#rainy day cozy writing keeping me afloat today

[talesfromafork]

When I moved to Amsterdam in 2015, there was something I was very disappointed in– the food scene. Yes, you can find good food but compared to New York where I’m from, the price-quality ratio here is incomparable. This is especially true for Asian food like Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese food, which except for One Dim Sum, I tend to avoid at all costs in Amsterdam.

However, be still my Asian foodie heart, when I went to Rotterdam a few weeks ago, I found delicious ramen and pho among other foods. In just one weekend in Rotterdam, I discovered a handful of places I loved whereas in Amsterdam, it’s taken me over a year of continuous trial and error. Anyways, enough food snobbery and comparing Amsterdam to Rotterdam to New York, let’s get on with where to eat in Rotterdam.

– Pin now, eat later! –

Hinoki Noodles

If you want authentic Japanese ramen, then Hinoki is the place to go. They import their noodles from Japan and store them at an optimal temperature so by the time they’re cooked and served, the texture of the noodles combined with their ability to cling to the broth soothes your palette and soul. The broth at Hinoki Noodles is on the lighter side and makes for a great ramen that won’t weigh you down.

What to Get: My husband has been here three times over two trips, and every time has gotten the Special Black Garlic Ramen. I’ve also gotten that one and the one without the black garlic. They’re all really good. I also recommend getting Karaage as an appetizer. It’s five pieces of tender fried chicken.

Good to Know: This place has vegetarian and no pork options. See the menu here.

Address: Keizerstraat 52

Located Near: Blaak station, Cube Houses, Markthal, Cool District

Pho Hanoi

Out of all the phos I’ve tried in Europe, Pho Hanoi has broth taste, meat rawness and types, and even noodle thickness that I love. It’s a no frills type place so it’s all about the food, not the ambiance. However, on a nice day, you can sit out on the square that’s full of cozy cafes and independent shops.

What to Get: Pho bo (traditional beef noodle soup) and Goi Cuon (summer rolls with shrimp)

Good to Know: This place has vegetarian options.

Address: Botersloot 58A

Located Near: Blaak station, Cube Houses, Markthal, Laurenskerk

P.S. I’ve been to two pho places in Rotterdam over my two trips there. This place is clearly the winner.

POSSE

Before diving into your food, you will be wowed by the decor of this restaurant, or rather, this restaurant/gallery. It is full of knick-knacks, art, and vintage furniture, and for lack of better words, is a really cool place. But to be honest, I’m not into how a place looks when it comes to restaurants. It’s all about the food, and luckily here, the food is on point. Everything is cooked to the right temperature and has the right flavors and sauces to complement whatever the star of the dish.

What to Get: I believe the menu changes, but when I came here I got the calamari in tomato sauce appetizer and duck breast as a main course. Considering that those two very different dishes that most places cannot do well were good, I’d feel ok with choosing anything on their menu!

Good to Know: This place has vegetarian options.

Address: Veerlaan 19a

Located Near: National Photography Museum, Pinball Museum, and in a neighborhood that reminds me of Brooklyn about 10 years ago

Sajoer

Ever go to a European city and have trouble finding a decent salad, or at the very least, something healthy to eat? Well, that’s not a problem in Rotterdam with Sajoer around. This spot is the vegan or health conscious person’s dream eatery. Its full of sweet and savory juices, acai bowls, soups, and drinks.

What to Get: I got the acai bowl, which was tasty and surprisingly so filling. For someone who eats a lot, I really had to struggle to finish it. Oh the pain.

Address: Botersloot 46A

Located Near: Blaak station, Cube Houses, Markthal, Laurenskerk

Lof der Zoetheid

Lof der Zoetheid is full of tempting desserts and pastries and is a great spot to come in the afternoon after a day of shopping or playing tourist. If you’re a tea lover like me, you’ll be quite impressed with the quality of their tea as well as the presentation. You get a bunch of looseleaf teas in jars, scoop what you want into a tea bag, then pop it into your glass of hot water.

What to Get: Not exaggerating– every dessert was delicious. As you can see, we tried a bunch. Also, if you like tea, then get the house blend named after the cafe.

Address: Noordplein 1

Located Near: a good shopping street that has &designshop, Kitchen Supply Store, and a specialty whiskey store

Notable Mention: Op Het Dak

I fell in love with Op Het Dak’s concept as soon as I entered the restaurant. They have their own garden, which they source from, and use local, organic, and sustainable products. For those who care about where their food comes from, this is an absolute dream. Also, being able to walk around the garden and see Rotterdam from a rooftop is quite reviving.

This deserves a notable mention because the ambiance and concept is fantastic and the visual plating of the food is quite artistic, but the food didn’t quite get me there. I loved it because I knew where the food came from and how healthy it is, but all the flavors combined didn’t do much for me, and I thought some things could’ve been cooked better like the roasted vegetables.

But I’d come back here again to support an establishment like this. Plus, the staff and chefs have an extremely jovial air about them, which adds to the already pleasant environment. I came here for a five course dinner in which Op Het Dak partnered with a local restaurant so perhaps lunch from their own daily menu would be way to go.

Address: Schiekade 189

There are sooo many places in Rotterdam to eat that I have yet to uncover, but I’m sure to be back again soon. Now what are you waiting for? Enjoy yourself, and eat!

Thanks for stopping by! xo.

Things I Packed for Rotterdam

If you liked my suggestions on where to eat in Rotterdam, then you may like these items I traveled to Rotterdam with.

Sneakers That Match Almost Everything & Look So Fresh

Something Cute But Easy to Pack

Charging Station to Charge Everything at Once

 Sony A6000: Lightweight But Kicka$$ Camera

Mini Portable Charger I’ve Had Since 2015

Dual-Voltage Hair Straightener (Read everything you need to know about using hair appliances abroad here.)

Reusable, Foldable Bag (See 8 Reasons Why Here)

Windproof Umbrella ‘Cause the Netherlands is Quite Rainy

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Where to Eat in Rotterdam When I moved to Amsterdam in 2015, there was something I was very disappointed in-- the food scene.