Where to eat in Antwerp

Antwerp is a city that, in addition to its architectural charm and rich history, offers a whole gastronomic scene to explore as it is a city larger than Bruges o Ghent. Here you will be able to try from the traditional Belgian food such as the famous potato chips or the succulent beef stew up to delicacies international that will delight your palate.

In this article we will be telling you about our favorite places to eat in Antwerp, from a cozy restaurant of ramen perfect for a cold winter's day, to a delightful place of italian street food which offers authentic Sicilian cannoli. And of course, without forgetting the famous Belgian beer and gastronomy: you can't leave without trying a mussel dish or a waffle with chocolate.

We are sure that, whatever your taste, you will find in this list a perfect restaurant to enjoy during your visit to Antwerp. If you want to know which one is our favorite of the listyou have to go all the way to the end.

Takumi Ramen

Restaurant specialized in ramen which is perfect to counteract the cold weather in Belgium if you do like us and go in winter, is there anything better than a warm ramen for this? If you are not a big fan, don't worry because they also have dishes of yakisoba or gyozas.

We went straight for the miso and black garlic ramen that came with fried chicken and gyozas and for another very similar one, but with pig. Both were spectacular and the dishes were quite plentiful, then we almost didn't feel like moving to continue seeing Antwerp.

It has a quite extensive opening hours since we ran out of time seeing the city and we ate around 15h. Even so, we stood in line for a while since the place is not very big and is quite central (we went to the one on Groenplaats, although there are several). The average price per person is 25€ and the food is excellent.

2. Frites Atelier Antwerpen

As in all Belgian cities, in Antwerp there are also options to taste the famous Belgian fries. This place specializes in gourmet potato chips Imagine potatoes crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, served with a wide variety of delicious sauces, incredible! In addition to French fries, you can also try juicy hamburgers y sandwiches with all kinds of fried foods and sauces.

We specifically tested the potatoes with kimchi and cheese sauce and the veal stew croquettes Although we did it in the restaurant in Ghent, not in this one. The croquettes were very tasty and the fries were one of the best we liked on our route through Belgium (although they are still fries).

The location in the heart of Antwerp is perfect to enjoy a quick meal while exploring the city. The average price is 15 per person Frites Atelier is one of the restaurants where you can find eat cheaply in Antwerp.

3. From Bomma

Restaurant specialized in traditional Belgian dishes with homemade recipes and flavors that transport you directly to grandma's kitchen ("bomma"). If you are looking for an authentic and comforting meal, this place is a must visit. In addition, the restaurant is located right next to the river and from its terrace you can enjoy a great view of the river views to Steen Castle.

From Bomma is undoubtedly one of the best places to eat mussels in Antwerp if you haven't tried this typical Belgian dish yet. They have menu of the day for 22€ with 2 courses or 24€ with 3 courses. We ordered the two course menu and tasted some soups of the day that were quite tasty and the famous veal stew with Belgian beer that was super tasty. Good homemade food, as if your grandmother made it.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy and super curious as it is full of pictures of grandmothers! If you are lucky and go on a sunny day you will be able to enjoy the terrace. One of the most recommended restaurants to eat well in Antwerp. The average price is 25-30€ per person.

4. Cannolo

This local of italian street food is known for its authentic Italian flavors and, in particular, for its delicious cannoli sicialianos. Perfect for a short stop and recharge your batteries whether you want to try some of the famous Italian dishes such as arancini or pane cunzatu, or if you just want to have dessert there, the cannoli are spectacular!

The cannoli are undoubtedly the protagonists here. We especially liked the cannoli stuffed with pistachios and that of chocolate although the classics also look amazing.

Cannolo is a little corner of Italy in Antwerp, with its colorful decor and street style. You can enjoy the food inside or sit at the tables of the terrace weather permitting. The average price per person is 20€ if you are going to eat, although they also have a menu four-course meal in the evenings of 39€.

5. Bia Mara

This restaurant specializes in fish & chips is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp to grab a quick bite to eat and cheap. Its crunchy breading with panko, the Japanese breadcrumbs, stands out, which gives a different touch to the typical fried fish. They also have different chicken and fish burgers, all accompanied with fries.

We tested the classic fish & chips and some chicken nuggets also breaded with panko, very tasty and crunchy accompanied with the homemade truffle and garlic sauce. All the food was delicious, although we must remember that it is a fast food place, do not expect anything else.  

It is located in Maalderijstraat, a very central street in Antwerp, right next to the Grote Markt. The average price is 20 per person being one of the cheapest places to eat in Antwerp. They also have a location in Brussels and another one in Leuven.

