Ocha, a tiny Thai place in the city center of Amsterdam, is what you would call ‘a hole in the wall’. And places like this can end up at two sides of the spectrum: it’s either gross and you wouldn’t want to be found dead there, or it’s the best meal you’ve ever had. And Ocha is definitely the latter.

You can find Ocha in a kind of deserted street right off the Nieuwmarkt square. This is the Asian district of the city where most people only go to the Zeedijk; a busy street packed with Asian restaurants. But wonder off a bit more and you will find Ocha. This tiny, and I mean TINY restaurant will never win an interior design award, but what it might lack in hipster vibes, design furniture or great lighting it makes up for in flavors and hospitality.

The same two Thai women run the kitchen for years now. And while a friendly face is not always granted in Amsterdam, you can always count on the warmest smile at Ocha.

My absolute favorite is their red curry with chicken, but to be honest, there’s not a thing on the menu that ever disappointed. Everything is as authentic as it gets and always full of flavor. They don’t have a permit for alcohol, you might have to wait for a seat and you can only pay in cash. But that’s a small price you have to pay for this tiny trip to Thailand in Amsterdam.