The Best Restaurants in Brussels: Where to Eat Belgian Food, Fries, Waffles & More

Looking for the best restaurants in Brussels? Here’s where I’d tuck in for traditional Belgian food, mussels, seafood, Congolese dishes, fries, waffles, chocolate and a very good Belgian beer—from someone who’s returned (and dined) in the city several times.

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One thing Brussels got right much faster than I gave the city credit for was the food.

At this point I’ve visited for one day, two days and several days at a time, and my best meals have taken me well beyond the chocolate shops and waffle counters around Grand-Place.

At Le Bistro, I ordered a huge ham knuckle under a glossy mustard sauce with a local Belgian beer beside it. Around Sainte-Catherine, the seafood is the point—from mussels swimming in cream and garlic at Le Mignon to razor clams, sea-snail broth and whatever arrived fresh that morning at Noordzee – Mer du Nord.

But my Brussels restaurant guide won’t pretend the city’s food story is only Belgian, or boring.

In Matongé, L’Horloge du Sud brings together African and Afro-descendant cooking, cultural events and one of the most important neighbourhood stories in the city. In Sablon, you can sit down to Belgian classics at Au Vieux Saint Martin. And in Saint-Gilles, dinner can happen inside an Art Nouveau brasserie glowing with stained glass.

With that said, here’s all the Brussels food I’d genuinely make room for on a first trip—from traditional meals to mussels, seafood lunches, dinner in Matongé and Belgian brasseries worth booking.

Shall we?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

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🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.

Quick Overview: The Best Restaurants in Brussels

What Food Should You Try in Brussels?

If this is your first trip to Brussels, I’d make space for one full Belgian meal rather than trying to survive entirely on snacks.

Carbonnade flamande is beef cooked slowly with Belgian beer until the sauce turns dark, glossy and faintly sweet. Waterzooi is a much paler, gentler stew—usually chicken or fish with vegetables, cream and egg—while chicon gratin wraps Belgian endive in ham before covering it with béchamel and cheese.

Having waterzooi in Ghent!

For seafood, save room for moules-frites, grey-shrimp croquettes, oysters and whatever is on the board at Brussels’ fish bars. And if you see filet américain, expect finely minced raw beef mixed with seasoning rather than anything resembling an American-style burger.

Then come the bits people think of first: twice-cooked Belgian fries, chocolate, beer and waffles.

Belgium has two main waffle styles. A Brussels waffle is rectangular, airy and crisp with deep pockets made for icing sugar, fruit or cream. A Liège waffle is smaller, denser and chewier, with pieces of pearl sugar caramelised through the dough. Try both (and consider it research).

Pardon Brussels

And when your Belgian beer arrives, notice the glass! Belgian beer culture includes an almost ridiculous range of chalices, goblets, tulips and branded glassware designed around different beers, aromas and serving traditions. And each beer gets its own.

With that said, I wouldn’t force every meal to be ‘traditionally Belgian’ just because you’re in Belgium. Brussels is also shaped by migration, international institutions and neighbourhoods with their own culinary histories—which is exactly why L’Horloge du Sud belongs in this guide as much as a bowl of mussels.

1. Le Bistro: My Pick for Traditional Belgian Food in Brussels

Best for: a generous Belgian meal, ham knuckle, carbonnade and dinner after exploring Porte de Hal or the Marolles.

Le Bistro is where I’d send you for your first serious tuck-in of Belgian food.

I ordered the jambonneau à l’ancienne: an 800-gram ham knuckle served with fries and mustard sauce. And yes, it’s enough to keep you full til winter.

The outside had browned, salty edges, while the pork underneath pulled apart into soft, rich pieces. It came with a creamy mustard sauce and crispy fries to catch anything left behind (it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it).

And yes, it must be had with a local Belgian beer.

You’ll also find traditional favourites like beef carbonnade, rabbit cooked in Kriek beer, meatballs in tomato sauce, shrimp croquettes and several one-kilogram pots of mussels. But unless you dislike pork, the ham knuckle is the reason I’d go back.

