Restaurant Semhar image

Restaurant Semhar

Restaurant Eritrean restaurant

Ethiopian staples & vegetarian options served in a warm, old-school venue with a terrace. People often mention service, delicious, African, restaurant, great,


Address

Marnixstraat 259-261, 1015 WH Amsterdam, Netherlands

Website

www.semhar.nl

Contact

+31 20 638 1634

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (378 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Saturday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Sunday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 4 to 10 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: service (7) delicious (7) African (6) restaurant (6) great (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Dragana R. 1 year ago on Google • 204 reviews
    One of the best African restaurant in the town. The host is super kind & funny. Food is really tasty and service is very fast. Very authenticate African place. Don’t expect the plates and cutlery, you will eat with your fingers and share the food. Try date cake - that is warm and with the cream. Try African coffee that is serve in the special pots. There is the beer from banana, coconut & mango - if you never had it, it’s time to try it (only 3,6 % alcohol). We will come again. Thank you for a great place & food ! 🙏
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 youel25 4 years ago on Google
    Seriously AMAZING food! Also for vegans! We had the mixed vegetarian dish with multiple sauces. Normally there is cheese coming with this plate. But we were fasting so we had it made vegan (say you want it without cheese). When Eritrean and Ethiopian (Christians Orthodox) are fasting, they eat vegan food so this dish is also perfect for vegans. The restaurant itself has an African atmosphere decorated with traditional paintings etc. The owners are the nicest people I have ever met. Very welcoming, answering questions and meeting your every needs. The banana beer is also great. So I am definitely coming here again!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daan K. 9 months ago on Google • 173 reviews
    The food was delicious! We ordered a 2 person menu that contained a variety of dishes. They were all served in a big bowl, together with some sort of pancakes. Paid around €20 per person for this. Bonus: they serve beer in a coconut 🥥
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt C. 4 years ago on Google
    Very lovely! fermented pancakes with loads of brilliantly spiced goodies...lamb, pumpkin, spinach, goats cheese, chick peas and other veg... all sorts of lovely stuff on a large tray surrounded by pancakes. Very warm and friendly staff and really good value for money 👌
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dimple C. 2 months ago on Google • 51 reviews New
    Amazing food. Vegetarian friendly. Very fast Service. Beautiful presentation.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Georgina I. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious food and amazing service, they adapted the plate according to our food preferences. Great place to share food along with a mango beer🥰
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ananya B. 1 year ago on Google
    I tried Ethiopian food for the first time and woah! What a delight this place was! A must try.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Manish R. 8 months ago on Google • 60 reviews
    Looking for African Food...this is the place to be. Reminds of roots on how food was eat. All share food in same plate . Excellent place to eat food Have vegetarian option Washroom available Facing canal Friendly staff Excellent service

  • 5/5 Bruna O. 5 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Great food! Service is fast and efficient, the place is very cozy and nice decorated. Don’t forget to order the typical coffee after the dinner. It’s delicious and the presentation is amazing. Definitely coming back!!! ❤️

  • 5/5 marion a. 3 months ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    Best food experience I had in Amsterdam! If you love simple, spicy, well balanced food and a nice atmosphere you will love this place.

  • 4/5 Mad 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious Abyssinian food. Oddly, they don't serve tap water, but food is excellent and people are lovely. We will be back no doubt. Great vegetarian choices, as well and delicious meat dishes.

  • 5/5 Sophia Z. 3 months ago on Google • 3 reviews New
    Amazing place! We ordered the bamea and zegni, both were incredibly delicious & flavorful, not to mention the injera that came with it too! The atmosphere of the place is lovely, you can tell that a lot of care goes into the food and service. We were in love with this place and hope others will be too! This place definitely warrants more attention. (p.s please order the honey wine)

  • 5/5 Mariel F. 5 months ago on Google
    Four adults shared an excellent vegetarian platter. First time for our 3-year-old trying Ethiopian food. They fixed her a small plate, and she was absolutely delighted by having her own food and by the flavors. We will definitely be back here.

