Maison Antoine ★ 4.5
Maison Antoine in Brussels' Place Jourdan has been the canonical fritkot since 1948. Paper cones of double-fried Bintje potatoes, eaten standing or at the surrounding bars that allow Antoine bags.
Try: Frites with classic sauces
Eat well in Brussels for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Cheap eats worth seeking out
Frit Flagey ★ 4.4
Frit Flagey in Brussels' Ixelles is the green caravan on Place Eugène Flagey. Hand-cut Bintje potatoes, double-fried in beef fat, with the deepest sauce list in the city.
Try: Frites in beef fat
Fritland ★ 4.2
Fritland in Brussels is the late-night frites window behind the Bourse. The mitraillette (frites and meat in a baguette) is the cult Brussels dish; queue runs deep on weekend nights.
Try: Mitraillette and frites
Yummy Bowl ★ 4.4
Yummy Bowl in Brussels' city centre serves vegetarian and vegan bowls a few streets off the Grand Place. Pasta, noodle and grain bases loaded with seasonal vegetables and herbs; closed Mondays.
Try: Vegetarian and vegan grain bowl
Knees to Chin ★ 4.4
Knees to Chin in Brussels' Ixelles serves Vietnamese-inspired summer rolls and bowls with vegan options at the Bailli flagship. Counter ordering, fast service; lunch deals under €12 most weekdays.
Try: Caramelised tofu summer roll set
Bia Mara ★ 4.1
Bia Mara in Brussels' Saint-Gery is the British-style fish and chips counter near the Bourse. Sustainable cod, hand-cut chips, condiment bar runs Belgian; full meal under €15.
Try: Beer-battered cod and chips
Vitalgaufre ★ 3.8
Vitalgaufre in Brussels has been pressing Liège-style sugar waffles by hand since 1998 from Rue Neuve. Pearl-sugar batter, cast-iron irons; toppings include chocolate, whipped cream, strawberries.
Try: Liège-style waffle with toppings
Noordzee Mer du Nord ★ 4.5
Noordzee Mer du Nord in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine is the standing-only seafood counter. Shrimp croquettes, fish soup, oysters and grilled langoustines; cheap quality at the steel bar.
Try: Shrimp croquettes
Shezan ★ 4.0
Shezan in Brussels' Ixelles serves Pakistani halal lunch under €16 on Chaussee de Wavre. Tandoori grills, biryanis, full halal kitchen; weekday lunch deal is the value pick.
Try: Halal Pakistani biryani
Marche du Midi Stalls ★ 4.2
Marche du Midi stalls in Brussels fire Moroccan and Tunisian merguez every Sunday morning. The stalls run along Gare du Midi; merguez sandwiches lead the queue.
Try: Merguez sandwich