Le Bistro sits near Porte de Hal, just beyond the tight Grand-Place restaurant circuit. It works well after exploring the Marolles or following the less central parts of my two-day Brussels itinerary.

2. Le Mignon: Best for Mussels and a Seafood Dinner

Le Mignon

Best for: cream-and-garlic mussels, seafood platters, lobster and a sit-down dinner around Sainte-Catherine.

If your Brussels food priority is mussels, save Le Mignon.

The restaurant sits on Quai aux Briques in Sainte-Catherine, historically one of the city’s fish-and-seafood districts. And it’s only right to order accordingly.

Personally, I’d choose the mussels with cream and garlic here. The mussels bring their own clean, briny sweetness, while the sauce is fuller and softer than a classic white-wine broth: cream clings to the shells, garlic runs through it, and the fries really tie it all together.

It’s not the cheapest pot of mussels in Brussels, but absolutely worth it for a sit-down seafood dinner post-sightseeing.

But I’d be lying if I said the menu doesn’t go much further, with oysters, shrimp and cheese croquettes, sole meunière, grilled octopus, bouillabaisse, Canadian lobster and seafood platters with shrimp, mussels, oysters, whelks and clams all on offer.

If you’re two people, I’d get the seafood platter here vs. ordering several separate starters. Otherwise, share oysters or croquettes, then keep your attention on the mussels.

3. Noordzee – Mer du Nord: Best for Casual Seafood in Brussels

Noordzee – Mer du Nord

Best for: small seafood plates, a quick lunch, standing/eating outside with wine and trying several bites at once.

Noordzee – Mer du Nord is part fish shop, part outdoor fish bar and one of the easiest ways to make lunch feel distinctly Brussels.

Kicking it since 1968—you order at the counter, wait for your name and take your plate to one of the standing tables outside. It’s casual, busy and what you’ll have is totally dependent on what came in fresh that day.

I’d look at the razor clams cooked on the plancha with parsley, a bowl of sea snails in spicy broth and either mussels or shrimp croquettes. The razor clams are sweet, saline and slightly chewy, with the parsley and cooking juices pooling in the shell like magic.

The sea-snail broth is warmer and more peppery—and will definitely make you stop talking for a minute.

Otherwise, on their regular menu you’ll find kibbeling, fried calamari, fish soup, prawns and oysters in season, while the catch of the day can move between mackerel, tuna, swordfish, sea bass or Dover sole.

Don’t forget to order a glass of wine!

But remember what’ll actually be there on the day depends on the season and that day’s catch.

4. L’Horloge du Sud: Best for African Food and Matongé

Best for: African and Afro-descendant cooking, groups, dinner in Matongé and a restaurant with cultural weight beyond the menu.

A list of the best restaurants in Brussels that only talks about mussels, beer and waffles is telling a very small version of the city.

L’Horloge du Sud sits beside Matongé, the Brussels neighbourhood closely connected to the city’s Congolese community and Belgium’s colonial history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It’s both a restaurant and a cultural venue, hosting talks, intellectual and community events, music and gatherings concerned with Africa, the wider Global South and their relationship with Europe.

The food moves across African and Afro-descendant traditions rather than pretending the continent has one cuisine. From yassa, with a rich and spicy lemon-and-onion sauce; to maafé, made with groundnuts; moambe, made with palm-nut pulp; liboké; kedjenou; and moqueca with fish, prawns and coconut milk.

On my visit I tried the chicken soaked in a rich peanut sauce, and it’s easily one of the best chicken dishes I’ve ever had.

Add fried plantain, cassava, sweet potato or saka-saka depending on the dish (and your appetite) and you’re golden.

Afterwards, make sure you leave time for a walk through Matongé!

5. La Porteuse d’Eau: Best for Belgian Food in an Art Nouveau Building

La Porteuse d’Eau

Best for: waterzooi, carbonnade, Belgian brasserie food and a dining room that feels like part of the sightseeing.

At La Porteuse d’Eau, the building isn’t just background decoration, but half the reason to book! (Don’t worry—the food holds its own too).

The corner building in Saint-Gilles was designed by Brussels Art Nouveau architect Ernest Blérot; its current Art Nouveau décor dates from 1986. Inside, you’ll find stained-glass windows and a monumental staircase spread across two floors of happy diners.

