Modern Indonesian at Mama Makan

Indonesian cuisine can be sexier, trendier and more modern. Slowly but surely, more and more work is being done to make that happen. Especially with new kid on the block Mama Makan in Amsterdam.

We previously wondered why we don’t have exciting Indonesian establishments on every street corner in the Netherlands, unlike many other Western countries with a colonial history. It’s time to look beyond a smear of peanut sauce with prawn crackers and give Indonesian cuisine the place it deserves.

Pascal Jalhaij

The champion of this statement is star chef Pascal Jalhaij, who also appears on the FavorFlav Top 100 Food Influencers List . About six years earlier, he decided that he wanted to make Indonesian cuisine more modern. Unlike developments in other Asian cuisines, time stood still in Indo cuisine for seventy years. Recently, he has been joined in Amsterdam on Sarphatistraat by restaurant Mama Makan, located in the former Emma Children’s Hospital building.

veal tartare, for example, a fresh crab salad and sweetbreads, but also gado gado.

Mama Makan

At this modern restaurant – located in the Hayatt Regency Hotel – they know how to create an unusual combination. They leave fusion behind, but know how to skillfully weave Indonesian influences into European cuisine.

The result is a surprising menu. For the starter, they serve a wide range of different dishes from different cuisines. Veal tartare, for example, fresh crab salad and sweetbreads, but also gado gado. The main course is primarily designed as an Indonesian rijsttafel, with nasi, mie goreng, as well as various curries. They continue that line with dessert, offering fresh tropical fruit, passion fruit pudding and black rice pudding with mango and coffee ice cream.

Interior

The interior also combines the best of both worlds. It’s in the small details: white lucky lanterns provide the lighting, and the large space is connected throughout by a modern display cabinet containing objects from faraway countries. There is also a table with a rotating serving platform, making shared dining even easier (and let’s be honest, even more fun).

Mama Makan owes this to Concrete, the architecture firm responsible for the interiors of many hospitality concepts. They styled not only the restaurant, but also the entire lobby with its bar, where you can enjoy coffee or cocktails.

With the arrival of Mama Makan, Indonesian food in the Netherlands is becoming a little trendier again. We’re happy about that.

Mama Makan
Sarphatistraat 104
Amsterdam