A Foodie’s Guide to Belgium in 2025: 10 Dishes You Must Try

Craving real Belgian flavor? Dive into this foodie’s guide with 10 must-try Belgian dishes in 2025—from crispy waffles to rich beer stews and sweet pralines.

Welcome to Belgium: Europe’s Underrated Culinary Paradise

Think of European cuisine and your mind might wander to France’s buttery croissants, Italy’s hand-twirled pasta, or Spain’s sizzling tapas. But Belgium? It’s time this small yet mighty country got the culinary spotlight it deserves.

Belgian food in 2025 is more exciting than ever, rooted in tradition but alive with innovation. Imagine French finesse colliding with German heartiness, and then throw in Belgium’s delicious twist: local beer in stews, sugar pearls in waffles, and a national obsession with fries. Whether you’re wandering cobbled streets in Bruges, bustling through Brussels, or beer-hopping in Ghent, the Belgian culinary scene is a dream come true for foodies.

Here are 10 unforgettable Belgian dishes you must try in 2025—from street eats to gourmet classics. Get ready to taste your way through one of Europe’s most delicious secrets.

1. Moules-Frites (Mussels with Fries)

Taste & Texture:
Imagine a bowl brimming with plump mussels, steamed in white wine, garlic, parsley, and a hint of cream or beer. Each mussel is tender, slightly briny, and beautifully infused with the broth. Served with a heaping side of crispy, golden Belgian fries—crunchy outside, soft inside—it’s a match made in foodie heaven.

Cultural Significance:
This dish is so iconic it’s practically Belgium’s national meal. Locals enjoy moules-frites especially in summer when mussels are fresh and plentiful.

Where to Eat It:
Try it at Chez Léon in Brussels, a 100-year-old institution, or head to the seaside town of Ostend for ultra-fresh versions straight from the North Sea.

Pro Tip:
Order a local beer to go with it—something crisp like a Tripel or Blonde Ale.

2. Carbonade Flamande (Flemish Beef Stew)

Taste & Texture:
Think French beef bourguignon, but replace the wine with rich, dark Belgian beer. This stew is hearty and deeply comforting—slow-cooked beef that melts in your mouth, coated in a sweet-savory gravy with onions, mustard, and a hint of brown sugar.

Cultural Significance:
It’s a Flemish classic—perfect for cold days, lazy weekends, or anytime you’re craving comfort food.

Where to Eat It:
Look for it in Ghent’s traditional taverns, like ’t Oud Clooster, or Le Pain Quotidien for a cozy twist. In Bruges, De Vlaamsche Pot serves a soulful version with rustic bread.

Foodie Moment:
On a chilly February night in Ghent, I dipped my last fry into the thick, beer-soaked gravy—and I swear, it was one of the most satisfying bites of my life.

3. Belgian Waffles (Brussels & Liège Styles)

Taste & Texture:
The Brussels waffle is light, airy, and perfectly square with deep pockets ready to hold melting chocolate, whipped cream, or fresh berries. The Liège waffle is denser, sweeter, and caramelized with pearl sugar—more street snack than sit-down dessert.

Cultural Significance:
Waffles are a beloved Belgian snack, often eaten without utensils, especially the Liège variety.

Where to Eat It:
Street carts in Brussels’ Grand Place or Maison Dandoy, a historic bakery that elevates waffles to art. For Liège-style, just follow the scent wafting through train stations or weekend markets.

Pro Tip:
Skip the touristy Nutella overload—try it the local way with just a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of real Belgian chocolate.

4. Speculoos (Spiced Shortcrust Cookies)

Taste & Texture:
Crisp, caramelized, and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, these cookies crumble with just the right snap and melt like butter on the tongue.

Cultural Significance:
Once a Christmas treat, Speculoos has become a year-round obsession. It’s now a spread, a flavor, and a foodie phenomenon.

Where to Eat It:
Pick up artisanal versions at Maison Dandoy or try Speculoos ice cream at Gelateria Bargello in Leuven.

Foodie Fun Fact:
The cookie butter version (like Biscoff) was invented in Belgium and went viral worldwide—proof that Belgians know their sweets.

5. Belgian Chocolate & Pralines

Taste & Texture:
Silky, rich, and endlessly inventive, Belgian chocolates are world-famous for a reason. Pralines—bite-sized chocolates filled with ganache, creams, or nuts—are like edible jewels.

Cultural Significance:
Belgium takes chocolate seriously. Chocolatiers are treated like artists, and many still use century-old techniques.

