[Food Review] Box Sociaal - Australian eatery with interesting Korean-inspired menus in Amsterdam Oost.

On Easter Saturday, it was tough finding a brunch spot in Amsterdam since many places were closed for the holiday. Luckily, I managed to snag a table at Box Sociaal in Oost, even though it was a last-minute reservation. Although I didn't have high hopes initially, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience at Box Sociaal.

(Be sure to check out the video below for a one-minute video of Box Sociaal)

Box Sociaal is an all-day brunch and dinner cafe with an Australian-inspired concept. Interestingly, there seem to be quite a few Australian-style brunch cafes in Amsterdam.

Upon arriving earlier than my friend, I perused the menu book and noted the clear influence of Korean cuisine throughout. While "kimchi" has become ubiquitous on menus of various restaurant tiers, I found the Korean-inspired options at Box Sociaal particularly intriguing and decided to give them a try. Since the weather was still quite cold, I opted for a pot of tea instead of another drink.

Our party ordered two dishes that day, beginning with the Korean-inspired Kim's Tacos. Described on the menu as "Our signature buttermilk fried chicken tenders or tindle plant-based chicken (v) coated in our secret sweet and spicy Korean glaze, in-house kimchi slaw, spring onions and sesame topped on handcrafted tortillas. Three per serve.", we requested four pieces.

We were pleasantly surprised by the intensive Korean flavor of the chicken and the successful replication of the sweet and spicy Korean glaze. However, the kimchi slaw differed from our expectations, as we anticipated a more fermented version with a greater degree of sourness and spiciness.

Box Sociaal Amsterdam - Korean Chicken Taco

The second dish, the Parmy, also exceeded our expectations. The combination of chicken, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella was thoroughly enjoyable, and the portion size was generous, particularly by Amsterdam standards.

Overall, I found Box Sociaal to be a delightful experience. The ambiance was pleasing, the staff was friendly, and the food was sincere, hearty, and devoid of any gimmickry.

Box Sociaal

Address: Plantage Middenlaan 30A, 1018 DG Amsterdam

+31 020 280 5578

https://www.boxsociaal.com/

Thanks for reading.

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