Amsterdam : Where and what to eat
Amsterdam isn't one of the cheapest cities in Europe, but it is one of the most funs. Food and lodgings tend to be fairly expensive, but it is possible to eat well, even on a budget. You just need to know where to look. Top quality restaurants such as Blakes and Dynasty make for a great if slightly expensive evening, but what makes eating out in Amsterdam all the more enjoyable is the large range of inexpensive restaurants which serve great food. Walking along the Zeedijk you'll find restaurants like Nam Kee and New King, favorites of many locals, and rightfully so. These restaurants aren't famed for their looks or even their service, but if you want a good meal you really can't go wrong, especially not for these prices.
A good place to start your search for restaurants is the Korte Leidsedwarsstraat and Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, close to the Leidseplein. If you want to eat something, but if you're not sure what, walk these streets and discover the enormous variety of restaurants. Spuistraat (which runs parallel to Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal) also has a good selection of more up market restaurants. Eat frites, or French fries. They're a cheap snack typically served in a paper cone with mayonnaise rather than ketchup. Learn to enjoy herrings - pickled or otherwise. You'll find inexpensive haring broodje (herring on a bun) just about everywhere. Look for vending machines, which sometimes sell entire fast-food meals. Consider restricting yourself to one restaurant meal per day and shopping in markets and grocery stores for the other two meals, plus snacks. See if your hotel has ice available, which can keep perishables fresh.
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