De Zaanse Molen - Asian BBQ Restaurant — Restaurant in Zaanstad

I honestly don't understand these positive reviews.

I've been to numerous Korean BBQ places, in and outside of South Korea and this is by far the worst experience I've ever had. In fact, it may very well be the worst food I've had in a restaurant or anywhere,period.

We were shocked that they actually served food of such low quality with no shame. The slices of the 'pork belly' were literally paper thin, the 'beef' was a joke:wrong cut, thin, tasteless and not fresh at all, the lamb was, again, thin and had added syrup for what I can only assume was to mask the fact that it had gone bad, the duck was processed meat from a can.

They charged for the lettuce (who does that???) Plus it was limp and unfresh, the kimchi was a ridiculously miniscule portion that we were expected to share. The sauces were not authentic at all ('BBQ' sauce that was actually just mustard?)

The max # of food items per round was extremely limiting too. Every Time we ordered something different thinking it couldn't possibly get any worse, it did. They even managed to make a fried banana taste nasty. A fried banana!!!

In summary, we were offended by the food. That's the only way to describe it. And the irony is, it wasn't cheap at all. Quite the opposite.

Avoid this place, there are far better options in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Or just...

A Culinary Gem in Zaandam: Spectacular Food, Amazing Service, and Robot delivery! I stumbled upon a hidden gem of a restaurant that exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I stepped inside, I knew I had discovered something truly special. This place effortlessly combines exceptional cuisine, impeccable service, and the marvel of cutting-edge technology to create an unforgettable dining experience.

Let's start with the star of the show—the food. The attention to detail and the quality of ingredients are amazing. Whether you're a meat lover, a vegetarian, or have dietary restrictions, this restaurant caters to all palates with a diverse menu. Witnessing a robot gracefully gliding across the restaurant, delivering your food with precision and efficiency, is an experience in itself. The value for money is exceptional, considering the outstanding quality and attention to detail that this restaurant offers. Whether you're a local or a visitor to Zaandam, I wholeheartedly recommend...

We went for the BBQ. This was our second time. It would have been nice if they put in their website that you can only order 5 rounds of 3 dishes max. But in any case their portions for each dish are reasonably large. You will be very full by round 3. Also, probably best to go in cooler weather, because it can get pretty warm in there, with the grill and the late sun. The food itself is a mixed bag. We were expecting Korean-style soup - which we did not get. The batter for the fried shrimp was excellent - the one for the tempura vegetables was hardly edible. The california maki was ok, and would have been better with larger serving of wasabi. The marinade for the meats were not very tasty. The seasoned pork was quite good. The key ingredient are the sauces - which were so-so (just two kinds). I think this resto has a lot of potential, but they should show they prioritize the quality...