You might notice that in Belgium food is a big deal and the country is truly becoming a gastronomic destination. Besides being known for Belgian chocolate, beer and waffles, most people can’t name a traditional Belgian dish. To make your gastro-trip more fun, here are the top 10 Belgian dishes and places where you can have them. Just consider these places as an exciting alternative to the fine dining restaurants in Brussels, and make sure to pay them a visit before hopping on to the airport minibus.

Mussels

Mussels with fries is a classic Belgian dish you can find at any brasserie in Brussels. Most commonly, the mussels are served as steamed in white wine, in a big black mussel pot. Additionally, the marinade contains shallots, parsley, and butter. Similar cooking methods include cream, beer and even mustard sauce.

You may be tempted by the picturesque Rue des Bouchers in Brussels and the huge platters of seafood there, but don’t be fooled since you’ll be overcharged. Head to Le Zinneke instead for great mussels and amazing interior with wooden paneling, gilt-framed pictures and a courtyard.

Fries

Fries had grown to be a national dish of Belgium. The secret is that the freshly cut potatoes must be fried twice - at a lower temperature to cook the inside to a fluffy consistency, and then quickly at a higher temperature to cook the crispy outside. They come with a lot of sauces, other than ketchup. Try aioli for a garlicky-mayo hit, or the andalouse, a mix of mayo and tomato sauce with a whisper of paprika. If you like spicy, go for the samurai sauce, and if you like to experiment, go with the peanut or curry sauce.

Even though you can find these at every corner, head to Maison Antoine. There’s always a long queue at this outdoor Brussels food stand, making the batches of fries always very fresh.
 

Meatballs

Being the Belgian favorite, they are usually a mixture of beef and pork meat. In Flanders, the balletjes are served smothered in tomato sauce, or Frikadellen-style - fried in butter with Belgian cherry sauce. South of Brussels, go for the boulets Liégeois, served with a rich sauce of beef stock, spices, and sirop de Liege (a fruit syrup a bit like molasses, from apples and pears).

Visit Balls & Glory restaurant for the best meatballs in Brussels. They serve giant meatballs filled with a variety of sauces. The balls are mainly pork, but there are beef, lamb, chicken and veggie versions, served with a potato and veggie mash or with salad. Try the blue cheese or truffle options while there.
 

Flemish stew

This Flemish stew literally means “stew meat” and is made from beef slowly simmered in Belgian beer until tender. The sauce is thickened with a few pieces of bread dissolved in mustard, a bit of onion and seasoning. Some chefs add mushrooms or garlic, but the traditional recipe relies on Belgian beer and beef. It tastes rich and slightly tart from the beer, being an amazing comfort food on a cold winter day.

Head to Café Novo, located at a short walk from Grand Place, for a dose of a superb, traditional Flemish stew, served with fries.
 

Grey shrimp croquettes

You can find the tiny North Sea grey shrimps at any seafood restaurant in the Sainte-Catherine neighborhood in Brussels. The grey shrimps are sweet and delicate, while the favorite way to eat grey shrimps is in a shrimp croquette. The outside should be a thin, crispy crust, while inside you should find a creamy molten shrimp mixture. They are perfect as a starter or snack.

We recommend the Les Petits Oignons restaurant, being a close runner-up for the best shrimp croquettes in Brussels.
 

Waffles

There’s really no way around waffles in Brussels. The original Brussels waffle is rectangular and flaky, often topped with whipped cream, chocolate, ice-cream or fruits. On the other hand, the denser Liège waffle has rounded edges and crystallized sugar baked into it, being stickier and sweeter than the Brussels waffle.

For a fancy Belgian or Liege waffle, head to the Dandoy Tearoom, close to the Grand Place. This shop is a traditional Belgian cookie maker, where fresh waffles are being made behind the counter, luring the visitors inside.
 

Eel in the green

This delicacy is an eel prepared in a very green sauce, made from a variety of green herbs, such as parsley, watercress and basil. The herbs are added at the end to preserve the sauce’s color. The dish is commonly served with fries, being more of a Flemish dish than a traditional Belgian food.

For a dish of this specialty, head to Brasserie Royal, since this place is highly popular for the eel in the green dish.
 

Rabbit with prunes

Starting out as a “humble people dish”, today many chefs around the country present it in more refined ways. The classic version combines rabbit with prunes to add sweetness, and some croquettes on the side.

If you want to try this dish, visit Restobières place as it is known as a great location for Belgian foods and beers, being one of few places that still serves rabbit and prunes.
 

Sausage and mash

This dish is a classic Belgian combination, today mainly served by grandparents or restaurants known for serving typical Belgian cuisine. This hearty dish is composed of various sausages, like black, white or blood sausage, while the mashed potatoes are often mixed with a vegetable, like carrots, the typical Belgian kind of mashed potatoes.

For a tasty modernized version of this dish, visit the Madame Chapeau to warm your heart.
 

Steak tartare and Martino sandwich

This typical Belgian food is actually a raw ground beef, mixed with onions, mayonnaise, Tabasco, egg yolk, capers, salt and other things, usually prepared at your table. This dish is mostly served with fries. The Martino sandwich is the less pricey and on-the-go version of the steak tartare, made of a baguette with a spread of “Américain”, a form of steak tartare as a sandwich spread, with spices, pickles, onions, and ketchup.

For a fresh serving of steak tartare and Martino sandwich, visit the Vincent restaurant and be bold for new experiences.

Brussels has some amazing staple Belgian dishes to offer, so don’t leave without trying some of them. And when you’re done, head to some of the best places in Brussels for authentic Belgian chocolate and start planning your airport transfers to get back home. Bon appetite!