De Japanner De Pijp

De Japanner De Pijp is a casual Japanese late-night restaurant on Albert Cuypstraat, close to the market of the same name. Its concept draws on the izakaya: an informal Japanese drinking establishment where small dishes accompany beer, sake and conversation. The Amsterdam version combines that tradition with local conviviality, serving Japanese finger food designed for sharing rather than a formal sequence of courses. The blog recommends crispy rice with spicy salmon tartare, fried squid and spinach with sesame, with an avocado version available for vegetarians. De Japanner was created by Tosao van Coevorden, who learned Japanese cooking from his mother, and hospitality specialist Guido de Bruijn.

Where does the name come from?

“De Japanner” literally means “The Japanese Person” in Dutch. The founders describe the restaurant as the meeting of a Japanese chef and a true Amsterdammer, combining Japanese food culture with Amsterdam-style sociability. Although they do not publish a more elaborate naming anecdote, the straightforward Dutch name neatly expresses that cultural pairing.

Fun fact

The founders present De Japanner as Amsterdam’s first accessible izakaya. The original branch opened beside the Albert Cuyp Market, and the concept later expanded to other parts of the city. Its menu emphasizes fresh, local and seasonal ingredients even though the cooking style and drinking-house tradition are Japanese.