21 Best Brussels Foods To Try in 2025
As the commercial, financial and administrative capital of Belgium, not to mention the city headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Brussels’ food menu caters to a busy and hungry crowd of locals every day.
The city also welcomes millions of tourists each year (over 3 million in 2023 alone according to Statista), eager to feast their cultural souls on the metropolis’ many icons of architecture, art, history and — this being Belgium — food.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something savory, need a quick snack or are after a hearty plateful to refuel after a busy day exploring the city, look no further. This guide will help you quickly get to the meat and potatoes of the best food in Brussels.
Jump to Section
What Food Is Brussels Known For?
Those in the know will tell you that Brussels, Belgium food is hearty and moreish, appealing to modern palates but with a nod to the European history and traditions that shaped it. There’s also a good chance that you’re already well acquainted with some of the city’s most ubiquitous dishes.
Steak frites, Belgian waffles, chocolate and beer — there is a list as long as your arm of global foodie favorites that originate in Belgian culture; and for many, the chance to try them in their native capital is a prospect too tempting to resist. But what about the lesser-known Brussels foods? Surely the locals don’t survive on beer and chocolate alone.
Of course not! Considered one of the best foodie cities in the world, Brussels’ food menu is full of lesser-known but equally delicious dishes that are far more capable of nourishing you and your explorations. Those with more adventurous palates will be keen to sample Brussels food staples like eel stew, rabbit cooked in beer and shrimp croquettes.
In other words, there’s more to Brussels food than beer and waffles, and with so much to offer, fitting it all in one trip can seem like an impossible task. To make discovering the best food in Brussels a little easier, you could join a food tour in Brussels led by an expert local guide. Consulting a guide like this one is an excellent option as well!
The 21 Best Brussels, Belgium Foods
1. Waffles
When considering the best Brussels food, this is perhaps the most obvious place to start. Made with leavened batter or dough, its signature shape is the result of the irons between which it’s cooked.
One of Belgium’s most celebrated culinary exports, waffles are eaten around the world, typically as a breakfast food. However, in Brussels, you’ll usually find them served on street carts and offered with a variety of different toppings. Think chocolate, fruits, whipped cream and powdered sugar.
The two main types of waffles you’re likely to find when exploring Brussels’ food scene are Liège waffles and Brussels waffles, with Liège being the most common. Made with a dense, brioche-like dough, with a surface glaze of caramelized sugar, you’ll often find these in cinnamon, vanilla and plain varieties.
The Brussels waffle, popularized in the U.S. during the 1960s, is more akin to the style with which most readers will be familiar. Lighter, crispier and made in a recognizable rectangular shape, the pockets on the surface are deeper, forming the perfect vessel for those indulgent toppings.
2. Paling in ‘t Groen
Remember when we mentioned eel stew? Well, that’s possibly the simplest way to describe this next Brussels food. This Flemish stew comprises freshwater eel, prepared in a green sauce made with ingredients like white wine and a variety of herbs, including mint, parsley, sage and dill. Its name literally translates as “eel in the green.”
Best enjoyed with fries or bread, with a squeeze of lemon over the eel, this is certainly a Brussels food for those with an adventurous palate. It was originally eaten by fishermen, who would catch the eels and then prepare them with herbs foraged from along the riverbank. Today, you’ll find paling in ‘t groen served at restaurants around the city.
3. Frites
Who doesn’t love fries? Revered the world over as a staple accompaniment to myriad other dishes, while most know them as French fries, did you know that there is a serious and ongoing debate as to where they actually come from?
Their French origin story comes from a mention of fries in a Parisian book published in the 18th century. However, it is also believed (especially in Belgium) that they were first created during the 16th century in the city of Namur, during a particularly ferocious winter. The river froze, leaving locals unable to catch fish, so they resorted to frying potatoes.
Now, it’s not for us to decide which story holds the most merit. All we’ll say is that, wherever they were first invented, they are absolutely delicious. They’re especially good when fried in animal fat (as is the Belgian way) and served with andalouse — a creamy, spicy mayonnaise-based concoction that definitely originated in Belgium.
4. Stoemp
Since we’re on the subject of potatoes, let us next introduce you to a Brussels food called stoemp. In its simplest form, stoemp is the Belgian take on mashed potatoes. However, such a simple description fails to do this delightful dish justice.
Imagine pillowy mounds of puréed potatoes combined with other ingredients like bacon, onions and leeks, not to mention an array of herbs and spices. And whilst potatoes usually form the core ingredient, this food of Brussels can also be made with other mashed vegetables.