6. Beer Central Antwerp

This place is the perfect restaurant for the lovers of the beer as it combines the best dishes of the Flemish cuisine with an impressive selection of draft and bottled beers. They have all the typical Flemish dishes like stoemp, beef stew, waterzooi, and also the typical sandwiches or sausage platters to nibble on with your beer.

The best thing for us was that they have a menu of the day from M-F where by 20€ you have a main course and a soup or coffee. This dish changes every day, and we tried a kind of meat in sauce that was very tasty.

The inside is like a classic Belgian brewery, all made of wood with beer taps, and it is located near the train station.

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7. Da Giovanni Groenplaats

This restaurant is the gastronomic temple for the lovers of the Italian food in Antwerp. It is one of the most popular restaurants in the city due to its good food and its excellent location, right on the Groenplaats. It has a fairly extensive menu, where you can taste delicious pizzas and pasta dishes for all tastes. We tried their chicken cannelloni and a gorgonzola pizza which were delicious.

It is quite a touristy place, and thanks to this its opening hours are extensive The food is quite good for the price, but it is certainly not the best Italian restaurant we have tried. The food is quite good for the price, but it is certainly not one of the best Italian restaurants we have tried. They have several places along the same street, creating almost a small "Italian square" in the heart of the city. The price per person is 23 per person.

8. Billie's

As good beer lovers, we recommend this small central Antwerp pub in the purest Antwerp style Belgian brewery. Although the beer is the protagonist here, they also serve a wide variety of dishes from both the Flemish cuisine as of snacking chicken wings, nachos, or even some calamari a la romana (we don't know how it will be, we wouldn't bet on it hehe).

We were tasting some of their exquisite beers they have 11 taps! For snacks we tried the croquettes which are not bad at all, and a little bit of cheese and sausage which, without being the best in the world, go very well with beer. The average price per person if you eat from picoteo is around 20€. and is already up to 30€ if you order a main course accompanied by a good beer.  

9. Via-Via

This restaurant is a place with a special charm in Antwerp, known for its merger on Belgian food y international food with dishes that will make you travel the world without leaving the table. It is one of the best restaurants in Antwerp where you can taste the flavors of different cultures without spending your salary on it.

You can eat tapas for an average price of 6€, main courses ranging from 16€ to 24€, or a 3-course set menu for 35€. We tried a Thai curry that was super tasty and a moussaka spectacular. We loved the mix of flavors, the truth is that it exceeded our expectations.

The place is very cozy and has a bohemian charm. Ideal for a short break in any tour of Antwerp.

10. Manhattn's Burgers

This Belgian hamburger chain has locations in several cities in Belgium where it makes hamburgers New York style. They use local products and make their own brioches every day. As a good Belgian restaurant, they also have a good selection of craft beers and even make their own homemade iced tea.

They do not disappoint with their Rockefeller Burger with Angus beef, bacon and barbecue sauce, or his Gatsby Burger with a truffle sauce that was finger-licking good.

They have a large, modern place full of lights that catches the eye as you walk by, and the service is unbeatable. The average price per person is 20€. They have other locations in Ghent, Brussels and Leuven, so you can also take advantage if you are in one of these cities.

Our favorite restaurants from the list

If you need a quick summary of the article we will tell you that these are the restaurants we would choose if we were passing through and we could only choose one.

Best restaurant for cheap food in Antwerp

We don't know if it was because it was very cold that day or because Belgian food doesn't seem spectacular to us, but for us the best restaurant to eat cheap in Antwerp is Takumi Ramen. Abundant and super tasty dishes with a very good quality-price ratio.

Where to eat mussels in Antwerp

As we have already told you in this and other articles about where to eat in Belgiumthe mussels are one of the most famous dishes of Belgian gastronomy and although they are served in many restaurants, not all of them preserve the original essence of the dish and many choose to focus more on the tourist than on its tradition.
If you are looking for the best restaurant where to eat mussels in Antwerp we recommend you to try the dish of From Bomma. It can be booked online and although it is not quite cheap, it is in line with the average price in Belgium. These are the types of mussels that you will find at the restaurant menu:

• Natural mussels: 23,90 €.
• Mussels in white wine: 24,90€.
• Mussels with garlic: 24,90€.
• Cream of mussels cream: 24,90€.
• Mussels "De Bomma" style: 25,90 €.

Where to eat waffles in Antwerp

If you still haven't tried this Belgian delicacy or better yet, you are already hooked on its sweets and need another sugar shot, you can go to Chez Albert a place recognized in Belgium for having the the richest waffles in the country with an amazing variety of flavors. We love it with chocolate but it is true that the dough is so good that it doesn't matter what they serve it with.

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