4 Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium

Chabrol

$$ | Schaerbeek Fodor's choice

Another example of a restaurant making the most of its appeal: charming Art Nouveau decoration, recycled tables, and a sustainable ethos. A pair of sisters are behind this admirable neighborhood eatery, where menus are short but sweet and limited by what is fresh and local that season (and day).  

Av. Louis Bertrand 57–61, Brussels, Brussels Capital, 1030, Belgium
02-463--1304
Known For
  • well-prepared, fresh cooking
  • friendly staff and chill atmosphere
  • a charming escape from the busy world
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Màloma

$$$$ | Schaerbeek Fodor's choice

Hidden away in the streets just to the south of Parc Josephat, opposite the wine bar Ethylo, the local buzz is strong about this charming restaurant. The "market menu" is adapted in case of intolerances and geared around local producers. Its focus on gut-friendly fermentation, from kefir to sauerkraut, is explained knowledgeably, as amuse bouches are carted out with enthusiasm. 

Rue Josse Impens 3, Brussels, Brussels Capital, 1030, Belgium
02-732--5816
Known For
  • the market menu is a pleasing journey
  • smart, friendly staff keen to help
  • its focus on malolactic fermentation puts it in an interesting niche
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

't Kiekekot

$$

In a city of students, it's no surprise that something so simple as a "chicken and bread" restaurant would take off. But it is also a thing of beauty. It has been going since the 1960s but closed for several years, reopening to much nostalgia and a hipper new look (think cocktails and decent beer) among the boutiques of Mechelsestraat. At its heart, it's just a hunk of delicious marinated roast chicken with a selection of sides (salads, veggies, apple sauce, hummus), but to locals, it's so much more than that. 

Mechelsestraat 46, Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium
016-657--508
Known For
  • tasty, and cheap—just a few euros for a half chicken
  • it's the perfect quick pick-up meal when shopping
  • the staff are friendly and the drinks choice is good
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Dewerf

$

This cheap, satisfying neighborhood café-restaurant never fails to please. Slightly removed from the center, on Hogeschoolplein, it's as much a lunch spot as a restaurant, but its cheap pastas and salads make for a good, filling meal on the go. Given the prices, it's no surprise that it's a student hot spot with a large terrace that fills up fast on warm days. The fact you can get its desserts from a vending machine seems to delight many a local customer.

Hogeschoolplein 5, Leuven, Flanders, 3000, Belgium
016-237--314
Known For
  • it's cheap (very cheap) and satisfying
  • the atmosphere is always young and bouncy
  • it's also a fine spot for a postdinner beer
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends