Meat The Balls is a small sandwich shop at Kinkerstraat 142 in Amsterdam Oud-West that specializes in the broodje bal, the Dutch meatball sandwich. The fixed menu has eight sandwiches from €8.95. Each one starts with a house-made 65-gram halal beef meatball and gets a topping inspired by a different cuisine, and you can swap in a vegan ball on almost any of them. The shop is right next to De Hallen and the Foodhallen, which makes it an easy lunch stop while you explore the neighborhood.
| Address | Kinkerstraat 142, 1053 EG Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Oud-West, next to De Hallen and the Foodhallen |
| Opening hours | Mon–Thu 11:00–17:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–19:00, Sun 12:00–19:00 |
| Prices | Meatball sandwiches from €8.95 |
| Dietary | Fully halal menu; vegan ball available on almost every sandwich |
| Seating | Eat in or take away; no reservations needed |
| Nearest tram stop | Bilderdijkstraat (trams 7 and 17) |
| Contact | +31 6 17 13 75 15 · [email protected] |
| Website | meattheballs.nl |
What Meat The Balls serves
A broodje bal is a Dutch café classic: a soft roll with a whole or half meatball inside. Meat The Balls keeps the Dutch meatball as its base and changes the toppings, so the menu runs from an Amsterdam-style sandwich with smoked mayonnaise and pickled onions to versions with Japanese, Korean, Greek and Indonesian flavors.
The shop is run by Koen and Rob, who work behind the counter themselves. It is an independent shop, not a chain. The meatballs are made fresh each day in the open kitchen on Kinkerstraat, and the shop says it makes its own sauces instead of buying them ready-made.
Ingredient sourcing is part of the pitch, and the owners name their suppliers. The pickled onions, atjar and kimchi come from Kesbeke in Amsterdam-Oost, the fries from Frites Uit Zuyd and the cheese from Old Amsterdam. The meat is halal beef and veal, and the owners say they buy only from suppliers that meet strict animal-welfare standards.
Menu and prices
The eight core meatball sandwiches stay on the menu all year. The table covers the sandwiches whose toppings and prices the shop or published reviews have confirmed. Prices can change, so check the current Meat The Balls menu before you go.
| Sandwich | Main toppings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Het Amsterdammertje | Smoked mayonnaise and Kesbeke pickled onions; the shop’s best seller | €8.95 |
| Tokyo Crunch | Wakame, wasabi mayonnaise and nori chips | €9.95 |
| Bellissimo | Mozzarella and pesto (contains pine nuts) | €10.95 |
| Bal van Zeus | Tzatziki, feta and oregano | See current menu |
| Seoul Sensation | Korean-style, with kimchi | See current menu |
| Indonesian | Satay-style (contains peanuts) | See current menu |
| Spanish Samba | Chorizo, grated manchego, roasted pepper and aioli (as reviewed in 2024) | See current menu |
| BBQ Glory | Barbecue-themed sandwich | See current menu |
Every sandwich comes with the classic beef ball as standard. You can change the ball for a small surcharge:
| Meatball option | What it is | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Standard halal beef meatball, 65 grams | None |
| Spicy | The classic base with extra spicy seasoning | +€0.75 |
| Chicken | Lighter chicken meatball | +€0.75 |
| Vegan | Fully plant-based ball | +€0.75 |
| Extra Meat | Double meatball | +€1.95 |
Besides the sandwiches, you can order loose Snack Balls in small (6), medium (9) or large (12) portions, plus loaded fries. The shop also rotates seasonal specials. Recent examples include a Meatball Focaccia and a vegetarian Mozzarella Focaccia with buffalo mozzarella and tomato tapenade, so ask which specials are on when you visit.
Halal, vegan and allergen information
The whole menu is halal, including the sauces and stocks. Pork isn’t on the menu at all, so the spicy option is a spiced version of the beef ball.
- Vegan: almost any sandwich can come with the vegan ball. Some toppings contain dairy, such as mozzarella, feta and Old Amsterdam cheese, so say you want it fully plant-based and the staff will adjust it.
- Vegetarian: the Mozzarella Focaccia is the vegetarian option when it is on the seasonal menu.
- Nuts: the Indonesian sandwich contains peanuts, and the Bellissimo and Mozzarella Focaccia contain pine nuts or pesto.
- Gluten: there is no fully gluten-free sandwich yet. Snack Balls and loaded fries can be made gluten-free on request.
- Cross-contact: food is prepared in an open kitchen, so the shop can’t rule out traces of allergens. Ask at the counter if you have a serious allergy.
What reviewers say
Reviews are strongly positive. The shop reports an average of 4.9 from more than 320 Google reviews, and its Tripadvisor listing shows 5.0 from 21 reviews. Het Parool featured it in June 2024, calling the concept a tribute to the broodje bal with a twist.
Not every review is perfect. When the Dutch snack reviewer Snackspert tried the Spanish Samba in 2024, it praised the flavor and gave four stars, but found the roll too firm and the lettuce unnecessary. If you like a softer bun, keep that in mind and mention it when you order.
Opening hours and best time to visit
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 11:00–17:00 |
| Friday and Saturday | 11:00–19:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–19:00 |
These hours come from the shop’s own website, checked in September 2026. Some delivery apps and review sites still list older hours, such as 11:00–20:00 every day. The shop also says hours can differ on public holidays, including King’s Day on 27 April, so check the website or call before making a special trip.
Meat The Balls works best as a lunch stop. On weekdays it closes at 17:00, so it isn’t an option for dinner from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays it stays open until 19:00, late enough for an early, casual dinner. For a calmer visit, arrive soon after opening, before the midday lunch crowd. Sunday opens an hour later, at 12:00.
How to get there
Meat The Balls is at Kinkerstraat 142, next to the Foodhallen, in the Kinkerbuurt part of Oud-West. It is within cycling distance of the Vondelpark, the Westerpark and the city center.
- Tram: take tram 7 or 17 to the Bilderdijkstraat stop, about a two-minute walk away. From Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 17 toward Osdorp. Check the GVB journey planner before you travel, because track work on Kinkerstraat and Postjesweg sometimes diverts these lines.
- Bike: there is plenty of bike parking around Kinkerstraat. Use a proper lock, as you would anywhere in Amsterdam.
- Car: the easiest option is Parkeergarage De Hallen at Bellamyplein 51, a few minutes’ walk from the shop. Parking is paid.
- On foot: it takes about 30 minutes to walk from Dam Square, heading west through the Jordaan or along the Rozengracht toward Oud-West.
Tips for visiting
- You don’t need to reserve. Walk in to eat there or order at the counter to take away.
- If it’s your first visit, start with Het Amsterdammertje, the shop’s best seller and its version of the Amsterdam original. Go for the Tokyo Crunch or Bal van Zeus if you want something more unusual.
- Order Extra Meat (+€1.95) if you’re very hungry. One standard ball in a roll makes a proper lunch, but not a huge one.
- Ask the staff about allergens. They know what goes into each sandwich, and the open kitchen means cross-contact is possible.
- If you’re staying nearby, you can skip the trip. The shop delivers through its own webshop, and it is also listed on Uber Eats and Thuisbezorgd.
- Make an afternoon of it. Eat at Meat The Balls, then browse Ten Katemarkt or walk through De Hallen next door.
What to do nearby in Oud-West
Meat The Balls sits on one of the busiest eating streets in Oud-West, so it’s easy to combine with other stops:
- De Hallen Amsterdam, a restored tram depot with a cinema, library, shops and a free-to-enter public passage.
- Foodhallen, the indoor food hall inside De Hallen, for groups that want several cuisines in one place or dinner after Meat The Balls closes.
- Ten Katemarkt, a daily neighborhood street market on Ten Katestraat, open Monday to Saturday.
- Vondelpark, a short walk or bike ride south, where you can take a takeaway sandwich for a picnic.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meat The Balls halal?
Yes. The whole menu is halal, including the beef, spicy and chicken meatballs and the sauces and stocks. Pork is not used.
Can I get Meat The Balls delivered?
Yes. You can order for pickup or delivery through the shop’s own webshop at meattheballs.sitedish.shop, and it is also listed on Uber Eats and Thuisbezorgd.
Does Meat The Balls do catering?
Yes. It caters lunches, drinks and events for groups of 8 or more across Amsterdam, plus Amstelveen, Diemen, Ouder-Amstel and Zaandam. The food is delivered warm.
Is there a gluten-free option at Meat The Balls?
There is no fully gluten-free sandwich at the moment. Snack Balls and loaded fries can be made gluten-free on request, but the open kitchen means traces of gluten cannot be ruled out.
Last updated 24 September 2026. We checked the opening hours, menu prices, dietary information and transport details against Meat The Balls’ official website and GVB stop information. We also corrected earlier errors: this page previously listed pork meatballs, a 21:00 closing time and outdoor seating we couldn’t confirm.
