Antwerp is a city located in the northern part of Belgium, so its cuisine is typically Belgian, enriched, however, by some French recipes.
The port of Antwerp, overlooking the North Sea, is the second largest in Europe. Over time, ingredients and spices from all over the world have come to the city and their entry has greatly enriched the city's typical dishes.
Here are the 10 things to eat in Antwerp and where.
1 - Asperges op z'n Vlaams
Photo by Ibu. A very common appetiser, this is cooked asparagus accompanied by chopped hard-boiled eggs and a sauce made of melted butter. In some versions, shrimps are added.
Recommended for: appetiser
Average cost: €9.00
Main ingredients: asparagus, parsley, nutmeg, salt, eggs, butter, pepper
2 - Flemish-style Carbonade
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Photo by Jiel Beaumadier This is a typical dish to be eaten during the colder months. Every family and every restaurant offers its own version, but in general it is a dish made with beef cut into small pieces, carefully cooked with Belgian beer and herbs. In the past, wild boar was used, while nowadays the more tender parts of the beef, such as the underbelly, rump, royal, and nut are favoured. Occasionally, mustard is added.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €18.00
Main ingredients: beef, beer, onion, flour, butter, thyme, bread, black pepper, bay leaf, mustard, salt, extra virgin olive oil
3 - Moules et frites (Belgian-style mussels)
Photo by Luistxo. Belgian-style musselsare the national dish par excellence.
Apparently, the combination of mussels and f ries dates back to 1875, and for a long time now there have been annual festivals and fairs where large quantities of mussels are consumed. The dish involves cooking the mussels in butter, deglazing them with white wine (or white beer) and then flavouring them with onion, parsley and celery.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €19.00
Main ingredients: mussels, celery, onion, parsley, white wine, butter, salt, pepper, potatoes
4 - Belgian stockfish with carrots
Photo by Simon Aughton. Atypical Belgianside dish: it is a dish of mashed potatoes, to which some vegetables, such as often carrots, are added with bacon, nutmeg, pepper and cream. Usually this dish accompanies the Flemish-style carbonade.
Recommended: side dish
Average cost: €12.00
Main ingredients: potatoes, smoked bacon, fresh cream, black pepper, carrots, butter, nutmeg, salt
5 - Belgian Soup
On cold winter days, eating a warm soup is not only rejuvenating, but becomes a true sensory experience.
Belgian soup is prepared with boiled sprouts, some of which are browned in butter, the others mixed with béchamel sauce. Finally, a cream is obtained, which is enriched with the previously browned sprouts before serving.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €14.00
Main ingredients: sprouts, béchamel, water, salt
6 - Waterzooi
Photo by Masaaki Komori. This is one of the typical dishes of Flanders. It is a soup that can be made with fish or chicken, in which turnip sticks, carrots, celery, leek and various fragrant herbs are cooked. At the end, the soup is served with the addition of cream or yoghurt, and usually eaten with slices of bread.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €15.00
Main ingredients: chicken (or fish), celery, leek, carrots, turnip, liquid cream, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, bay leaf, parsley
7 - Konijn met pruimen
Photo by Accidental Hedonist. A traditional dish, this is the rabbit stew, which is cleverly accompanied by a sauce made of prunes and Belgian beer. Everything is cooked together with spices and herbs.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: €18.00
Main ingredients: rabbit, pepper, salt, prunes, flour, beer, mustard, bay leaf, thyme, chicory
8 - Antwerppse Handjes (Antwerp Handjes)
Photo by Ibu. These are famous hand-shaped shortbread biscuits, whose name derives from an ancient legend, according to which the Roman hero Silvius Brabo, killed the giant Druoon Antigoon, putting an end to the duties that the giant imposed on everything transported on the river Scheldt. Brabo, whose statue stands in the city's main square, cut off his enemy's hand, throwing it into the river.
The cakes are made of eggs, flour, almonds and butter, and a chocolate version (white or dark) has also been around for some time.
Recommended: snack
Average cost: €8.00
Main ingredients: butter, flour, eggs, almonds
9 - Gaufres de Liege
These are typical Belgian pastries (similar in shape to waffles, but different in dough) made from a batter of flour, butter, brewer's yeast, milk, eggs and pearl sugar.
This batter is baked in a special waffle maker, which gives it its typical square shape with a honeycomb surface. The gaufres are then filled to taste with jam, melted chocolate, maple syrup, whipped cream or fresh fruit.
Recommended for: breakfast, snack
Average cost: €7.00
Main ingredients: flour, milk, brewer's yeast, eggs, salt, butter, pearl sugar
10 - Elixir d'Anvers
Photo by Fanny Schertzer. This is a liqueur produced in Belgium since 1863. It is obtained by macerating 32 plants and herbs together with pure alcohol and water. The derivative is then combined with sugar and aged in oak or oak barrels. Production can last a total of five months. It is usually consumed as a digestive or aperitif.
Recommended: digestive, aperitif
Average cost: €4.00
Main ingredients: 32 secret plants, alcohol, sugar
Where to eat in Antwerp: best restaurants, cafés and street food
Antwerp is full of bars and restaurants where you can take a rejuvenating break while strolling through the centre. There are many pubs where you can enjoy a wide variety of beer and an excellent aperitif, just as there are many places specialising in fast food, where you can buy and enjoy the famous Chips, the authentic Belgian ones with their inimitable flavour.
The main meal is dinner, and in most cases these are single dishes, usually accompanied by French fries or sprouts.
In addition, there are many fine restaurants in the city, where the more traditional cuisine is mixed with innovation, with meat dishes, fish and, most importantly, accompanied by many varieties of beer!
Here are the best places to eat in Antwerp:
1 - Fritkot Max
Description: fast food restaurant in the city centre, specialising in the famous Chips.
Speciality: French fries
Average price: from €6,00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
2 - De Pottekijker
Description: Typical place to eat meat according to traditional recipes
Speciality: grilled meat
Average price: from €16.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
3 - Maritime
Description: historic restaurant in the city centre particularly suitable for fish lovers
Speciality: eel in green sauce
Average price: from €24.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
4 - Ciro's
Description: restaurant where you can enjoy excellent meat and sauces
Speciality: meat
Average price: from €18.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Website
5 - Restaurant Lux
Description: refined and elegant restaurant, specialising in fish dishes.
Speciality: crab
Average price: from €30.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
6 - The Jane
Description: sophisticated cuisine in an elegant, avant-garde setting
Speciality: innovative cuisine
Average price: from €70.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
7 - Lints
Description: boutique of traditional and non-traditional pastries, ideal for brunch or a hearty breakfast
Speciality: cakes and pastries
Average price: from €6.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Website
8 - Paters Vaetje
Description: located near the cathedral, this place offers more than 100 types of beer
Speciality: beer
Average price: from €4.00 per person
Address: Get directions - Facebook page
