Kroakemandels at Vrijdagmarkt is a street-food stop in Vrijdagmarkt, Ghent.
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. Market.
Must order: A paper cone of kroakemandels with malt vinegar: the snap and salt are the whole point.
Tip: Most reliably available during Gentse Feesten (mid-July) and at the Friday morning Vrijdagmarkt; rare outside festival season.
Address: Vrijdagmarkt, 9000 Gent, Ghent
During Gentse Feesten and weekend markets, temporary stalls around the Groentenmarkt and Vrijdagmarkt sell bowls of Gentse stoverij: the deep amber beef.
Order: Stoverij with frites and bread: the trifecta of Ghent food culture in a single bowl.
Tip: Available year-round at many brasseries; the street stall version during Gentse Feesten in July is the most atmospheric way to try it.
De Frietschap is a neighbourhood frituur that serves homemade stoverij, meatballs in tomato sauce and vol-au-vent alongside the standard frites range.
Order: Vol-au-vent with frites: creamy chicken ragout in puff pastry alongside a cone of double-fried frites.
Tip: The Rooigemlaan branch is open until 22:30; the Brugsesteenweg location opens earlier. Both serve the full menu.
The Gentse bolus is a sticky caramel-coated spiral bun unique to Ghent. Market bakers sell them warm from trays at the Saturday and Friday markets. The Baba.
Order: Fresh warm bolus from the market tray: the caramel coating is still tacky and the dough inside is pillowy.
Tip: Available at the Friday Vrijdagmarkt and Saturday Groentenmarkt; also sold year-round from Himschoot at Groentenmarkt 1.
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. Weekend afternoons.
Order: Half brisket plate with house pickles and white bread: the 12-hour smoke is the entire operation.
Tip: Weekend afternoons only; comes before noon on Saturdays to guarantee brisket availability.
Marijn Coertjens' shop near the Gravensteen produces what Gault and Millau considers the best pralines in Ghent. The seasonal praline range changes monthly.
Order: Seasonal praline tasting box of six: ask for the team's current recommendation.
Tip: Buy pralines here and eat them in the Patershol lanes. They travel better than cuberdons.
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. The formula has been.
Order: Soup of the day plus bread roll: the combination is filling, seasonal and under budget.
Tip: Arrives before 13:00 to get the full daily soup choice; a second or third type runs out first.
