The Happy Bull

Burgers and shakes with freshness and personality

TEXT: STIAN SANGVIG | PHOTO © THE HAPPY BULL

The Happy Bull is a shakes and burgers restaurant for eat-in and take away. Opened recently, it is based near hotels between Amsterdam South and Amsterdam West.

After 18 years in the hospitality industry and desiring to start her own business, owner Karen Farfan opened the restaurant together with her sister-in-law Nikoletta Bàbel. “Realising that few places in the Netherlands offer quality shakes, we decided to do something about it,” Farfan explains. “Nor were we able to find a burger place where we thought: this burger is amazing,” she adds. Thus, they decided to offer quality hamburgers, homemade French fries and salads.

Born in Colombia and raised in the Netherlands, Farfan headhunted a childhood friend and Colombian chef with experience from Colombia, the US and Madrid. His international experience is reflected in the menu consisting of innovative and adventurous burgers and shakes.

“We prepare our food daily from fresh and carefully selected ingredients,” Farfan continues. Vegetables are local, and the burgers come from Irish Steak (Hereford cows) and the ice cream from Venice. “Our fries are popular for takeaway, as clients buy them for their homemade meals,” Farfan says. Attention to detail is also reflected in the presentation of the food as well as freshness and flavours.

The Happy Bull has had a flying start with growing numbers of local and foreign customers. “Some regulars eat here three times a week,” Farfan says. A future restaurant may be considered, but franchising is not an option. “Expansion is a possibility, but not at the cost of quality or the family feel,” Farfan concludes.

More information can be found on

thehappybull.nl