Mouthwatering Food To Try In Brussels, Belgium

1. Carbonade Flamande — the traditional Belgian beef stew

Carbonade Flamande is a traditional sweet-sour beef (or pork) stew made with beer. The stew is seasoned with thyme, bay leaves and mustard and is often accompanied with mushrooms or spiced bread. The type of beer used in the preparation is important — traditionally Oud Bruin (Or Old Brown Beer) is used to accentuate the bitter-sour taste. To enhance the sweet-sour flavor, occasionally, small amounts of cider or wine vinegar is added in just before serving. This dish can be easily found across restaurants in Belgium and it comes with a portion of french fries or boiled potatoes.

C'est Bon C'est Belge

Address: La Terrasse, Rue du Lombard 25, Brussels 1000, Belgium

Price: 22 EUR (25 USD)

C'est Bon C'est Belge

2. Mussels and Fries (Moules-Frites)

Mussels and Fries is the national dish of Belgium. Originating from France, this dish has become a mainstay in Belgian restaurants and there are numerous ways of preparing it. A quick and nutritious snack, it is quite tasty too. Most commonly, mussels are made with white wine, beer or with sliced/minced garlic. As for the fries, many people do not know that Belgium is actually where the french fries originated! The traditional fries are delicate and crunchy on the outside and soft inside, thus serving as the perfect partner for the spicy mussels.

La Marée Brussels

Address: Rue de Flandre 99 1000 Brussels Belgium

Price: 23.7 EUR (27 USD)

La Marée Brussels

3. Grey Shrimp croquettes

Grey Shrimp is a true wonder of the North Sea. In Belgium, it works as the perfect nibble to go with your afternoon coffee or evening beer. Made from fresh shrimp stock, the croquettes are light and crunchy on the outside with deliciously creamy shrimp fillings on the inside. The spicy shrimps go well with a glass of white wine or a blond Belgian beer. The shrimp croquettes are a traditional dish in Belgium and a must have if you are traveling in this part of the world.

Le Vismet

Address: 23 Place Sainte-Catherine 1000 Brussels

Price: 16.7 EUR (19 USD)

Le Vismet

4. Speculaas or spiced shortcrust biscuits

Speculaas are traditional bakes of Belgium, prepared on St. Nicholas’ Day. Speculaas are thin, caramelized and crunchy biscuits. Most significantly, they have an image or a figure imprinted on one side. Most versions of the biscuits are made from wheat flour, brown sugar, butter and spices. Speculaas can be found in any pastry shop in Belgium and they are usually available all year round. Certain top of the line pastry shops even erect giant statues of speculaas that fill passersby with a sense of wonder. So if you are in Belgium, especially on St. Nicholas Day, make sure you bite into this traditional Belgian delicacy!

Maison Dandoy

Address: Grand-Place, Rue au Beurre, 31, 1000 Brussels

Price: 7 EUR (7.9 USD)

Maison Dandoy

5. Waterzooi

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Waterzooi is a soup base of egg yolk, cream and thickened vegetable broth. It is often referred to as Gentse Waterzooi, named after the Belgian city of Ghent where it is believed to have originated. The original dish is often made of fish, though today, chicken Waterzooi is equally common. It’s a nutritious dish with the fish/chicken providing the protein with a healthy portion of boiled carrots, onions, celeriac, potatoes and herbs such as parsley, thyme, bay leaves and sage. The fish most commonly used is eel, pike, carp or bass.

Au Vieux Saint Martin

Address: Place du Grand Sablon 38, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Price: 24.6 EUR (28 USD)

Au Vieux Saint Martin

6. Anguilles au Vert — Eels in the green

This is a traditional Belgian dish where freshwater eels are cooked in a green herb sauce. The dish originated from the river Scheldt near the Belgian city of Antwerp. This traditionally homemade meal is now a tourist delicacy and is served at many Belgian restaurants. Long cuttings of freshwater eel are simmered with a mix of finely chopped fresh herbs. The herbs usually range from sage, ginger mint, oregano, sorrel, parsley, thyme and basil. The eel cooks in the fresh juices of the herbs that thicken into a delicious broth. Squeeze a bit of lemon on the served dish and you’re in for a sumptuous meal. The dish is served hot with chips or bread.

La Roue D’or

Address: Rue des Chapeliers 26, Brussels 1000, Belgium

Price: 23.7 EUR (27 USD)

La Roue D’or

7. Potjevleesch or potted meat

Potjevleesch is a traditional French-Flemish dish that’s widely appreciated in Brussels. Three or four different kinds of meat are cooked together in their own fat, on a ceramic dish. The Potjevleesch is prepared by the slow cooking of meats, sliced onions, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaves covered in water or vinegar. Potjevleesch is usually served cold with chips. The dish is also enjoyed with a glass of jenever, the traditional liquor of Belgium and Netherlands.

Potjevleesch

Address: Rue Jacques Jordaens 4, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Price: 5 EUR (5.72 USD)

Le Bugatti

8. Belgian Fries

You might be surprised to know that the world-famous French fries, originated from Belgium. It is believed that the fries were invented when the rivers froze and people fried potatoes the same way they’d fry small fish. Since then, this simple yet iconic dish has come a long way. Belgium is famous for its crunchy fries that are great to munch on while exploring the city. Belgians love their fries with a dash of mayonnaise or sauce. The secret to Belgian fries is the temperature at which they are fried. It’s just the perfect balance between hard and soft. It is also served in different combinations with meat and fish.

Frit Flagey

Address: Place Eugene Flagey, Ixelles, Brussels 1050, Belgium

Price: 9.6 EUR (11 USD)

Frit Flagey

9. Belgian Chocolate

If you are planning a trip to Brussels, you are likely to be carrying back loads of chocolates. Dating back to the 16th century, Belgian chocolates remain a favorite even today. If you are a chocoholic, you must spend a few hours on a chocolate tour of the city. The many bakeries and patisseries have their own history, culture and variants of chocolates to share. A special trip would be to Wittamer — the famous chocolate shop that made the royal wedding cake. Brussels has something for every kind of chocolate lover. For example Belvas, that serves only but delicious organic, gluten-free and homemade chocolates!

Pierre Marcolini

Address: 1 Rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Price: 17.5 EUR (20 USD)

Pierre Marcolini

10. Belgian Waffles

Belgian waffles are a famous street food in Brussels and come in a mind-boggling variety. No matter what you order off the menu, you will hardly go wrong. They are light and crunchy and usually served with a topping of powdered sugar, fruits, maple syrup or whipped cream. The waffles are wrapped in a piece of paper and it is customary to eat it while taking a tour of the city. For the more curious, there are a plethora of waffle shops and restaurants to explore. Brussels also has exquisite tea rooms where you can enjoy this delicious afternoon snack while sipping on a cup of tea! Whatever your appetite and taste, your heart’s sure to melt in one bite of the famous Belgian waffles!

Waffle Factory

Address: Rue du Lombard 30, Lombardstraat 30, 1000 Brussels

Price: 99 EUR (113 USD)

Waffle Factory

Great food in Brussels, Belgium

Find out the most delicious food on offer in the vibrant city of Brussels, Belgium. Be it the famous frites (fries) or melt-in-the-mouth waffles, this city has something to charm every kind of foodie. Here’s a curated list to make sure you don’t miss out on what’s cooking in Brussels!