Munchies in Amsterdam? Yikes. This could end poorly for you, my friend. During the day, the city is packed with cheap and tasty sandwich joints and cute cafes if you need a snack (not to mention awesome restaurants for nice meals, and the all-powerful, life-giving glory that is Albert Heijn).
But if your belly is rumbling after sunset, or you just want your fried-food fix, things start to get dicey. Some of these options will appear tasty, but, because I'm the official Negative Nancy of the Let's Go blogosphere, I'm here to tell you exactly why they may not be so.
First there's Smullers, with those huge advertisements of a hot Dutch chick seductively putting one steaming-hot fry into her mouth. Don't be fooled: that potato is more French than fried, and comes with fritessaus, which is like mayonnaise, but not delicious and much healthier. Because, you know, I ordered french fries to stay in shape. And you'll fare no better at the vending-machine style pre-prepared options either: most come in the form of an oblong fried thing, stuffed with something mysterious, frequently some kind of pressed noodles, but who really knows. Learn Dutch or play Russian Roulette with your lunch.
Another vending-machine-style fast-food joint is FEBO. The minute you see it, you'll understand why I don't even have to begin to explain everything that is horribly wrong with FEBO.
American chains are also plentiful--Burger King is the most popular--and are just as bad as in America, only ten times worse because of the added shame-factor.
But not all hope is lost: falafel places can be over-priced around Dam Square, but if you shop around you can land a cheap, delicious meal. Bar snacks--including the maybe-gross-but-maybe-awesome sounding bitterballen, which is kinda like a fried meatball--give you the fried-Dutch-experience at better quality than you'll find at fast food stands. Maoz is chain restaurant that sells affordable, pretty tasty falafel, and it stays open late. And perhaps the king of fast food around the party districts (I see you Leidseplein) is Wok to Walk, with build-your-own stir-fry to go. It's not exactly clear why people carrying Wok to Walk boxes look so utterly foolish, but they absolutely do. Save yourself by eating inside the restaurant. In a corner. In the back.