Thought to have originated during the 19th century as a means of making the most of leftovers during times of hardship, anybody who has tried British bubble and squeak will have an idea of what to expect from this Brussels food.
If you’re lucky enough to be welcomed in by a local Belgian family, they may well have a go-to recipe for this comforting dish. Otherwise, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a restaurant at which to try it.
5. Moules Frites
Simply translated as “mussels and fries,” if you love seafood, then this next Brussels food is for you. In fact, it’s another one of those iconic Belgian dishes that has found a home in the hearts of foodies around the world, and it’s easy to see why.
One reason is the number of ways in which this Brussels food can be prepared. The mussels can be served raw with a sauce made from lemon juice and mustard (known as “moules parquées”), cooked with beer (“moules à la bière”) or — perhaps most popularly — as “moules marinière,” a recipe that calls for white wine, butter, shallots and parsley.
What about the frites part of moules frites? Simple — a side plate loaded with fries, which you’ll definitely want to dip in that delicious marinière sauce. Countless restaurants around the city serve this Brussels food, such is its popularity.
6. Frikandel
A common snack both in Belgium and the Netherlands, frikandel is a deep-fried, skinless sausage composed of a variety of meats. Most commonly made with pork, chicken and (historically) horse meat, this Brussels food is traditionally enjoyed unadorned, with mayonnaise on the side for dipping.
Now, the jury remains out on whether this Brussels food does, in fact, originate in Belgium. Some say that a Dutchman invented it as a long, cylindrical meatball, while others hold that a Belgian came up with it and even coined the name.
Once again, this is a dispute that’s well above our paygrade to settle, but either way, both stories take place during the 1950s, so we at least have a definitive decade of origin!
Back to the sausage itself, and while it’s traditionally enjoyed without adornments, you may well find it served in a white bread bun (a serving style known as “broodje frikandel”) or sliced through the center and covered with mayonnaise, curry ketchup and chopped onions (“frikandel speciaal”). In terms of where to find it, snack bars, restaurants, carts and kiosks around the city serve this Brussels food, so you’ll find it easy to lay your hands on.
7. Speculoos
A type of Belgian cookie, this Brussels food is quite similar to speculaas (of Dutch origin), but made with fewer spices. In actual fact, speculoos were originally made as a cheaper alternative to their Dutch counterpart.
If you’re thinking that you’ve not tried speculoos before, you may need to think again. Ever ordered a coffee and enjoyed it with a piece of Biscoff? If so, you’ll know exactly what to expect.
Of course, local producers of this Brussels food each have their own recipe, which makes sampling the speculoos you find in cafés and at street markets well worth taking the time for.
8. Filet Américain
Before you say it, no — this isn’t an American dish. While the reasons behind its misleading name are unclear, it’s generally agreed that this Belgian take on steak tartare is one of the ultimate Brussels foods for meat-eaters. Chef Joseph Niels created the dish in the mid-1920s, before introducing it to the menu of his restaurant in Brussels.
Made with the freshest possible beef to ensure food safety and seasoned with a combination of onions, capers, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, plus salt and pepper, this Brussels food is enjoyed in a variety of ways.
It could be on a cracker, used to fill a sandwich or accompanied by salad and fries. You may also spot locals spreading it on a piece of crusty bread for a mid-afternoon snack. However, the best way to enjoy it has got to be at a restaurant, many of which will prepare it freshly at the table, right before your eyes.
9. Steak Frites
We’ve covered steak and we’ve covered frites. Now it’s time to put the two together. Like moules frites, this Brussels food pairs two perennial favorites for a timeless classic that those who like meat will struggle to get enough of.
As for its origins, you may well already associate this dish with France, but it’s actually believed to originate in Belgium, especially given the country’s association with “frites.”
Order this Brussels food at your chosen restaurant and expect a prime cut with plenty of marbling, like a rib-eye or porterhouse. The frites will come fried to golden perfection, serving as the ideal receptacle for both the steak juices and the accompanying sauce, which could be béarnaise or hollandaise. Pair with a fine Belgian beer and you have a meal you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry.
10. Waterzooi
This next Brussels food is another type of stew, this time featuring either chicken or fish, but without the signature green coloring of paling in ‘t groen. Instead, it’s cooked in a broth that’s thickened with cream and egg yolks and often includes the addition of vegetables like onions and carrots.
