spots like Roopram Roti and Ram's Roti West reflects a specifically Surinamese-Dutch cooking tradition rather than a direct transplant from India or the Caribbean. Regulars describe it as its own category — worth approaching on its own terms rather than as a replica of something else.

Q: Are these places suitable for vegetarians? Saravanaa Bhavan is fully vegetarian. The other spots on the list serve a mix — it is worth checking the menu directly for each, as options vary significantly between the roti-focused spots and the more general Indian establishments.

Bottom Line

Amsterdam's Indian fast food scene earns points for variety and for having a culinary character that is genuinely its own. Saravanaa Bhavan delivers internationally consistent South Indian food; Roopram Roti and Ram's Roti West hold the Surinamese-Indian roti tradition that has been part of Amsterdam's food culture for decades; Aarti2 offers the hybrid flavors that emerge when Indian and Surinamese cooking share the same kitchen; and Deep Indian and Indian Express serve the city's everyday need for accessible Indian food. The six spots together give you a reasonably complete picture of what Indian fast food means in this particular city.