SOJU Bar — Restaurant in Amsterdam

The chicken was great, and the service was mostly very nice. From the door host to the majority of the waitstaff, everyone was friendly and welcoming. However, our experience was significantly affected by one particular waitress.

There was an Asian waitress, the one with the most makeup, who was extremely rude and lacked basic customer service skills.

• We ordered dessert (shaved ice) from another waiter around 19:00. A few minutes later, this waitress approached our table and informed us we only had until 19:30, suggesting we cancel the order because we would “only have 10 minutes.” This was odd, as shaved ice doesn’t take much time to prepare, and we already placed the order. I politely told her we would like to keep it. • The dessert arrived promptly, within 5 minutes, leaving us with plenty of time (25 minutes) before the supposed cut-off.

At 19:25, while we were still eating and in conversation, the same waitress came to the table with the bill and a card machine. She stood there, waiting for me to pay. I told her I would check the bill and pay when we were ready. Her response was that “the next guests were already waiting.” This felt unnecessary and rude, especially since I saw many empty tables and no line of waiting customers.

Adding to the frustration, she didn’t clear any of the dishes from our table during our visit and was generally unhelpful. There was no smile and she looked annoyed at the table when I asked for the gloves and tissues which normally are on the table when the chicken is served. When representing the bill she didn’t bother to take any of the finished dishes from the table. Meanwhile, another blonde waitress was the opposite—kind, attentive, and always clearing finished items whenever she passed by. Another waiter even asked us if we wanted coffee after dessert, clearly showing there was no rush.

The contrast in service was striking. While most of the staff were friendly and professional, the behavior of this one waitress stood out negatively. It felt dismissive and unnecessary, and it definitely put a damper on an otherwise good experience.

Since the other waiters we not rushing us and actually asked if we would like to order more, we stayed until 19:50 while MANY tables remained empty. Perhaps she should put more energy into her attitude instead of...

Got accused by "some staff" aka the hostess, for not paying the full amount, even though I signed the credit card receipt in front of the waitress. As I left, the waitress who served my table, Daphne, chased me down the street and kindly requested me to go back into the restaurant to clarify the payment, I told her I paid, she agreed and said a staff believed I didn't. Easy, no problem.

As I re-entered, the hostess judgingly looked at me and said "a staff" notified them that I only paid €15 out of €70 and asked for the transaction record on my phone. I took the hardcopy receipt from the credit card machine and showed the hostess that I paid and told her to check their own receipts. (As I had just paid, it'll be at the top of their stack) Hostess looks, checks her tablet, confirms the amount to be correct and confirms all is well. I then ask the hostess for the exact staff member who accused me. She said it was some guy and pointed at a male waiter who walked by, he had a confused look on his face and when asked about the bill and said he didn't know what's going on. Obviously wasn’t him. So I ask again, the hostess now points to a female waitress next to her, the waitress is taken aback and shakes her head; I now know it's definitely not the waiter, waitress or Daphne. I probed numerous times and the hostess could now only say "we're sorry", I was not satisfied with this answer as I needed to know who accused me and wanted that person to apologise. Naturally, from her random pointing at her staff, €15 showing on her tablet, I can confidently deduce it was the hostess who accused me, however, she refused to brave up and personally apologise and kept using her blanket apology of “the restaurant as a whole are sorry”. How offensive.

On a positive note, Daphne was a great waitress, she was friendly, attentive, and helpful and kept the beer flowing. Had the spicy sweetfried chicken, gimbap beef bulgogi and soy fishcake. Everything was delicious. One of the best Korean fried chicken in Amsterdam!

The drinks menu needs a little re-work as prices are separated into columns, I thought a Cass was €5 for 0.5L, but it was only for the draft beer above.

Atmosphere was great! Wouldn't have thought it was a Wednesday evening.

Would come back again and preferably not...

Upon entering Soju Bar, one is immediately enveloped in an ambiance that exudes both warmth and authenticity, a perfect prelude to the culinary delights that await. The centerpiece of our gastronomic journey was the bibimbap, a classic Korean dish that was elevated to new heights here. Served sizzling in a hot stone cup, the harmony of flavors and textures was a testament to the chef’s mastery of traditional Korean cuisine.

The fried chicken we savored was a revelation in itself. It was cooked to such perfection that it has set a new standard for us; it was, without exaggeration, the finest chicken we have experienced in our culinary explorations. This dish alone makes Soju Bar a standout, a hidden gem that, in many ways, surpasses the offerings of many overpriced establishments in Amsterdam.

Service at Soju Bar was commendable – attentive and swift, although we noted a slight delay in service when seated in the more remote areas of the hall. This, however, is a minor observation in an otherwise flawless dining experience. The beer selection, is somewhat limited, it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of our meal. But I wish there were more options.

In sum, Soju Bar transcends the conventional dining experience, offering a culinary journey that not only satisfies the palate but also captures the essence of Korean cuisine. The minor imperfections are easily overshadowed by the superior quality of the food and the overall ambiance of the establishment. It is, without a doubt, a destination we would recommend unequivocally, and a place we eagerly look forward to revisiting. Our experience at Soju Bar was nothing short of exceptional, surpassing expectations and leaving an...