Waterzooi holds its origins in the city of Ghent, where it’s believed the rivers were so full of fish that the dish served as a means of incorporating them into local diets. Unfortunately, water pollution led to a decline in fish populations, necessitating the dish’s evolution to incorporate chicken instead.
Like paling in ‘t groen, many restaurants around the city serve this popular Brussels food. It’s best enjoyed with a slice of crusty bread, which you can use to mop up the savory sauce.
11. Beer
Any list of the best food in Brussels would be incomplete without an accompanying glass of Belgian beer. That’s because beer is a serious business in Belgium. In fact, some sources suggest that Belgians, on average, consume around 68 liters of the good stuff every year.
Whether or not that’s true, it’s fair to say that beer is an essential part of Brussels’ food scene. Connoisseurs can expect hundreds of different flavor profiles, with the number of brands on offer in the thousands. These are the result of Belgium’s long and storied beer brewing tradition, a culture so revered that it holds a place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.
If you’re keen to immerse yourself in the world of Belgian beer, the good news is that you will find a plethora of specialist bars in Brussels, all with staff who are happy to advise on everything from beer flavors to the correct glasses in which to enjoy them. Be warned, though – you’ll struggle to try them all.
12. Carbonnade à la Flamande
We are not, for a moment, suggesting that you devote an entire day to drinking Belgian beer. That being said, if you are planning to taste your way through your chosen bar’s drinks menu, it might be best to hold off until you’ve filled up on this next Brussels food.
It’s believed that this Brussels food was originally invented by coal miners, who grilled leftover meat over hot coals, hence the term “carbonnade.” Today, however, the dish is perhaps closer to the French beef bourguignon, the key difference being the replacement of red wine with rich Belgian beer.
Made with beef (sometimes pork), onions and the aforementioned beer, this Flemish stew is often served with frites or stoemp. It’s a hearty meal, to say the least, and a surefire way of filling a hungry hole after a day spent exploring the city.
A plate of carbonnade à la Flamande is also just the ticket for those looking to prepare their stomach for an evening spent unearthing the secrets of Belgium’s bottomless beer cellar.
13. Belgian Chocolate
Similarly to beer, when it comes to chocolate, Belgium means business. It has a long history of cocoa production, especially thanks to its historic colonization of the Congo. This gave Belgians access to significant quantities of cocoa beans and the means to develop high-quality chocolate-making techniques at a time when the commodity was still in its infancy.
Today, Belgian chocolate is known — and loved — for the strict standards to which it is produced. And did you know that Belgium is widely considered to be the birthplace of the filled chocolates known as pralines?
Today, all of this translates to an enormous global market (chocolate being one of the nation’s greatest exports) and a domestic attraction that draws millions of gourmands each year, all hoping to tick authentic Belgian chocolate off of their foodie bucket lists. It also makes chocolate one of the quintessential Brussels foods to try when you visit.
14. Mitraillette
Take a baguette, stuff it with just about any filling your heart desires and you have the gist of this next Brussels food. It could be hamburgers, meatballs or sausages — whatever your choice of meat, pile on top of it onions, tomatoes and lettuce, add a dash of your chosen sauce and finish the ensemble with a handful of frites.
Invented on the streets of Brussels, with a name that translates in French to “submachine gun,” this indulgent and endlessly customizable Brussels food is popular among late-night diners who’ve perhaps enjoyed one too many drinks.
It’s also an incredibly tempting grab-and-go lunch for those whose bodies need proper fuelling in order to fully appreciate the bustling sights and sounds of Belgium’s capital.
15. Chicons au Gratin
This next Brussels food comprises endives, otherwise known as chicory, wrapped in slices of ham and covered in an impossibly indulgent mornay sauce. Sprinkled with grated cheese, it’s then baked to achieve a level of goldenness that’s hard to resist when you see it arrive at the next table.
In terms of flavor, the meeting of endives and ham provides a delightfully bitter-sweet profile, tied together beautifully with the rich, velvety sauce.
Unsurprisingly, this is a popular Brussels food item at restaurants around the city. It’s precisely the sort of comfort food you’ll crave after spending all your energy exploring the Belgian capital, especially during the frigid winter months.
16. Boudin
This next Brussels food comes in two forms: black and white. Boudin blanc (white) is often made with milk, plus fresh herbs, giving it its pale white color. Its noir (black) counterpart is made with the addition of blood, which lends it a deep red, almost black color. Both are typically made with pork, chicken or veal.
