5 places to eat on a budget

No energy left to cook? We get it! But tasty food is a must—never settle for less. That’s why we’ve put together our tips for truly delicious takeaways, the best delivery services and affordable places.

Bar Brå – Amsterdam

With Bar Brå, owner Marjolijn wants to offer a platform to up-and-coming artists and chefs. An art exhibition is organised every two months, and different chefs take over the kitchen each week. On Tuesdays, that’s Ren Phillips and Christopher Robinson with their Best Coast Taqueria; on Thursdays, you can enjoy Asian slow food, and on Fridays and Saturdays, various stuffed Indian naans are on the menu. Update (6 June 2019): this restaurant has since closed.

Not the way you’re used to them from grandma or your dear mother, but stuffed. With Parmesan, Gruyère & pecorino, for example

Manoto – Amsterdam

At Manoto in Amsterdam, you can eat Iranian classics. Be sure to try the ghormeh sabzi. A stew with lamb, vegetable sauce, kidney beans and fresh herbs. For around €25 per person, you’ll easily make it through the evening. You might not immediately tell all your hip friends that you’re eating here, because the interior is a little Persian glamour. Fortunately, you’re not just sitting like royalty on large chairs—you’ll also eat very well here.

Bar 35 – Den Bosch

Burgers and beer: that’s mainly what BAR35 in Den Bosch is all about. Of course, you’re free to order something else, but why would you? Those burgers are genuinely very good, and even tastier when paired with the right beer—including beers from Brouwerij ’t IJ and Jopen. The only difficult thing here may be choosing.

Balls & Glory – Eindhoven

This is the first Dutch location of Balls & Glory, the growing meatball empire of Flemish TV chef Wim Ballieu. So, meatballs are on the menu. Not the way you’re used to them from grandma or your dear mother, but stuffed. With Parmesan, Gruyère & pecorino, for example. Or with crispy fried bacon and chervil.

La Bru – Rotterdam

Here, you can treat yourself to various meat platters, but the Ottolenghi-style tapas are the firm favourite. For example, order a plate with pumpkin, burrata and garlic oil, chickpea bread with mushrooms and couscous, or smoked salmon with sweet potato and crème fraîche.  All that for around four euros per plate. For a moment, you’ll really think you’ve ended up in Berlin.

Image: Bar Brå, Manoto, Bar 35, Balls & Glory, La Bru