Every time I've been to AMS, I've eaten rijsttafel and loved it. Not this time and not due to any particular reason.

I had also always had my "frites met mayo" or as spelled on the menu boards "patal met mayo". On my way into a shop that sold the beloved frites, I saw a menu picture of Shoarma. Looked great so I ordered it. Great was an understatement!!

Shoarma is very thinly sliced lamb mixed w/some sweet spices and then put into a warm pita w/some lettuce or tomato (think AMS version of a Gyro only MUCH MUCH better, puts a gyro to shame, plus it is real meat,not processed like a gyro). A sweet mayo like sauce w/herbs was then offered to go with it or you could choose a VERY hot red chili sauce. I liked the mayo sauce. Over my two days in AMS, I had 4 shoarmas from various stores. Some were large and others were small. BUT ALL WERE DELICIOUS and all were cheap at 3-4 Euros apiece.

It was my final night in AMS and I was walking back to my hotel and really had no idea what I was going to eat for dinner. I choose to let fate take me where it wanted to. I finally stopped in front of a Japanese restaurant and thought some sushi and a soba dish would be a great meal. While looking closer at the menu, I noticed a Malaysian section which I have never seen in the states on a Japanese menu. One of the choices was lamb w/black pepper sauce. Sounded yummy.

The lamb dish was almost nirvana. The black pepper sauce was tangy w/o being over powering. For those of you who have dined in Singapore and had the black pepper crabs, this was almost the same delicious sauce used in Singapore. The lamb was actually rack of lamb that had been sliced into chops and stir-fried w/the onions, green pepper and the heavenly sauce. As I mentioned this dish was nirvana served over steamed rice.

I did have some sushi appetizers and they were very good and fresh.

This great restaurant is near the city center.
Try Hayashi Japanese Restaurant, Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 6, 1012 NH Amsterdam.
phone: 020-528 78 18

Open from 5pm to 11:30pm