The menu is equally Brussels-brasserie minded, with dishes cooked in beer alongside waterzooi, beef carbonnade, chicon gratin, stoemp, vol-au-vent and américain préparé.

Choose the chicken waterzooi for something iconically Belgian—with chicken, leeks, carrots and potatoes pulled together with a pale sauce and white beer. Or the carbonnade when you want the opposite—a darker beef stew cooked down with abbey beer until it becomes rich, savoury and slightly sweet.

I’d book this one for lunch or an early dinner before continuing through Saint-Gilles, especially if Brussels’ Art Nouveau is one of the reasons you chose the city.

More Brussels Restaurants to Save

Tope Brussels for rooftop drinks!

Of course, five restaurants couldn’t possibly cover every kind of meal you might want in Brussels, so I’d keep these in your pocket too.

• Au Vieux Saint Martin for a polished traditional Belgian meal on Grand Sablon. They’ve been open since 1968 and are especially known for their filet américain recipe.
• Au Repos de la Montagne for a seasonal neighbourhood-bistro meal in Uccle, tucked into an alley near Place Saint-Job. Expect careful Belgian-French cooking vs. tourist fare.
• And for a completely different, central splurge, save The Lobster House beside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert for oysters, lobster from the tank, seafood platters or paella.
• Tope Brussels for small Mexican plates & cocktails (best for drinks)

Where to Eat Belgian Fries in Brussels

For fries, I’d start with Patatak.

The potatoes are prepared with far more care than the quick tourist cones suggest, with a choice between traditional beef-fat fries and vegetable-oil options, plus creamy made-in-house sauces from tartare, aioli and tarragon to chipotle and basil.

If you’re not vegetarian or vegan, the beef-fat version will give you the deeper savoury flavour many people associate with a Belgian fritkot; otherwise, go for the vegetable-oil option.

My tip? Try them hot on their own, and then experiment with the sauces.

You can also visit the Brussels Frietmuseum if you’re really keen on all things Belgian fries.

And save Frites Atelier as a very good backup to Patatak.

Where to Eat Waffles and Chocolate in Brussels

For a waffle treated as an actual dish rather than a prop buried under toppings, go to Pardon Brussels in Saint-Gilles. The kitchen works with sweet and savoury waffles, fresh seasonal ingredients and both vegan and egg-based batters.

For an easier central stop, Belgian Waffles & Brunch sits near the Bourse and covers waffles, brunch and coffee in one place.

In my opinion, chocolate deserves the same rule I use for restaurants: don’t assume the most visible chain is always the best.

Case in point, Laurent Gerbaud, close to Mont des Arts, is especially good when you want chocolate paired with fruit, spice and less predictable flavours.

And Planète Chocolat is useful if you want to go beyond buying a box and understand how Belgian pralines are tempered, moulded and finished.

Or make the chocolate yourself during this Belgian chocolate-making workshop.

A Few Brussels Cafés Worth Saving

Given this is a restaurant guide, I won’t spend too much time here, but the Brussels’ café scene should definitely be part of your trip too.

For a head start, save BOUCHE Specialty Coffee if the coffee itself is the priority, head to BARKBOY for coffee with handmade buns and thick cookies, and The Unusual for hot chocolate made with melted Belgian chocolate.

Then use my full best cafés in Brussels guide for brunch, more coffee and daytime stops across the city.

Where to Drink Belgian Beer in Brussels

When in Belgium, do as the Belgians do.

For volume and spectacle, Delirium Village has an enormous range of local Belgian beers, and a very energetic (sometimes crowded) atmosphere.

For a more neighbourhood-led evening, I’d suggest Café Maison du Peuple in Saint-Gilles. And when you want help choosing from an intimidating list, try Beer Capital Brussels. The staff is super friendly here.

You can also turn your drinking (or tasting, shall I say—sounds classier) into part of your sightseeing with a visit to Belgian Beer World—tucked inside the former Brussels Stock Exchange, with tastings and rooftop views included.

