Delic Restaurant
A low-key Paramaribo table where Chinese-Surinamese flavors quietly hold their own
Why Go
Tucked onto Washingtonstraat just off the buzz of central Paramaribo, Delic is the kind of neighborhood restaurant locals slip into on a weeknight rather than a place tourists find on a top-ten list. Expect an unfussy dining room, portions built for sharing, and the layered Chinese-Surinamese cooking that has quietly shaped the city's food scene for generations.
The Experience
Delic sits in a compact stretch of Washingtonstraat, a short walk from the historic wooden facades of Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed inner city. The room is functional rather than styled - fluorescent-lit, brisk, family-run in feel - and that's part of the charm. You come here for the food and the pace, not the decor. Service is friendly and matter-of-fact; menus lean long, spanning the wok-fired staples that Suriname's large Hakka and Cantonese-descended community folded into the country's daily eating habits. Expect a soundtrack of clattering woks from the kitchen, tables of regulars ordering by memory, and takeaway boxes moving briskly out the door alongside sit-down diners.
What to Try
Go with the Chinese-Surinamese classics the country does so well: a plate of bami or nasi loaded with roast pork (bakabana-adjacent, but savory) or chicken, tjauw min noodles tossed hot from the wok, and a bowl of wonton soup to open the meal. Order for the table and share - it's the local way. Ask what's fresh that day; kitchens like this often have a short blackboard of specials that outshine the printed menu.
Insider Tip
Come hungry and come early. Kitchens along this stretch tend to run out of the day's specials by mid-evening, and Delic is set up more for locals grabbing a solid dinner than for lingering nightcaps. If you're staying nearby, phoning ahead for takeaway and eating on your hotel terrace with a cold Parbo beer is the move most in-the-know residents make.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Washingtonstraat 38, Paramaribo. Located in central Paramaribo, walkable from most inner-city hotels and a short taxi hop from the waterfront. Cash in Surinamese dollars is safest; card acceptance in smaller local restaurants can be patchy, so ask before ordering. Hours are not publicly listed - call ahead, especially on Sundays and public holidays when many family-run kitchens close or run short shifts. Casual dress; no reservations typically needed for small groups.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient central Paramaribo stay within easy reach of Washingtonstraat, making Delic an easy walk-back-and-crash dinner option.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Spend the day muddy on an ATV tour into Suriname's interior, then reward yourself with a big shared plate of noodles and roast pork at Delic in the evening.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — A high-energy river-tubing afternoon pairs perfectly with a hearty, no-fuss Chinese-Surinamese dinner to refuel.