  • 5/5 Matteo M. 5 months ago on Google
    Food was great, atmosphere as well, service gentle and fast. Nothing to complain, we’ll comeback

  • 5/5 Madison H. 6 months ago on Google
    This place is a gem and family run. The quality of the food is always incredible, and it has a warm atmosphere. The owner is incredibly sweet and cares about your experience. Always a pleasure to eat here :)

  • 5/5 Claudia F. 5 months ago on Google • 3 reviews
    I went here for the first time a few days ago and absolutely loved it... the restaurant is beautiful and cozy and the server/host (maybe owner?) was so kind and attentive throughout the whole evening. The food was absolutely incredible I could have kept on eating and eating. Such delicious home-cooked food. I highly highly recommend it. I'm not a frequent reviewer, but I loved this place so much I made a note to make sure I left a review!!! Another side note is that our order was completely vegan, and they were super attentive to that as well! Lots of veggie options :).

  • 4/5 Lauren 1 year ago on Google
    A lovely quiet little restaurant with good food and friendly service! It wasn’t too busy when we went on a Friday evening. Price is very reasonable! Many veggie options available

  • 4/5 Hugo Alejandro Arteaga V. 1 year ago on Google
    Really good food. You have to eat with your hands but that just adds to the experience. If you are used to the level of spicyness of the food in Netherlands beware of the food here. Could be more spicy you might expect. My favorite was the veal.

  • 5/5 gozde y. 1 year ago on Google
    It was the first time i tried Eritrean restaurant and the food was amazingly delicious 🤤. Don’t hesitate to taste it you wont regret.

  • 5/5 Martin F. 1 year ago on Google
    Great restaurant with very kind and easygoing staff. You feel very welcome as if being at home. The food is very tasteful and dinner experience is great. Nice place to be with just 2 or a group.

  • 5/5 Filip S. 1 year ago on Google
    Really amazing food and big portions. Best is to take a big plate to share!

  • 5/5 Casper Ivan K. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing food, a true step up from the usual. Prepare to eat with your fingers, using a fluffy pancake as a spoon. But the best of all were these mango or coconut beers, that is a must try – intense flavor, much more than a radler, but without being watered down.

  • 5/5 Pero K. 1 year ago on Google
    Food is great as whole experience of eating food with fingers, people working here are super nice and friendly!

  • 5/5 Samuel P. 6 years ago on Google
    Amazing food, quick service and absolutely nothing to complain about. Variety of African beers to choose from. I had the mango beer which was a perfect match with the food. For main course we had the chefs choice with an array of amazing tastes. It is also a very casual place and I can highly recommend it.

  • 4/5 ramz 1 year ago on Google
    Injera was very delicious, but a bit overpriced. The staff was nice. Be ready to eat with your hands if you are not interested in eating with a tea spoon.

  • 5/5 Nicholas M. 1 year ago on Google
    My favorite meal I had in Amsterdam and probably the best Eritrean/Ethiopian food I’ve ever had! Would recommend coming with a small group and ordering a few different things as they all come out in a communal platter for sharing. Also, there are a few tables outside against the canal that are a great spot to sit if the weather is nice!


Call +31 20 638 1634 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

Trends



Last updated:

Similar places



Similar Restaurants nearby

Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam image
1
Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam
American restaurant
Rock ’n’ roll-themed chain with a high-energy vibe serving burgers & American classics.
$$$ $
4.30 (21.8K reviews)
Foodhallen image
2
Foodhallen
Food court
Hip, cavernous space with stalls prepping global foods from burgers & hot dogs to dumplings & tacos.
$$ $$
4.50 (18.9K reviews)
Winkel 43 image
3
Winkel 43
Cafe
Known for its apple pie, this lively cafe/bar serves hearty European snacks, lunches and dinners.
$$ $$
4.60 (10.9K reviews)
The Seafood Bar image
4
The Seafood Bar
Seafood restaurant
👍👍 The perfect place to enjoy high-quality seafood at a reasonable price. Was surprised to see this large restaurant buzzing at 5pm (both inside and outside!) but after seeing the fresh fish on display and trying the sashimi which just melts in the mouth I understood why. The staff were also very well-...
$$$ $
4.60 (10.1K reviews)
Eye Film Museum image
5
Eye Film Museum
Art museum
Huge collection of Dutch & foreign movies & film posters in contemporary, waterside culture center.
4.40 (9.7K reviews)
Last updated:
()