9x Must Visit restaurants in Utrecht + bonus

Utrecht is our favorite city in the Netherlands, it’s not as touristy as Amsterdam, but certainly just as exciting to visit. From picturesque canals and historic architecture, to ample shopping outlets and trendy cafes, Utrecht has it all. In this post, we’ll tell you all about our favorite restaurants. Since we have lived here for the past 2 years we have explored quite some restaurants in Utrecht, so we are thrilled to share our 9 favorite spots (in no particular order) for dinner in Utrecht.

1. FAK

The Concept

FAK stands for French Asian Kitchen. It’s a trendy restaurant located in the cozy Drieharingstraat that serves small dishes to share (sushi and tapas). The decor errs on the side of tacky, with the fake blossom trees and the neon signs, but this only adds to the experience.
FAK stands for French Asian Kitchen. It’s a trendy restaurant located in the cozy Drieharingstraat that serves small dishes to share (sushi and tapas). The decor errs on the side of tacky, with the fake blossom trees and the neon signs, but this only adds to the experience.

What to order at FAK?

Some of our favorite dishes are: The Crispy Duck, The Sizzling Shrimps, and the Sushi Surf ‘n Turf. In addition, you really should try the Trump Gambas. These are fried gambas with cotton candy on top, resembling the famous hair of the ex-president. Weird, but tasty!

When we go to FAK we order around 4-5 dishes, which is plenty of food for the two of us.
However, if you have mustered up enough appetite, you can also order one of their 4 feet sushi platters, these platters are for 2 persons and barely fit on the table!

Prices
Prices per dish range from 8 to 10 euro’s. When eating out at FAK, we usually spend between 30 and 35 euro’s per person (including drinks and dessert). While FAK isn’t a cheap restaurant, you can really make it as expensive as you like. We recommend (as with all shared dining concepts) to visit FAK with a group, so you can try out more dishes!

Conclusion

2. Tijm

The Concept

Tijm is a delightful little gem tucked away in the heart of Utrecht. The restaurant is small but cozy, adorned with numerous plants and fairy lights hanging from the ceilings. There are two locations in Utrecht: one in the city center (at Donkere Gaard 3-5) and another outside the city center (at Pieter Nieuwlandstraat 5). The city center location used to be quite small, only accommodating four couples at a time. However, they have recently renovated and expanded the restaurant, ensuring that there is always a spot available for you to dine without the need for reservations.

What to Order

Tijm offers a simple yet creative menu that highlights seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The menu is very inclusive with vegan, diary free, and nut free options. Some of our favorite dishes include de Indian Dahl, the Poke Bowl and the Paneer Butter Masala.

Prices
Prices at Tijm are pretty cheap with dishes ranging from 15 to 20 euro’s. Potion sizes are on the smaller side, but in our opinion it’s enough to leave you satisfied. When eating out at Tijm, we usually spend between 20 and 25 euro’s per person (including drinks and dessert).

Conclusion

Open from 08:00 until 22:00. For more info, go to their website

3. Vegitalian

The Concept

Entering Vegitalian feels like entering the home of an old Italian lady, we mean that in the best way possible. The vintage lampsshades, the wall panelling, and of course the bright yellow pizza oven, all add to the cozy vibe of the restaurant. However, the restaurant also has a modern twist, all dishes are vegitarian (as you probably guessed from the name already). Vegetarian and Italian cuisine come together in perfect harmony at Vegitalian. The restaurant’s commitment to using organic produce makes it a go-to spot for veggie enthusiasts, but even the carnivores among us (Chris) will enjoy a no-pepperoni pizza at Vegitalian.

What to Order

Our favorite pizza’s at Vegitalian are the Heirloom Veggies and the Tommy Burrata. But, pizza is not all Vegitalian has to offer. The bowls and salads are definitely worth a try, as well as the pastas.

Prices
Prices at Vegitalian are pretty good with the most expensive pizza costing only 18,50 euro. The drinks are a bit more expensive, but there are also cheaper options available on the menu. When eating out at Vegitalian, we usually spend between 20 and 25 euro’s per person (including drinks and optional dessert). However, the desserts are not worth it in our opinion, we’ve had better tiramisu’s.

Conclusion

4. The Streetfood Club

The Concept

Step into a world of vibrant colors and eclectic decor at The Streetfood Club. This lively restaurant offers a global street food-inspired menu with a modern twist. From Asian delights to South American flavors, the Streetfood club has a large range of creative and tasty dishes, all worth trying.

What to order

With many dishes to choose from we help you out a bit by telling you our favorites from the menu. The beef Tataki, the Takoyaki (Octopus pancakes), and the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) are definitely worth a try! In addition, The Streetfood Club has a plethora of cocktails and mocktails to choose from. While I’m not much of a drinker myself, I actually did enjoy the “Paint me like one of your french girls”.

Prices
Prices at the Streetfood Club are not cheap, dishes are pretty small and range between 6 to 10 euros. We order about 5 to 8 dishes when we dine here, so the bill adds up. When eating out at the Streetfood Club, we usually spend between 35 and 40 euro’s per person (including drinks and dessert).

