Shanty’s Kitchen

So this place isn’t a 5 star establishment, but what they do, they do very well. For 8.5 euros you probably won’t get a better more satisfying meal. I had the spicy fried rice, spice eggplant, spicy chicken, and coconut chicken. Everything was excellent. The spice level was perfect, as long as you like spicy food that is. They have plenty of dishes that aren’t spicy as well. My wife had plenty and liked all of hers. The only thing I didn’t care for was the sweet and sour vegetables. They had too strong of a vinegar flavor.
I would definitely eat here again and it’s right off tram line 1.

shanty’s is a no fuss, no muss nasi campur place. for 8.50 euros, you choose 1 starch, 2 meats, 2 veggies, and 1 egg dish. the food has been pre-​prepared, so they will heat it up. but its tasty, inexpensive and pretty authentic.
i got the beef rendang, taukwa tempeh, sambal egg (which wansn’t as spicy as the counter girl made it out to be), long beans w sambal and bean sprouts. all were good.
i got takeout, but i suspect if you eat in, the portions are bigger (saw the plate of one of the guys in shanty’s and had food envy)
they also serve beer.

Shanty and her kitchen are a solid source for my Bami and tempe needs. Located between a lot of new and trendy eateries, Shanty has been doing her thing for much longer and doesn’t try to do what the cool kids are doing. The food is excellent and cheap, the service is a pleasure. Shanty always makes me smile and she’s been trying to make the place for attractive for people to eat-​in instead of the usual take-​out. Me, I’m a take out guy, but I respect the effort and the genuine soul of the place.

Shanty’s is about half a block from the hotel I was staying at (Conscious Hotel Vondelpark), and I was looking for something tasty, quick, inexpensive, where I wouldn’t look like a weirdo eating alone. Shanty’s definitely fit the bill.
I tried the 8.50E complete meal deal — got a mix of medium and spicy fried rice, topped with opor ayam (chicken in coconut sauce), ayam kerrie (medium-​spiced chicken curry), kentag kerrie (curried potatoes), and spicy green beans (not sure which it is on the menu). Washed it all down with some mango juice.
The restaurant itself is no-​frills. As you walk in, you see all the food bins you can pick from (the 8.50E is a mix-​and-​match menu). You can get your food to go or eat in the restaurant, at one of the tables or (as I did) sitting at the bar that looks out the window. It was a nice place to people-​watch while grabbing a quick dinner. There was no one else in the restaurant — although I did eat early (c. 6pm) and it was Sunday.
Shanty’s was pretty tasty (some of the dishes tasted a bit reheated, though), with a good amount of food for the price. I might go back tomorrow night… but I’d get a double helping of the opor ayam. The coconut sauce was nicely flavored, and the chicken pieces were all white meat chunks.