15 editor picks in Ghent.
Ghent's street food is steeped in local tradition, from frites and stoverij to the city's own sweets. The Groentenmarkt is the heart of it, home to Frites Atelier, the mustard maker Tierenteyn-Verlent and the purple cuberdon stalls, while Frituur Bij Sint-Jacobs serves the classic frites near the Bij Sint-Jacobs market square. It is everyday eating that doubles as a taste of the city's history.
15 street food places in Ghent we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Ghent · Street Food across every city.
Order Classic frites with andalouse sauce: the house sauce is tangier than most and justifies the queue.
Sergio Herman's upmarket frites counter at the Groentenmarkt has marble counters and stainless sauces pumped from brass-spigot barrels.
Order Frites with stoverij sauce: the Gentse beef stew sauce on twice-fried frites is the dish locals defend as the city's defining street snack.
The Sint-Jacobs friturkot has stood on the Friday Market square for generations: double-fried frites and the city's Gentse beef stew sauce served.
Order Classic raspberry cuberdons: eat them within minutes of buying to get the right texture contrast.
The competing cuberdon stalls at the Groentenmarkt are one of Ghent's most famous food rivalries.
Order A 250g pot of the classic mustard: buy it to take home, or ask for a tasting spoon at the counter.
Tierenteyn-Verlent has ladled its grainy Dijon-style mustard from barrels at the same Groentenmarkt address since 1790.
Order Frites with vegan curry sauce: the most-ordered combination at this plant-based frituur.
De Frietketel on Papegaaistraat is a fully plant-based frituur and Belgian Vegan Awards Best Fast Food winner, with vegan frites, sauces and snacks.
Order Liege waffle with caramelised pearl sugar: the pearl sugar pockets define the authentic Liege style.
Waffles and Beer near the Groentenmarkt serves Belgian Brussels and Liege waffles alongside a selected list of Belgian beers.
Order Multi-flavour cuberdon selection: try the blackcurrant and violet alongside the classic raspberry.
Bobonne is a vintage-styled cuberdon stall run by Nele in the middle of the historic centre.
Order Gruut Amber in a plastic cup from the kiosk: outdoor drinking, city beer, Ghent summer.
Gruut's outdoor kiosk at the city brewery dispenses all five house herb beers direct from tank for Gentse Feesten and summer evenings.
Order A paper cone of kroakemandels with malt vinegar: the snap and salt are the whole point.
Kroakemandels are fried English maple peas seasoned with salt and vinegar: a Ghent street snack that old-timers call the caviar of the working class.
Order Stoverij with frites and bread: the trifecta of Ghent food culture in a single bowl.
During Gentse Feesten and weekend markets, temporary stalls around the Groentenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt sell bowls of Gentse stoverij: the deep amber beef.
Order Vol-au-vent with frites: creamy chicken ragout in puff pastry alongside a cone of double-fried frites.
De Frietschap is a neighbourhood frituur that serves homemade stoverij, meatballs in tomato sauce and vol-au-vent alongside the standard frites range.
Order Fresh warm bolus from the market tray: the caramel coating is still tacky and the dough inside is pillowy.
The Gentse bolus is a sticky caramel-coated spiral bun unique to Ghent.
Order Half brisket plate with house pickles and white bread: the 12-hour smoke is the entire operation.
ROK BBQ at Dok Noord smokes brisket, ribs and lamb in a wood-fired pit and serves it at outdoor tables in the industrial port setting.
Order Seasonal praline tasting box of six: ask for the team's current recommendation.
Marijn Coertjens' shop near the Gravensteen produces what Gault and Millau considers the best pralines in Ghent.
Order Soup of the day plus bread roll: the combination is filling, seasonal and under budget.
Soup Lounge is a counter-service lunch spot where a bowl of daily-changing fresh soup, a bread roll and an apple costs under €9.