In this case, it’s generally agreed that boudin does not originate in Belgium but rather in France. It also has a culinary foothold in the Cajuns as well as French Canada. However, it’s still very much part of the fabric of Brussels’ food scene. If you’re keen to give this one a go, head to a local street market where you’re sure to find an almost overwhelming choice of charcuterie to take home.
17. Rijstevlaai
Who can possibly resist a slice of sweet pie? Popular in the Netherlands, Germany and, as you’ve probably guessed, Belgium, this Brussels food comprises a single crust topped with fluffy rice pudding. It’s best enjoyed cold and is usually eaten on Sundays or at special occasions, including weddings and birthdays.
While this type of pie (known as “vlaai”) holds its origins in tribal Germany, where the dough would be spread out over a hot stone and then topped with natural sweets like honey and fruit juice, this particular modern take is a popular Brussels, Belgium food. You’ll find it available at bakeries and restaurants around the city.
18. Shrimp Croquettes
No translation is needed for this next Brussels food. Taking the classic French croquette and delivering upon it a decadent seafood twist, shrimp croquettes are a classic of Belgian cuisine. They’re usually served simply with lemon and parsley, giving the flavors inside the crispy breaded shell plenty of room to dance on your tastebuds.
So prevalent are they on the Brussels food scene that in 2018, Visit Brussels launched an annual competition to determine the restaurant that makes them best. In 2024, authentic Belgian restaurant Bouillon Bruxelles took the crown, closely followed by a number of other superb restaurants, delicatessens and food market vendors.
Of course, we’d encourage you to make up your own mind as to who makes them best, although you may struggle to find time to try them all.
19. Jenever
Said to be the spirit from which gin evolved, this juniper-flavored tipple is another must-try for those exploring the best Brussels food (even though this is a beverage rather than a food!) It’s the perfect accompaniment for a number of the above dishes, although we wouldn’t recommend drinking it in the same quantities as you might consume Belgian beer.
Instead, jenever can be enjoyed in a cocktail, be it a jenever soda or a jenever and tonic, or sipped neat (and slowly) from a tulip-shaped glass. The spirit enjoys Protected Designation of Origin status and is popular not just in Belgium, but also in parts of Germany and France. It’s also a staple drink in the Netherlands, where it’s thought to have originated.
20. Boulet à la Liégeoise
This next Brussels food takes your favorite meatballs and gives them a spectacularly tasty Belgian twist. You’ll usually see two or three large meatballs — made of pork, beef or veal — cooked to perfection in a sweet and sour sauce filled with currants, sugar and Liège syrup.
Considered one of Belgium’s national dishes, it heralds from the city Liège (hence the name) and is typically served with frites and a side of either apple sauce or mayonnaise.
However, it’s the harmonious coming together of sweet and sour in the meatball sauce that makes this Brussels food a must-try. It’s especially welcome during the winter when the cold calls for hearty food to warm the soul.
21. Cuberdon
Originally from Ghent, this Belgian candy, made in a distinct cone shape, contains a soft fruit-flavored filling, which explodes in your mouth as you bite through the candy crust. You may also hear these referred to as “neuzekes” (meaning “little noses”), a Flemish term coined for the candies due to their unmistakable shape.
The recipe for this Brussels food is believed to have first been discovered by a Ghent pharmacist during the 1800s, and while they are traditionally filled with raspberry-flavored syrup, modern takes incorporate other flavors.
The most exciting part is that this is a treat you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the world, at least not traditionally Belgian-made versions. Why? Because the syrup inside these sweet Brussels foods crystals after a few weeks, rendering them unsuitable for export.
Learn To Cook Brussels Foods
If this list of Brussels food has inspired you to break your usual weekly routine and whip up some hearty Belgian fare in your own kitchen, then why not consider taking a cooking class near you?
Led by expert chefs with years of professional experience, you’ll be guided with recipes, tips and tricks to cook your favorite Brussels foods, expanding your palate and enlivening your weekly meal routines in one fell swoop.
Prefer to learn from the comfort of your own kitchen? If so, an online cooking class may be just the thing you need. Fully interactive and also led by renowned professional chefs, these virtual classes are a great way to learn your chosen Brussels food recipes.
If visiting the city, you can even find cooking classes in Brussels, learning how to make Belgian cuisine from professional local chefs.
As the above list of the best Brussels food demonstrates, this city is more than just the capital of Belgium. It’s one of the culinary capitals of the world, providing intrepid foodie travelers an adventure of plentiful portions, tempting tipples and decadent desserts, quite unlike any other city on Earth.
For even more ways to explore Brussels and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Join the conversation.