Where to Eat It:
Go beyond the Godiva and Leonidas tourist traps. Visit Pierre Marcolini, Wittamer, or Neuhaus (the inventor of pralines!) in Brussels for gourmet experiences. Take a chocolate workshop in Bruges for hands-on fun.

Foodie Memory:
I once spent an hour sampling truffles at Chocolaterie Dumon in Bruges, each one better than the last. The hazelnut praline? Life-changing.

6. Stoofvlees Met Frieten (Beer-Braised Meat with Fries)

Taste & Texture:
Similar to carbonade, but this version sometimes uses pork or even wild game, slow-cooked in local Trappist beer. The meat is fork-tender, served with fries or bread to mop up the sauce.

Cultural Significance:
Popular in both Wallonia and Flanders, it’s the kind of dish you’d find at a family table on a Sunday.

Where to Eat It:
Try it at Café Vlissinghe, the oldest pub in Bruges (est. 1515), where you’ll feel the centuries of tradition with every bite.

7. Waterzooi

Taste & Texture:
A creamy, velvety stew made with chicken or fish, leeks, carrots, potatoes, and cream. The broth is delicate yet rich, and the vegetables melt into it like butter.

Cultural Significance:
A Flemish comfort food that originated in Ghent. “Waterzooi” means “simmering mess,” but don’t let that fool you—it’s elegant in every spoonful.

Where to Eat It:
For an authentic experience, try Restaurant De Graslei in Ghent overlooking the canal.

Pro Tip:
Pair it with a light wheat beer or a crisp white wine.

8. Boudin Blanc (White Sausage)

Taste & Texture:
Delicate, tender, and subtly seasoned with milk, onions, and spices. This white sausage is mild but flavorful, often pan-fried until golden.

Cultural Significance:
A traditional dish especially popular during festivals and market days, often eaten with applesauce or mashed potatoes.

Where to Eat It:
Find it at butcher stalls in Namur or Liège during local food markets, or try it as part of a charcuterie board at cozy taverns.

9. Garnaalkroketten (Shrimp Croquettes)

Taste & Texture:
Golden, crisp croquettes with a creamy, savory filling of North Sea grey shrimp. Salty, slightly sweet, and pure umami in every bite.

Cultural Significance:
A Belgian delicacy that showcases the bounty of the North Sea.

Where to Eat It:
Head to Knokke-Heist on the coast or Ostend’s fish market. In Brussels, Noordzee Mer du Nord serves them fresh with lemon and parsley.

Pro Tip:
These pair beautifully with a citrusy white beer.

10. Frikandel & Frites (Belgian Street Food Icon)

Taste & Texture:
A spiced meat sausage (frikandel) deep-fried and served with fries and an unholy mix of curry ketchup, mayo, and onions. It’s messy, nostalgic, and absurdly delicious at 2 a.m.

Cultural Significance:
Beloved by Belgians and perfect after a night out. It’s the ultimate guilty pleasure.

Where to Eat It:
Hit up a frituur (fry shack) in any town. Fritland in Brussels is a local legend.

Foodie Tip:
Order “frikandel speciaal” and don’t ask questions—just enjoy the ride.

Foodie Tips: How to Eat Like a Local in Belgium in 2025

1. Avoid the Tourist Traps:
Skip the overly commercial eateries near Grand Place and venture into side streets or neighborhoods like Ixelles in Brussels or Patershol in Ghent.

2. Explore Weekly Markets:
Local markets like Marché du Midi (Brussels) or Vrijdagmarkt (Ghent) are packed with regional goodies and authentic bites.

3. Book a Food Tour:
Join a Bruges Chocolate & Beer tour or a Brussels Culinary Walk to taste and learn simultaneously.

4. Visit a Trappist Brewery:
Try Westvleteren or Chimay for both food and world-renowned beer brewed by monks.

5. Don’t Miss These Food Festivals:

Brussels Food Festival (June) – Street food, live music, and artisan eats
Antwerp’s Smaakmeesters (October) – Chefs open their kitchens for tastings and workshops
Chocolate Week (February) – Held in multiple cities; yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds

Final Thoughts: Savor Every Bite of Belgium in 2025

Belgium might not shout the loudest on the European food scene—but it doesn’t have to. Its culinary culture speaks through rich stews, sugar-dusted waffles, world-class chocolates, and fries so good they’ve sparked international debate.

Whether you’re dining in a centuries-old tavern, grabbing waffles from a cart, or sampling pralines in a boutique chocolatier, Belgian food in 2025 is all about savoring the little things—and falling in love, bite by bite.

So, foodie friends: bring your appetite, wear stretchy pants, and let Belgium feed your soul.