Koh-i-noor is means “Mountain of Light” in Persian and is the name of the 105 carat diamond (in its most recent cut) that was once the largest known diamond in the world. Koh-i-noor is also the name of the Indian restaurant my husband and I dined at three times during our recent trip to Amsterdam.
Koh-i-noor has been in business since 1981, and this summer it will hit its 30th birthday. 30 years in business is impressive, so you know that the food and service must be excellent for it to be around for that long. TripAdvisor reviews have also given this restaurant high ratings and reviews. So, with a tip from a friend, I decided to stop by and see what they had to offer.
As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed by the owner and waitstaff. The restaurant’s decor and ambiance made it feel very homey, and I often described this restaurant and the staff as my Amsterdam family. That’s what it felt like, a home away from home with comforting food and friends.
And now the food…
For starters we had the Seekh Kebab, 5,50€ – spicy lamb minced meat mixed with Indian spices, ginger and green peppers. Squeeze some lemon juice on top, and you’ve got yourself a winner. We were also given a plate of papadam, a crispy thin Indian bread, which was accompanied with various dipping sauces.
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| Seekh Kebab |
Of the many dishes I’ve tried at Koh-i-noor, my favorite was the house specialty, Lamb Chop Massala, 15€. Tender pieces of lamb chop marinated in tandoori sauce, then grilled and cooked in the special sauce. The lamb was very tender, and the sauce – just the perfect blend of spices, and not too much heat. I’ve never had anything like it, and I sure do wish I had some now as I type my review.
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| Koh-i-noor’s Specialty: Lamb Chop Massala |
If lamb is not your thing, Koh-i-noor has plenty of delicious chicken dishes on their menu. I recommend ordering the Chicken Tikka Massala (the chicken version of their house specialty), Chicken Saag, Chicken Dhansak, and the Chicken Tandoori. The chicken tandoori is tender and flavorful.
Other dishes I recommend include the Saag Paneer, Indian spinach and homemade cheese cooked with butter and spices. You can either order it as a side dish for 5€ or as a main dish for 10€. The paneer is delicious and the spinach is creamy and different from what I’m accustomed to getting in the United States.
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| Garlic Nan |
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| Nan |
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| Lamb Massala, Rice and Saag Paneer |
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| Saag Paneer |
No meal is complete without beer, right? Get a bottle of King Cobra. It has 6.9% alcohol content and pairs well with the food.
For dessert, try the kulfi or kheer – both are excellent. Kulfi is an Indian milk-based ice (cube) cream dessert. Kheer is an Indian rice pudding made with cardamom, sugar, and other spices. You should ask them to make you a combo of both – it’s called ‘Patiala.’ Trust me – it’s great! You’ll thank me later.
Overall my dining experiences, and the food were excellent. Koh-i-noor ranks high in my books, and is probably the best Indian food I’ve had in a while. The waitstaff are extremely friendly, and I even dubbed the owner “Uncle Amsterdam,” and we had many conversations together during my three visits.
If you’re not in the area, there is another location near Dam Square (Rokin 18, 020-627-21-18).
Read more Koh-i-noor reviews on TripAdvisor >
Koh-i-noor
Westermarkt 29
Amsterdam
Tel 020-623 31 33
Fax 020-669 35 45
www.koh-i-noor-restaurant.nl
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