One small thing I love about drinking beer in Belgium is the glassware. Your beer may arrive in a tulip, chalice or branded glass that looks as considered as the bottle itself. In other words, be sure to appreciate your glass!

The Best Brussels Restaurants by Area

• Near Grand-Place and the Galeries: use The Lobster House for a central seafood splurge, then head towards the Bourse for Patatak or Belgian Waffles & Brunch.
• In Sainte-Catherine: choose Le Mignon for dinner or Noordzee – Mer du Nord for a casual seafood lunch.
• In Sablon and the Marolles: choose Au Vieux Saint Martin for a polished Belgian meal, or continue towards Le Bistro near Porte de Hal for the juicy ham knuckle.
• In Matongé: book L’Horloge du Sud and leave time to explore the neighbourhood before dinner.
• In Saint-Gilles: choose La Porteuse d’Eau for Belgian food and Art Nouveau, Pardon Brussels for waffles or Café Maison du Peuple for drinks.

Where to Eat in Brussels on a Budget

Brød Brussels from my Brussels café guide!

The easiest way to eat well in Brussels on a smaller budget is to do one restaurant booking for your trip and have smaller bites for the rest.

Tuck in fries at Patatak, build a seafood lunch from one or two plates at Noordzee – Mer du Nord, and use my Brussels café guide for breakfast or lunch.

Then save your proper spend for a meal you’ll remember—like Le Bistro for Belgian food, Le Mignon for mussels or L’Horloge du Sud for dinner in Matongé.

And avoid all restaurants lining Grand-Place—unless you’re happy with overpriced tourist traps…

Should You Book Restaurants in Brussels?

La Porteuse d’Eau

I’d book dinner on Friday and Saturday, particularly for Le Mignon, La Porteuse d’Eau, Au Vieux Saint Martin or anywhere you’d be genuinely disappointed to miss.

Noordzee – Mer du Nord, on the other hand, is best for spontaneous stops, and your café, fries and waffle stops can stay flexible.

P.S. – Keep in mind many independent Brussels restaurants close on Sundays.

Want Someone Else to Choose the Food?

3-Hour Brussels Food Tour

If you’d rather turn lunch into part of your sightseeing, I’d book this Brussels city-centre food tour with tastings.

It’ll give you several tastes of Brussels’ best cuisine without forcing you to research, reserve and navigate every stop yourself—plus you’ll pick up city history while you eat.

For a more sightseeing-led introduction with food folded in, use this historical Brussels tour with chocolate and waffle tastings, and for something sweet, book a Belgian chocolate-making workshop.

Where to Stay Near Brussels’ Best Restaurants

For a first food-focused Brussels trip, I would definitely stay centrally.

Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to walk off all your amazing meals.

I personally stayed at and recommend NH Collection Brussels Centre. It’ll give you easy access to Grand-Place, the Bourse, Sainte-Catherine and Brussels-Central, with easy trams and the metro into Saint-Gilles or Matongé.

The hotel also has a fabulous rooftop breakfast, great for coffee with a view before heading out for your food day.

Read my full NH Collection Brussels Centre review or compare more options in my guide to the best hotels near Brussels Central Station.

Final Thoughts on the Best Restaurants in Brussels

Despite its misguided reputation as just a stopover city, Brussels’ food scene is not one to be missed.

For my first proper Belgian meal, I’d return to Le Bistro, order the ham knuckle with mustard sauce and put a cold Belgian beer beside it.

Choose Le Mignon when you want mussels and seafood to take over the evening. Go to Noordzee – Mer du Nord for a casual lunch you might happily repeat on the same trip, L’Horloge du Sud for a meal connected to Matongé, and La Porteuse d’Eau when you want traditional Belgian food and art all in one.

Then fill the spaces between with fries, a Brussels waffle, independent chocolate and beautiful Belgian beer glasses.

And walk it all off with some exploring!

Have the best trip (and meal) in Brussels.

Happy travels,

Candace x

FAQ: Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium

What Are the Best Restaurants in Brussels?

My first-trip picks are Le Bistro for traditional Belgian food, Le Mignon for mussels and seafood, Noordzee – Mer du Nord for a casual seafood lunch, L’Horloge du Sud for African and Afro-descendant food, and La Porteuse d’Eau for Belgian dishes in an Art Nouveau setting.

What Is the Best Restaurant in Brussels for Traditional Belgian Food?

My personal pick is Le Bistro near Porte de Hal. I loved the 800-gram ham knuckle with mustard sauce and fries, paired with a local Belgian beer. La Porteuse d’Eau is another strong choice for waterzooi, carbonnade, chicon gratin and the Art Nouveau setting.

What Are the Best Restaurants in Brussels City Centre?

For central Brussels, choose Le Mignon or Noordzee – Mer du Nord around Sainte-Catherine. The Lobster House is the closest seafood splurge to the Galeries and Grand-Place area, while Au Vieux Saint Martin is a good polished Belgian option in Sablon.

Where Should You Eat Near Grand-Place?

Near Grand-Place, I would walk towards the Galeries for The Lobster House, towards the Bourse for Patatak, or continue to Sainte-Catherine for Le Mignon and Noordzee – Mer du Nord. You can reach all of them in 10 minutes or less on foot.

Where Can You Find the Best Mussels in Brussels?

I’d choose Le Mignon for a sit-down pot of mussels, especially the cream-and-garlic version. For a faster seafood stop with a changing menu, try Noordzee – Mer du Nord.

Where Can You Find the Best Fries in Brussels?

My pick is Patatak for freshly prepared Belgian fries, house sauces and your choice of traditional beef fat or vegetable oil (I highly recommend the beef fat ones unless you’re vegetarian/vegan).

What Are the Best Places to Eat in Brussels on a Budget?

Use Patatak for fries, build a smaller seafood lunch at Noordzee – Mer du Nord, and use my Brussels café guide for breakfast, brunch or lunch rather than booking three full restaurant meals.

Does Brussels Have Good Food?

Yes. Brussels has a very strong (and delicious) traditional Belgian food scene, seafood, fries, waffles, chocolate and one of the world’s most varied beer cultures. Its food scene also reflects the city’s international communities, particularly in neighbourhoods such as Matongé. After coming back to the city several times, the food scene is one of the best reasons I think Brussels is worth visiting.

Do You Need to Book Restaurants in Brussels?

I’d book dinner for Friday and Saturday, especially at Le Mignon, La Porteuse d’Eau and Au Vieux Saint Martin. But just walk in for any casual seafood, fries, waffles and Brussels cafés.

Plan the rest of your Brussels trip

Still planning? Here’s more of my Brussels guides to help you decide where to stay, what to book and how to make the most of your trip.

Before you book

• Is Brussels Worth Visiting? My Honest Review After Exploring the City
• Brussels Tips: Everything to Know Before Your Trip

Brussels itineraries and day trips

• One Day in Brussels: My Perfect Brussels Day Trip Itinerary
• My Brussels Weekend Itinerary: How I’d Spend 2 Days in the City
• Eurostar to Brussels from London: Travel Time, Tickets and What to Expect
• The Best Day Trips from Brussels by Train: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and More
• The Perfect Day Trip from Brussels to Bruges: Train, Tours & My Itinerary
• Brussels to Ghent by Train: My Experience, Ticket Tips & Day Trip Guide
• How to Visit Groot-Bijgaarden Castle: Belgium’s Hidden Spring Flower Garden Near Brussels

Where to stay and what to book

• The Best Hotels Near Brussels Central Station: Where I Stayed and My Top Picks
• NH Collection Brussels Centre Review: My Honest Stay in Brussels
• The Best Tours in Brussels: Walking Tours, Food Experiences and Unique Things to Do
• The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings: Which One Is Best for Your Trip?

What to do and where to eat

• The Best Things to Do in Brussels: Grand-Place, Comic Murals, Belgian Food & More
• Brussels Comic Strip Walk: Full Route, Map and My Favourite Murals
• Exploring Matongé Brussels: Black Culture, Food and My Favourite Stops
• The Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium: My Favourite Places to Eat
• The Best Cafés in Brussels: My Favourite Coffee and Brunch Spots