Eating at Chin Chin Club

Dancing, singing and filling your belly with the tastiest Asian dishes. You can do it all at the recently opened Chin Chin Club on Amsterdam’s Rozengracht.

You don’t come here for a quiet dinner. When we arrive at 7:30 p.m., the place is already packed. We sit at the bar next to the kitchen. Normally, my dining companion and I have plenty to talk about, but tonight we spend half the time silently peeking into the kitchen—wonderful.

Chinese confusion
The owners themselves describe the menu as confusion Chinese food. What exactly does that mean? Chinese flavors have been reinvented with modern twists and combined with other cuisines. We start with an oyster with rendang foam, which is incredibly delicious.

We could actually say that about everything on the menu. The hoisin spareribs are meaty and buttery tender, yet crispy on the outside. Sriracha prawns and corn purée turn out to be a brilliant combination, and we order some of the dumplings a second time as well.

Best-ever rice
As a passionate rice lover, I obviously order a portion of the jasmine rice listed on the menu. In the middle of my conversation, I take a bite and immediately fall silent. The puffed rice and furikake (a Japanese mixture of, among other things, nori and spices) on top turn this perfectly cooked rice into the ultimate side dish.

Prawn toast
Another favorite is the prawn toast. Crispy-fried with black and white sesame seeds, the yuzu mayonnaise drizzled over it makes it wonderfully fresh as well as deliciously indulgent. Perfect drunk food; definitely order it a few more times at the end of the evening. In any case, the menu’s setup—all small bites—invites you to order multiple rounds. Tick off whatever you’re in the mood for, and then some more, and some more.

Singing & dancing
After dinner, the tables are pushed aside and you can dance until deep into the night. There is also the option of renting a private karaoke booth in the basement. Absolutely wonderful.

Chin Chin Club
Rozengracht 133
Amsterdam