Warung Resa: Javanese Comfort Food in a Backyard Oasis
A leafy Indo-Surinamese warung where saoto and bami come with birdsong and pond views.
Why Go
Suriname's Javanese heritage lives on in its warungs, and Warung Resa is one of the quieter, greener spots to taste it — a garden setting on Commissaris Weythingweg where locals unwind over steaming bowls of saoto and heaping plates of nasi, well away from the downtown tourist churn.
The Experience
Tucked into a residential stretch southeast of the city center, Warung Resa feels more like a family compound than a restaurant. You order at the counter, then settle into a shaded outdoor seating area strung with Indonesian-themed decor, surrounded by mature trees and a small indoor pond that keeps the whole place feeling ten degrees cooler than the street. It's low-key, unhurried, and popular with Surinamese families — kids drift toward the little playground while the adults linger over sambal-heavy plates. Portions are generous, prices are firmly local, and the vegetarian options are unusually strong for Paramaribo, which is a big part of the loyal crowd it pulls.
What to Try
Saoto soup is the anchor — a fragrant chicken broth loaded with bean sprouts, fried potato, egg, and crispy shallots, meant to be brightened with a squeeze of lime and a generous spoon of sambal. Follow it with bami (Javanese-style stir-fried noodles) or nasi goreng, and don't skip telo, the crunchy fried cassava that Surinamese warungs do better than anyone. Ask for extra sambal on the side — the house version has real heat.
Insider Tip
The opening hours are famously narrow (Friday evening plus Saturday and Sunday daytime only), and locals arrive early on weekends because the best dishes sell out well before closing. Call ahead on +597 339-217 to reserve or place a takeaway order, especially if you're coming for lunch on Saturday — that's the peak service.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Commissaris Weythingweg 178, Paramaribo. Hours: Friday 4:00–9:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM (closed Monday–Thursday). Phone: +597 339-217. Cash is king — bring Surinamese dollars. It's a 10–15 minute drive from central Paramaribo; taxis are easy, or self-drive if you have a rental. Plenty of outdoor seating and a small kids' play area make it family-friendly.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient Paramaribo base if you're planning your weekend meals around Warung Resa's limited Friday-to-Sunday hours.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Burn off a big saoto-and-bami lunch with an afternoon off-road ride into Suriname's interior.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — Warung Resa sits outside the walkable center, so a rental car makes it (and other outlying warungs) easy to reach.
