Belgian shrimp croquettes: a thick bechamel set with North Sea grey shrimps, breaded and fried golden, served with deep-fried parsley and a wedge of lemon.
Crevettes grises, the small North Sea brown shrimp, have been a Belgian and Dutch coastal staple for centuries, peeled by hand by Ostend and Zeebrugge fishing families. The croquette format emerged in 19th-century Belgian brasseries as a way to extend a small catch of shrimp into a substantial first course. Noordzee on Rue Sainte-Catherine standardised the Brussels version: standing-only counter, two-croquette portion, deep-fried parsley garnish.
4 editor picks for Croquettes aux crevettes grises in Brussels, ranked by editorial score. All Brussels signature dishes · Croquettes aux crevettes grises across every city.
Noordzee Mer du Nord ★ 4.5
sainte-catherine · Rue Sainte-Catherine 45, 1000 Brussels
Noordzee Mer du Nord on Rue Sainte-Catherine in Brussels is the standing-only seafood counter the city is built around. The kitchen runs fish soup, oysters and grilled langoustines to the steel bar all day.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles ★ 4.2
sainte-catherine · Rue des Bouchers 13, 1000 Brussels
Aux Armes de Bruxelles on Rue des Bouchers has been running since 1921, with Calixte Veulemans opening as a brasserie. Rudy Vanlancker of Chez Leon bought the house in 2018.
Brasserie Ploegmans ★ 4.1
marolles · Rue Haute 148, 1000 Brussels
Brasserie Ploegmans in Brussels' Marolles is the wood-panelled local that runs Belgian standards: meatballs, shrimp croquettes, choucroute garnie. Half a block from Place du Jeu de Balle.
Au Stekerlapatte ★ 4.0
marolles · Rue des Prêtres 4, 1000 Brussels
Au Stekerlapatte in Brussels' Marolles is the wood-panelled bistro on Rue des Pretres. Boudin noir with caramelised apples, shrimp croquettes, the chalkboard runs Brussels classics.