InSaeng Amsterdam
© InSaeng, @insaeng.art

Emma

 

6 August 2024

Insaeng Amsterdam: possibly the best Korean restaurant in Amsterdam

“The best Korean in Switzerland, now also in Amsterdam,” was the recent headline in Het Parool. And so it is: with InSaeng, Amsterdam-Centrum A new, excellent Korean restaurant has joined the scene. It's a bar, art gallery, and restaurant all in one. They serve a selection of kimchi, bulgogi, and bibimbap, all with matching cocktails. Reason enough to get the hell out of here to InSaeng Amsterdam.

Why you want to go to InSaeng Amsterdam as soon as possible

InSaeng owners Yoo-Sung Jang and Anudari Bumdari had long planned to open their own business, but the pandemic threw a wrench in the works. Once the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic was over, they felt safe enough to launch a food truck that drew large crowds at numerous festivals. Their secret? Without a doubt, the fried chicken, which always had a steady line. A small Korean restaurant followed in Zurich, which quickly became a hit with Switzerland's finest.

InSaeng Amsterdam

© InSaeng, @insaeng.art

InSaeng Amsterdam

© InSaeng, @insaeng.art

Menu InSaeng

For over 25 years, both the food truck and the restaurant in Zurich have been serving recipes created by Yoo-Sung's mother, who moved from Seoul to Switzerland with her husband. Their resounding success in Switzerland led them to Amsterdam—the desire to open another business had been present for years. And so, InSaeng Amsterdam was born, on the corner of Goudsbloemstraat and Lijnbaansgracht.

As you may have guessed, this place is all about refined Korean dishes passed down through generations, with Yoo-Sung's mother adding her own unique twist. If all goes well, she'll soon be joining the Amsterdam kitchen. For now, Yoo-Sung is in charge, because no one can pass on and recreate his mother's recipes quite like he can. The menu features various bibimbap bowls, courses to share (like the chimaek set for two), but also the world-famous fried chicken and kimchi jeon—pancakes with kimchi—are absolute musts. So, off to the Jordaan, then.

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InSaeng Amsterdam

© InSaeng, @insaeng.art

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© InSaeng, @insaeng.art

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Ice cream date, anyone? One of the newest openings at Amstel1 is De Boule De Boule, an ice cream and pastry parlor just behind Waterlooplein. After trying it, I can confirm: the ice cream is really, really good. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 After seeing their Instagram, you might think of places like Folderol in Paris, the spot that became famous for pairing ice cream with wine. But De Boule De Boule feels different. Less destination wine bar, more day-time neighborhood café where you can stop by for homemade ice cream, a pastry, coffee and, yes, a glass of wine. Inside you'll find shelves filled with vinyl records, a display of freshly made ice cream and homemade pastries crafted by two in-house pastry chefs. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗗 Amstel1 is still being discovered by Amsterdam and it was a little quiet during our visit. I expect the vibe to only get better as more shops open and people find their way here. I'm especially curious to see how it feels this weekend with the market taking over the area for the first full weekend. This covered location with a courtyard feel is incredibly promising. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 • Olive oil & basil ice cream with sea salt • Chocolate ice cream with hazelnut topping • Paired with a glass of Chardonnay and an orange wine. All of the ice cream is made in-house and completely vegan. If nobody had told me, I honestly wouldn't have guessed. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 The ice cream is excellent, but what makes De Boule De Boule interesting is that it's more than an ice cream shop. It's a place for coffee, pastries, a glass of wine or drinks after a performance at the Stopera. And yes, I'm already planning to go back to try more flavors, but next time in the evening for a dessert after dinner elsewhere. Just to see how the space changes throughout the day. What would I order then? Very curious about the White Coffee ice cream! 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 📍 De Boule De Boule @debouledeboule Amstel1, Waterlooplein Would you go for olive oil & basil or keep it classic? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Today marks 43 ☺️🎈 But when I look in the mirror, I still see that 28-year-old girl who, 15 years ago, had no idea she would turn her hobby into her job. Thanks for being there (perhaps for so long) to follow this adventure 🫶🏼❤️. ✖️✖️✖️ @anne_de_buck
Come with me to get breakfast in Taipei 🥢 Straight from the airport to this little spot to taste soup dumplings and so much more! That's what I call a soft landing 😉
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