Jiang Nan — Restaurant in Amsterdam

A Deeply Disappointing Experience Masquerading as Authentic Chinese Cuisine

I came to this restaurant with friends genuinely excited and full of anticipation. The website promises to "immerse yourself in the world of authentic Chinese cuisine," and as someone who deeply appreciates the complexity and richness of Chinese food, I was eager to see what this place had to offer.

To be fair, the initial welcome was warm. Our waitress was friendly and helped us go through the menu. We told her that we eat a lot of Chinese food and were particularly interested in the restaurant's regional specialties. She seemed to understand—and that gave us hope.

But that’s about where the positives ended.

The Silky Tofu with Century Egg was our first disappointment. I know this dish is traditionally served cold, but this tofu was fridge-cold and flavorless. There was no chili, just a few spring onions swimming in a thin, watery sauce that didn’t cling to the tofu at all. The century egg had no depth—no umami, no richness, nothing.

We then received Pan-Fried Bao, which were dry and bland, with a tiny drop of vinegar for dipping. I’m not sure if these were store-bought, but I’ve honestly had better ones from a supermarket freezer.

Most of the waitstaff were preoccupied—on their phones or eating behind the bar. My friend ended up getting up to grab chili oil himself, which turned out to be the worst chili oil we’ve ever tasted: burnt chilies swimming in a pool of oil.

We had ordered Siu Mai, which the waitress initially told us was a house specialty. Later, she returned to inform us they were out of it. We also ordered Zongzi, which never came, yet was still added to the bill.

The only remotely okay dish was a quarter duck, but the sauce it came with was overly sweet and lacked depth.

Then came the real low point: the so-called "Yunnan-style chicken", a dish the waitress enthusiastically recommended. What we were served was mashed potato with scattered bits of chicken and some raw red chilies in a basic tomato sauce. It had absolutely nothing to do with Yunnan cuisine. It honestly tasted like someone’s leftover Turkish food warmed up in the microwave. One of the worst things I’ve ever been served in a restaurant.

We also ordered Mapo Tofu, which turned out to be a watery disaster. The sauce was completely bland—someone clearly forgot to add salt or the essential mala seasoning. It was tasteless and completely unbalanced, failing to capture the signature spice and depth that the dish is known for.

Despite the friendly beginning, no one checked in on us throughout the meal. Not once. Not even when we asked for the bill. No one seemed to care how the experience had been.

I UNDERSTAND that navigating the line between authenticity and appealing to Western expectations can be a challenge for restaurants. But this meal missed the mark on both. It lacked the depth, technique, and heart of real Chinese cooking while also failing to meet even the most basic expectations for flavor, consistency, and service.

I’m not Chinese, but I have a real appreciation and understanding of Chinese cuisine. I’ve spent years exploring its regional flavors and techniques. What we were served here was not authentic, not thoughtful, and not worth the price.

This place may market itself as a destination for real Chinese food—but it delivered something closer to a parody. Hugely disappointing, especially given how much potential it...

I had an amazing experience at this newly opened Chinese restaurant. The scallion fried buns I had as a starter were incredibly airy, crispy, and full of flavor. For the main course, I ordered the dry braised spicy sea bass and stewed bean curd with minced pork, both of which were absolutely delicious. The sea bass had an authentic Chinese taste that you rarely come across in restaurants these days, while the bean curd dish was intensely flavorful with just the right amount of spice. If you're a fan of mapo tofu in dim sum restaurants, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the unique and authentic taste of this dish.

The staff was very friendly and the owner took the time to passionately explain the origin and inspiration behind each dish. This made the dining experience even more memorable. Overall, I highly recommend Jiang Nan to anyone looking for authentic Chinese cuisine...

Visited this authentic Chinese restaurant in a nice location near the city center. The interior is warm and cozy, with comfortable chairs and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff was friendly and attentive, which added to the experience.

The restaurant was packed with local Chinese guests—a good sign that the food is authentic and appreciated by those who know it best. While the food was nice, it didn’t quite live up to the raving reviews I had read, and it wasn’t exactly cheap. That said, the portions are smaller than what you'd find at a typical Chinese restaurant, but for me, they were just right.

The highlight of the evening? The small, pillow-like dumplings filled with beef and served with a delicious dipping sauce—absolutely worth trying!

Reservations are definitely recommended, as the place...