Conclusion

5. Gys

The Concept

Gys is a good spot for eating healthy vegan food from locally-sourced ingredients. The menu features a range of wholesome, delicious dishes that cater to various dietary preferences, including vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant itself does not look very special, it’s modern and minimal, with wood accents and plants to make it feel more homely.

What to Order

The menu changes every season, along with the produce that are available during this time of year. There are usually around 5 dishes to choose from, and they are all equally delicious. Last time we went here we ordered the Dutch delight, which blew us away: a tasty risotto with carrot jus, walnut crumble and caramelized onion.

Prices
Prices at Gys are pretty good with dishes ranging from 15 to 20 euro’s. In addition, the portion sizes are quite big, so you really get your moneys worth. When eating out at Gys, we spend between 20 and 25 euro’s per person (including drinks).

Conclusion

6. The Greenhouse

The Concept
A little outside of the city center lies the Greenhouse. As the name suggests, The Greenhouse is all about fresh, plant-based food. It’s a circular restaurant where chefs prepare their dishes using ingredients from the restaurant’s own urban farm and the Utrecht region. The menu changes with the seasons, depending on what produce is available. While you may wonder whether this is limiting, the Greenhouse knows how to use the full potential of each of their ingredients. Each dish is refreshing and looks like a little work of sustainable art.

What to Order

The quiche and pita’s at the Greenhouse are pretty good, but our favorite dish is definitely the carrot dish (left photo) that was part of their surprise menu. The carrots were prepared in so many different ways, and tasted extremely good together, really creative and delicious!

Prices
The prices at the Greenhouse are a bit more on the expensive side. Their surprise menu, with 6 dishes spread over 3 courses is 42,50 euros per person. However, it really is something different to try out. They also have four dishes for the ‘small’ appetite, if you are not looking for a full menu, you could order two of those as well. These dishes are about 12 euros each. When eating out at the Greenhouse, we usually spend between 40 and 50 euro’s per person (including drinks and dessert).

Conclusion

7. Louis Hartlooper

The Concept

To be honest, Louis Hartlooper does not really belong on this list, as it is primarily an art deco movie theater. However, we really like grabbing dinner here before our movie starts. The menu features an array of tasty dishes, and the film selection caters to both mainstream and art-house cinema lovers.

What to order

The menu at Louis Harlooper is simple, but has what I would call healthy comfort food. We recommend trying out the Beef stew or the Dahl, ideal on a cold and rainy day. In addition, they make an effort to only work with organic, seasonal and local ingredients, which we appreciate!

Prices
Prices are pretty reasonable, with main courses ranging from 17 tot 23 euros. Portion sizes are just right, and the food is great. Desserts are cheap, but not necessarily worth it. We’d rather grab a popcorn for during the movie.

Conclusion

8. Spice Monkey

The concept

Located near Louis Hartlooper we stumbled upon a restaurant with a very different vibe. The tropical decor of Spicy Monkey transports you right into Indonesia. Prepare your taste buds for a flavor-packed adventure at Spice Monkey, an Indonesian streetfood restaurant that serves small dishes to share.

What to order

The menu is packed with many tasty dishes, all worth a try. We can recommend the Bali fried chicken (Beware spicy!) and the Loaded fries rendang, these were among our favorites. You can also order a Rijsttafel, which is a variety of small dishes. While we haven’t tried this ourselves yet, we have heard that the Rijsttafel is really good as well!

Prices
The prices for each dish range between 6 and 13,50 euro’s. Portions sizes really depend on the dish you choose. We recommend ordering about 6 dishes, and a side. Last time, we spent around 35 euro’s per person at Spice Monkey. While not the cheapest, we think this is a reasonable price.

Conclusion

9. Humphreys

The Concept

Humphreys has multiple establishments in the Netherlands, however their restaurant located in Utrecht is easily their most beautiful one. If you’ve ever wondered what a romantic victorian layer of a vampire would look like, Humphreys Utrecht has got you covered. Located in one of Utrecht’s famous quayside cellars, with an interior covered in various shades of red velvet and golden chandeliers suspended from the ceilings, Humphreys provides the perfect ambiance for an intimate dinner for two.

What to order

At Humpreys you order a 3 course menu for a standard price. The dishes range from classics like carpaccio and tiramisu, to more adventurous options like Pumpkin Linguine and Stroopwafel-brownietrifle. One dish we can definitely recommend is the Salmon risotto with cherry tomatoes out of the oven.

Prices
A 3-course menu costs 37,50, excluding drinks. In our opinion this is a good deal for the three courses. However, since you are confined to this menu, eating out at Humphreys is a bit more expensive than we personally go for, so you really get your moneys worth. Depending on your drink of choice, expect to spend between 40 and 45 euro’s per person total.

Conclusion

Bonus: Los Argentinos

To be honest, we have never had a full dinner here, BUT we came to know this place when craving tiramisu one day. We went in, ordering just dessert. While the Italians are known for their tiramisu, we have yet to find a tiramisu in Utrecht that is better than the Tiramisu at Los Argentinos. So, if you are craving dessert, feel free to hop by Los Argentinos. And let us know if their steaks are any good if you decide to also dine here! 😉