168 Restaurant: A No-Frills Neighborhood Chinese Kitchen in Paramaribo
An unassuming local spot channeling Suriname's deep Chinese-Creole food tradition.
Why Go
Suriname's food scene is quietly one of the most fascinating in South America, and its Chinese-Surinamese kitchens are the beating heart of it. 168 Restaurant is one of those tucked-away Paramaribo spots that doesn't chase reviews or TripAdvisor stars ΓÇö it just cooks. The name itself is a giveaway: '168' is a classic Cantonese lucky number ('prosperity all the way'), a signal that this is exactly the kind of no-nonsense diaspora kitchen where locals go when they want familiar comfort food, not a curated experience.
The Experience
Don't come expecting polished interiors or a hostess in linen. 168 is the type of place where fluorescent lighting, plastic-topped tables, and a laminated menu longer than your arm set the mood. Orders often come out fast, portions are generous, and the kitchen leans hard into the Surinamese-Chinese hybrid that's evolved here over 150+ years ΓÇö think stir-fries with sambal on the side, roast meats hanging behind glass, and rice or bami by the mountain. It's the kind of meal you eat elbow-to-elbow with taxi drivers on their break, families sharing platters, and the occasional expat who has quietly figured out that the best Chinese food in Paramaribo isn't in the guidebooks.
What to Try
Order the way Surinamese regulars do: a plate of bami (Surinamese-style stir-fried noodles), a side of tjauwmin, and a portion of moksi meti ΓÇö the mixed roast meat plate with roast pork, chicken, and sometimes duck over rice. Ask for extra sambal, always. If they have chicken with black bean sauce or foe yong hai (a Surinamese take on egg foo young), those are the safe bets that separate the good neighborhood spots from the great ones.
Insider Tip
Cash is king. Bring Surinamese dollars ΓÇö card machines at small Chinese-Surinamese joints are famously temperamental, and you don't want the awkward shuffle at the counter. Also: sambal is not optional. If it doesn't arrive with your plate, ask for 'sambal trasi' ΓÇö the shrimp-paste chili that turns a good bami into a memorable one.
The Practical Stuff
Located off RQW8+HV5 in Paramaribo ΓÇö best reached by taxi or car; ride-share isn't reliable here and walking in from the center takes effort. Hours aren't published online, but Chinese-Surinamese kitchens in Paramaribo typically open late-morning through mid-evening, sometimes closing between lunch and dinner service. Call ahead if you're planning a specific window. Expect very budget-friendly pricing ΓÇö a full plate with a soft drink usually lands in the low single digits USD. No reservations needed, ever.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A comfortable Paramaribo hotel base within easy reach ΓÇö perfect if you want to eat local at 168 without hunting for a cab back to the tourist strip.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — Rent a vehicle here before venturing out ΓÇö Paramaribo's Chinese neighborhood restaurants like 168 are far easier to reach with your own wheels, and it opens up day trips to the interior afterward.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Work up a proper appetite in the Surinamese jungle first ΓÇö nothing hits like a mountain of bami and roast pork after a morning of mud and adrenaline.