Where to eat in Ghent

Ghent is a small Belgian city full of charm. If you have known other cities like Brussels or Antwerp, you will see that Ghent maintains a more local feel and this is reflected in its restaurants. For lunch and dinner you will have to adapt to the Belgian schedule unless you want to end up in any kebab.

In this article, we tell you which were the most important best places to eat in Ghent based on our experience. From traditional food restaurants to some with more modern proposals or hidden taverns. So if you are planning a trip to Ghent and want to experience real Belgian food, read on.

1. Balls&glory

Restaurant specialized in meatballs as the name suggests. They have a menu where you choose the different options to form your dish: the type of meatball you want, the side dish and the sauce, as well as including a drink. You can also choose a menu with several meatballs and more accompaniments, to share. But don't miss the best part, the meatballs are stuffed!

We ask for the individual menu (21€ pp) We had truffle-stuffed meatballs with stoemp (a puree with very tasty sauces) and we loved it, although it is true that if you are a little hungry it can be scarce. The menu for two is 25€ pp. It is one of the best options for dinner in Ghent and then have a drink in a brewery, as it is quite good value for money.

2. T' Vosken

Restaurant with typical Belgian cuisine and Ghent specialties located right next to the St. Bavon Cathedral. Some friends recommended it to us and we thought it was going to be super expensive for being right in the center, but it is quite reasonably priced for Belgium.

We ordered as a starter the shrimp croquettes and then a plate of Carbonade Flamande (veal stew in sauce with french fries) and another of Chicken Waterzooi (vegetable soup with chicken), typical of Ghent. We ate deliciously and the dishes were quite abundant. We especially liked the carbonade flamande, the flavor of the sauce was spectacular.

It has a terrace It looks very good to enjoy the sun in summer, although we could not sit down because it was quite cool and drizzling. The average price is 30€ pp.

3. Le Botaniste

If you are looking for a place to eat something tasty and healthy you have to try Le Botaniste. This vegan restaurant has a menu entirely based on organic food and plant-based.

Its bowls are customizable with different garnishes and toppings: salads, pasta dishes, hummus o quinoa. All fresh and healthy as their philosophy is based on avoiding saturated fats and added sugars, cooking with organic food.

We tried the pea hummus and a bowl with rice and vegetables with curry sauce, and another with meatless chili. We don't usually go to vegan restaurants but the truth is that everything was delicious. The average price is 17€ pp and they also have a menu of the day.

4. Soup Lounge

The best option to recover the heat on a cold Belgian day is this restaurant whose main menu is based on soups. It is noted that they are quite home and you can choose among the different flavors of the day they have: tomato, leek, peas, etc. In addition, you can add toppings such as croutons, cheese, or mini meatballs.

It is one of the cheapest places to eat in Ghent, as it is for only 7€. you have a large soup, bread, drink and fruit. It's the perfect place to complement with a Belgian waffle for dessert.

5. Krookcafe

This restaurant-cafeteria is located in one of the most curious and modern buildings in Ghent De Krook Library. It is a very frequented place by students going to the library so its prices are quite affordable.

You can have breakfast, a light lunch, a snack or even a drink, as they also serve cocktails. It is not the most elaborate cuisine in the world, but it is quite good and light: they serve avocado toast, buda bowls, pasta dishes, yogurt soup with different toppings.

We went to see the building and while we were there we had a bite to eat and we liked it a lot, especially the location. The average price depends on whether you go for breakfast or lunch, but it is quite cheap. You can eat a soup for 5,5€. or a sandwich for 9€.. In addition, it has a terrace which we were not able to try, but it looks perfect for a sunny day.

6. Soup'r

Restaurant specialized in soups with the same spirit of the Soup Lounge, to eat good, nice and cheap. For a very affordable price (between 6-9€ a soup depending on the size and type) they have a menu of soup, bread, drink and dessert. There are carrot soups, very tasty mushroom soups, or bolognese (very curious), and you can add toppings such as fried onions or croutons.

They also serve a wide variety of snacks and have a soup + sandwich menu for 15€. which is the one we ordered. It is one of the best options to eat healthy and cheap in Ghent.

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7. Frites Atelier

Fast food restaurant with locations in different cities of Belgium. It specializes in fried food, and the menu is dominated by the famous Belgian fries with different sauces, croquettes and hamburgers.

We quite liked their fries as they have some more "gourmet" combinations than other places: french fries with beef stew or with kimchi sauce are some of the examples. The croquettes are also tasty. The average price varies between 10-16€ pp is also one of the places where eat cheaply in Ghent.

8. Tante Paula

Small cafeteria-type establishment a little further away from the center where they serve snacks and sweets. The interior of the site is decorated vintage It looks like a cozy living room, and it's inside a photo store!

We went for a coffee and a sweet but you can also eat at lunchtime since they serve sandwiches and soups. It is a very local place that we recommend for the friendliness of the staff and the curious decoration, perfect for a short stop and recharge your batteries. By 6€ you can take a coffee with some tasty cake.

9. De Graslei

Traditional Belgian cuisine restaurant located in one of the most famous areas of Ghent, the Graslei wharf. It is not one of the cheapest restaurants you will find, but we recommend it if you want to have a meal in a special place. Above all, at night the views to the channel are spectacular!

They have all the famous dishes of the Belgian gastronomy, from the scampi diabolique (a kind of spicy shrimp with garlic), the waterzooi (chicken or fish soup), the typical meatballs with tomato or the mussels steamed with french fries - it's going to be hard to choose!

The average price of the restaurant is 30€ pp.

10. Amadeus

Famous Belgian chain specialized in grilled ribs. They have locations in Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges. They have a menu of ribs unlimited for 22,5€. for those with a sweet tooth and meat lovers. Honestly, they are not the best ribs, but the quality-price ratio is quite good for Belgium. They come with a baked potato with sauce and a little salad.

It is one of the restaurants in Ghent where you can eat more quantity for an affordable price, although do not expect exceptional quality. It is also quite famous for its Irish coffee.

11. Paul's boutique

This hamburger joint is located right on the Gent-Sint-Peters train station It is perfect if you have to make a quick stop before visiting another city. They have a variety of hamburgers, including some vegetarian ones, whose price varies between 6 and 10€. The hamburgers are quite economical. To all the hamburgers you can add more ingredients, such as cheese or bacon and the potatoes are purchased separately.

Since a hamburger is almost always in the mood at some point during the trip, this is a fairly quick and cheap option for a meal in Ghent.

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement Where to eat in Ghent you can visit our posts about Belgium.