Belgium, the country of fries. Of course we should celebrate this with a National French Fries Day and that day is today, 1 August! By the way, did you know that Belgium is the biggest producer of fries in the world and that we are the only country with a fries museum? I don’t think we need to question the origin of ‘French fries’ any further. Read on below to discover the 8 most iconic French fries in the country!
PATATAK – BRUSSEL
Patatak reinvents the frituur: potatoes from a local producer, peeled and sliced on site and finished with one of 15 house-made sauces. Patatak’s menu offers everything: vegan, meat and veggie products, in all sizes. Enjoy delicious fries fried in beef fat or sweet potato fried in vegetable oil and the heavenly sauces with or without egg.
Address: Rue du Bourse 34, 1000 Brussels
friture No. 1 – Antwerp
Frituur No.1 has been a household name in the city for decades. This chip shop has been a fixture on the Antwerp street scene since 1980. Where do they stand out from the rest? Frituur n°1 is open day and night. Moreover, the frituur is only a few steps away from the Grote Markt, which makes it the place to be for tourists to enjoy a particularly good portion of Flemish fries. A little tip: the stew meat sauce must not be missed here!
Address: Hoogstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp
FRITES ATELIER – GENT, ANTWERPEN & BRUSSEL
The luxurious fries of the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen star chef Sergio Herman should absolutely not be missing from our list. At Frites Atelier, you won’t find everyday fries, but tasteful fries with sensational toppings! Think of spicy kimchi with creamy melted cheese, fresh basil mayonnaise with Parmesan cheese, Pulled Pork & Piccalilly or the classic Flemish Stew. Admit it, this will make your mouth water, won’t it?
All info and addresses: http://www.fritesatelier.com
FRITURE RENÉ – ANDERLECHT
Ger checked tablecloths, a newspaper menu and a brasserie decor make Friture René one of the best addresses in our capital. Since 1987, it has been run by the same family. In the kitchen, father Dirk Piolon works wonders in his rather limited work space, while son Nicolas surprises you with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. A passion which he has developed and now offers his customers, to take them on an unusual journey after a traditional Belgian meal. A special moment that you wouldn’t want to miss to live the Friture René experience to the full.
Address: Verzetsplein 14, 1070 Anderlecht
FRITURE RENÉ – ANDERLECHT
What makes Chez Vincent different from other frituurs? Well, the fries are fried exclusively in a refined combination of pure vegetable oils, high in omega 3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These oils are healthier than animal or vegetable fats, which contain a lot of saturated fats. In addition, they have been awarded the ‘Verantwoord Frituren’ label and a score of 13/20 from Gault Millau. In addition to the health aspect, they also focus on luxury. Yes, luxury. On the one hand, this is reflected in the quality of the products, such as the shrimp croquettes packed with grey shrimp, the freshly cut fries and hamburgers made of 100 per cent meat. On the other hand, the interior has a luxurious look, comfortable leather seats, nice big pictures on the wall and not to forget, cava on the menu!
Address: Sint-Salvatorskerkhof 1, 8000 Bruges
CHIPS – ANTWERPEN
For the vegans among us, frituur Chips is the place to be. This hip Antwerp chip shop distinguishes itself from the rest by their focus on special, from time to time home-made vegan snacks. Their menu offers a worthy vegan or vegetarian alternative for almost every meat. Be sure to try their signature truffle cheese croquettes, avocado sticks or the delicious falafel burger!
Address: Sint-Antoniusstraat 35, 2000 Antwerp
LE TRAM DE BOITSFORT, WATERMAAL-BOSVOORDE
This converted tram is quite a gem. The tram consists of two separate spaces dedicated to the pleasures of street food. At the head of the engine you’ll find the take-away space where you can pick up portions of old fashioned fries, burgers, light lunches and some great standards of Belgian friterie. At the back of the tram is therestaurant area: four small wooden tables and a menu centred on the variations of the hamburger . For those who like to visit, the homemade sauce ‘La William’is definitely worth a try!
Address: Andrée Payfa-Fosseprezplein, 1170 Watermaal-Bosvoorde
FRITKOT MAX – ANTWERPEN
The oldest chip shop in Belgium is frituur Max. This chip shop in Antwerp has been around since 1842!
You can go here for delicious chips in an old-fashioned and authentic pointy bag. Would you like to soak up some culture while eating? One floor up you will discover the fritkotmuseum where you will learn all about the Flemish culture of fritkot culture and where you are allowed to take your fries with you!
Address: Groenplaats 12, 2000 Antwerp
What is your favourite next level fry and why? #nextlevelfries
More food inspiration can be found in our section PureFood. Enjoy reading!
