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These days, “getting off the beaten path” and “traveling like a local” are all the rage. But every city has classics that tourists can’t afford to miss: it would be a shame to visit Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower, or to go to Mexico City and not try a taco. So what’s a serious traveler to do? Do the classics right. And there’s no shortage of famous Belgian dishes to eat in Brussels. From stoemp to moule frites, and from waffles to chocolate, finding the best places to eat these Belgian cuisine can prove to be a challenge. Here’s how to avoid the tourist traps, get authentic products from the same places the locals do, and eat like a professional tourist!
Belgian waffles for dessert
Although we’re used to putting the words “waffles” and “Belgian” next to each other, there’s no such thing in Belgium. Two cities, Brussels and Liege, have their own versions that are sold side by side.
- A Brussels waffle is quite thick. On the inside, the batter is extremely light and fluffy, and on the outside it forms a thin, crispy crust.
- A Liège waffle, on the other hand, is thicker, denser and crispier.
In Brussels, the old town is the place to be for tourists. You’ll find a waffle kiosk on almost every street corner, usually selling waffles for 1 euro. Don’t be fooled, they are terrible! Some vendors even prepare their waffles in advance so that they’re soft and rubbery.
Near Manneken Pis, a French waffle chain called Waffle Factory makes the best and most expensive waffles in the old city. It’s a bit like a “McDonald’s for waffles” and the atmosphere in the restaurant leaves something to be desired, but the waffles are among the best. The Belgian waffle topped with melted Belgian chocolate is simple and delicious.
Where to get Belgian waffles in Brussels:
- Waffle Factory / 30 Rue du Lombard, 1000 Brussels
Mussels
Mussels and fries are available in oh so many seafood restaurants in the old town. They are truly one of the most emblematic dishes of Belgian cuisine. Be aware, however, that mussels are a seasonal product. They are in season from July to March and at their best in September and October. What you’ll want to order is a simple moule frites, which is exactly what it sounds like: a mountain of mussels, with a mountain of fries!
The technique for eating this dish is very simple: take one shell, eat the meat and then use the shell to squeeze the meat from the other shell. Finally, separate the two sides of the shell and use one half to enjoy the delicious broth. With a glass of crisp white wine!
Whatever you do, don’t eat unopened mussels!
Where to get mussels in Brussels:
- Le Zinneke / Place de la Patrie 26, 1030 Schaerbeek
Fries
Probably the most famous Belgian dish in the world. Frites are not French, despite their English name “French fries”. In that part of the world, they are served in paper cones and dipped in one of the many sauces offered at frites stands.
In Brussels, however, fries are something of a tourist trap. Ten years ago, it was very difficult to find a kiosque de frites (in Belgium we’d say a baraque à frites) in the old town. Today, there are several options, but none of them are really worth it. Let’s just say none of them are exceptional.
To enjoy authentic French fries, you have to leave the city center. South of the old city, in the Ixelles district, you’ll find Frit Flagey, a true Belgian frites baraque. The fries are crispy and crunchy and served freshly made with a choice of classic sauces, from mayonnaise to tartar sauce, piri-piri sauce and even rich sauce! Warning: there’s always a long line out the door.
Where to get fries in Brussels:
- Frit Flagey / Place Eugène Flagey, 1050 Ixelles
Belgian beer
It’s a bit unfair to talk about Belgian beer in such a short article, as books and books have been written on the subject. But what we can’t say here will be revealed to you at Delirium Café, which holds the Guinness record for the most beers sold on site, with a selection of 2004 beers.
At Delirium Café, the bartenders are like beer sommeliers. It’s busy in the evenings, but if you’re a beer connoisseur and want to discover new beers while chatting with people who know how they’re made, you know where to go!
Delerium Café is located in a cul-de-sac where you’ll find several other bars, all owned by the same group. There’s an absinthe bar, a rum bar, a vodka bar and a tequila bar…
Where to get Belgian beer in Brussels:
- Delirium Café / Impasse de la Fidélité 4A, 1000 Ville de Bruxelles
What is the national dish of Belgium? Carbonnade flamande!
Simply put, a Flemish carbonnade is a beer stew. Are you familiar with “boeuf bourguignon”? Well, carbonnade is a similar dish in which the meat is cooked in Belgian beer instead of Burgundy wine. It’s a hearty, gourmet dish, perfect for rainy days in Brussels.
Au Vieux Bruxelles is a great place to enjoy carbonnade flamande and all the other classics of Belgian cuisine. Opened in 1882, this restaurant is an institution and has changed very little since it opened. It’s like stepping back in time!
Where to get Carbonnade Flamande in Brussels:
- Restaurant Au Vieux Bruxelles / 35 Rue Saint-Boniface, 1050 Ville de Bruxelles
Belgian chocolate
Because of Belgium’s turbulent colonial past, the Belgians have long had an unlimited supply of cocoa beans from the Congo, their colony in Africa. As a result, Brussels chocolatiers have become some of the most famous in the world. To this day, tourists flock to the European capital to sample Belgian chocolate. In the tourist area near Manneken Pis, famous chocolate companies such as Godiva, Leonidas and Neuhaus have set up shop to satisfy passing tourists.
But Belgian chocolate has much more to offer than the multinationals. Smaller, artisanal confectioners offer a variety of sweets and sell their products throughout the city. Laurent Gerbaud Chocolatier is one of them. Candied ginger on dark chocolate? Sure, why not!
Where to get Belgian chocolate in Brussels:
- Laurent Gerbaud Chocolatier / 2D Rue Ravenstein, 1000 Brussels
What is Belgium’s most famous food? More traditional Belgian food to try in Brussels:
- Speculoos: At times it’s a spread, at other times it’s a cookie, either way this biscuit with gingerbread, cinnamon and cardamom flavours has been enjoyed throughout the country for 400 years.
- Mitraillette: A strange name for this very Brussels sandwich, which is nothing like a weapon! It is more like a baguette opened lengthwise and filled with fries.
- Waterzooi: a Belgian soup speciality combining chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce. Some bistros also serve it with fish.
- Rabbit with gueuze: this is one of the culinary specialities of Belgium and northern France. Key ingredients include rabbit legs and saddle in a sweet sauce made with Gueuze beer, almonds, prunes and onions.
- Grey shrimp croquettes: the emblem of the country’s maritime gastronomy, born in Ostend by the North Sea, to be savoured with lemon and parsley in the capital’s many bistros and bouillons. Definitely one of the best things to eat in Belgium.
- Stoemp: a mixture of mashed potatoes flavoured with thyme and bay leaves and seasonal vegetables, served with country sausage.
- Chicory au gratin: ham and endive in a béchamel sauce.
- Boulet à la liégeoise: a Belgian classic, swimming in its beer and Liège syrup sauce.
- Salade liégeoise: fill up on vegetables in this sea of sweetness! The salad is made up of green beans, potatoes and lard (well, maybe not so healthy) and drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette.
- Cuberdon: a small, cone-shaped fruit sweet, considered the jewel of Belgian confectionery, traditionally made with raspberry, but also available in lemon, violet, apple and other sweet flavours.
Cover photo credit: © visit.brussels – Jean-Paul Remy
