Staycation #5: Thailand in Amsterdam

Whether it’s at a street food market in Vietnam or straight from the French hypermarché: food always tastes extra delicious on holiday. This summer I’m staying home in Amsterdam, but luckily there are plenty of places where you can briefly imagine yourself abroad. I’m taking you along on my staycation, and this week we’re going to Thailand.

Scorching heat, your legs sticking to your plastic chair and the smell of rice and grilled meat. That’s when you know you’re in Thailand. Or are you simply in Amsterdam? Okay, you don’t get that heat all year round, but even if you want to pretend you’re in Thailand for a moment in winter, Ocha is the best place to go.

Also read: Q&A with Hidde de Brabander

Truly Thai

There’s no shortage of Thai restaurants in the capital. Around the corner from Ocha is (Snackbar) Bird, also near the Nieuwmarkt and also very good. In Oost, you can eat wonderfully at Thai Tiger, but Ocha really comes closest to the real deal. There are no plastic chairs—yet—but the kind of wooden chairs you sit on in the more upscale restaurants in Thailand. You do sit very close together, bathing in fluorescent light, just like in Thailand. At Asian restaurants, I prefer as little atmosphere as possible, because that’s what I find most convivial. Ocha certainly delivers on that front.

No cards or alcohol

The only downside is that they don’t have a liquor license here. When you enter, you see a note that says: ‘Sorry, we don’t accept cards and don’t serve alcohol, but we do have delicious food.’ You might as well just be honest, right? With food this delicious, I don’t miss the alcohol at all. Is your Thai holiday really not complete without an ice-cold Chang? Then get it to go and eat it at home with your beer beside you.

In the tiny kitchen, the enormous rice cooker is always on, and the two female chefs are hard at work preparing delicious authentic dishes for you. From standard pad Thai and green curry to Thai fish cakes, tom kha kai soup and Penang curry. All the starters—including the Thai spareribs, satay and deep-fried wontons—cost between €3 and €6. The main courses are all around €10, even those with octopus, and the portions are generous.

Extra-long holiday

No wonder it’s always absolutely packed here. Reservations aren’t possible, but since they don’t serve alcohol, no one lingers and you never have to wait long for a table. Always order too much and take the leftovers home for an extra-long holiday.

Ocha
Binnen Bantammerstraat 1
Amsterdam