One thing is certain in visiting Belgium – you’ll be in foodie heaven. Belgian waffles are one of the most popular snack foods in the country, and they’re served up from little stalls and tiny cafés. You’ll even find vans, often in parks, serving up warm waffles to eat on the go.
You’ll find the best Belgian waffles in Brussels, Belgium’s capital city. Although it’s pretty difficult to find a bad Belgian waffle, check out these recommendations to find the warmest, doughiest, crispiest waffles out there.
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What’s the Difference Between a Brussels Waffle and a Liège Waffle?
There are two main types of Belgian waffles that you’ll likely come across when looking to buy. They are Brussels Waffles and Liège waffles, named after the respective cities from which they originated. Both types of waffles are made with the same basic ingredients, but they are quite different.
Brussels Waffles are similar to those you can get in the supermarket and might pop in the toaster to warm up. They are square and quite uniform. The Liège waffles, however, are much thicker and have crunchy sugar pearls in them.
You might think that all the best Belgian Waffles in Brussels are Brussels waffles, but Liège waffles are actually the most popular! The recommendations in this post sell the Liège waffle almost exclusively.
What are Waffles Called in Belgium?
In Belgium, there are three official languages used in the Walloon, Flemish and German regions of the country (French, Flemish/Dutch and German respectively). Brussels lies between Wallonia and Flanders, so you may find waffles advertised as gaufres (French) or wafels (Dutch).
English is spoken widely in Brussels, so a lot of the time you’ll see waffles advertised in their English name, but it’s useful to know the French and Dutch translations just in case.
How to Eat Belgian Waffles
You’ll find all sorts of toppings available for your waffle, and the combinations are endless. Whipped cream is the most popular base, and then you can add different sauces, fruits and other great treats.
However, while it can be fun to try out different combinations of toppings, nothing can beat a waffle nature, i.e. a plain waffle. It is the best way to really appreciate the wonderfully warm, doughy snack, and this is especially true for Liège waffles. Plus, they’re much easier to eat on the go!
How Much Do Belgian Waffles Cost?
If you’re looking to try Belgian waffles on a budget, you’re in luck, because the delicious snacks will only set you back a couple of euros. Toppings will cost anywhere between €0,50-€2 extra.
Increased price does not guarantee increased quality, and with this list of the best Belgian waffles in Brussels, I’m balancing the two. There are popular waffle cafés charging upwards of €5 for a plain waffle (Maison Dandoy, I’m looking at you), and it’s the same quality that you can find at any of the spots on this list where you’ll pay much less.
Are Belgian Waffles Vegan?
Belgian waffles, both Liège and Brussels, contain dairy ingredients like milk and butter, as well as eggs, so most Belgian waffles are not vegan.
No need to worry, as you can find a few places serving up vegan waffles in Brussels so you don’t have to miss out! I’ve included one at the end of this post that’s right in the centre of the city, so read on to find out all about it.
Read Next: Where To Get The Best Belgian Fries in Brussels
Check out these top Brussels attractions
The Best Belgian Waffles in Brussels
Now it’s time to get down to business – here’s the list of the best Belgian waffles in Brussels. In this next section, you’ll find my 4 favourite spots for waffles, as well as a vegan option.
Each offering up something different, I recommend trying any and all of these spots!
Australian
Australian waffles are a Belgian institution, with six locations in Brussels alone, and over 30 around Belgium. They started out making ice cream on the Belgian coast and soon expanded to produce waffles, which they do a very good job at. All the waffles in this list are exceptional, but Australian are the best ones I have ever tried, and I don’t even want to think about how many waffles I’ve eaten here!
A plain waffle costs €2 from Australian and there are many toppings such as fruit and sauces. There are premade combos that you can select, or pick your own toppings. Since Australian also specialise in ice cream, I recommend choosing one of their amazing flavours to top your waffle.
Top tip: If you’re vegan, dairy-free, or watching your sugar intake, Australian will have ice cream that caters to you. Unfortunately, this is not the case for their waffles, but at least you can try some ice cream.
Check out Australian Ice’s website to see all the locations across Brussels and their opening hours.
Los Churros & Waffle
Bringing Spanish influence to the heart of Brussels, Los Churros & Waffle has two locations, on either side of Grand Place. This is the perfect place to grab a waffle and enjoy the views around Brussels’ main square.
Although we’re talking about the best Belgian waffles in Brussels here, it can’t hurt to branch out and try some of the amazing churros on offer! Los Churros & Waffle have the most amazing looking topping combinations on display, and they definitely draw you in. You can even enjoy macarons on top of your waffle!
Plain waffles are €2 and tubs of churros start from the same price.
Address: Tabora | Marché aux Herbes
Gaston
There’s a trend in Brussels of ice cream parlours also producing incredible waffles. We’ve already seen it with Australian, and now we have Gaston, in the stylish area of Sainte-Catherine. You can grab a waffle from Gaston and enjoy it in the lively Marché aux Poissons.
If you’re lucky, you’ll see Gaston’s charming little ice cream cart outside the shop, and can grab some delicious ice cream there. Waffles and coffees are served up inside.
Waffles are around €3 here. For reference, when I visited Gaston, I paid €11,50 for two waffles (one with cream) and a latte.
Vitalgaufre
For a completely different waffle experience, try Vitalgaufre’s filled waffles. They come in a few flavours, such as raspberry and chocolate, and appear like regular, plain Liège waffle at first glance. However, when you bite in, you’ll find little pockets of sauce giving bursts of flavour.
You’ll find Vitalgaufre tucked in an unassuming kiosk on Rue Neuve, Brussels’ main shopping street. It makes the perfect snack while you are shopping in Brussels, or passing through some of the covered passages you’ll find around the centre.
A filled waffle from Vitalgaufre costs just under €3. You can still get all the typical toppings but these are best enjoyed plain, as the filling makes them sweet enough to enjoy on their own.
Vegan Belgian Waffles in Brussels – VeganWaf
As mentioned earlier, Belgian waffles are unfortunately not vegan. However, there are a few places offering up vegan recipes. One of the most popular of these spots is VeganWaf.
VeganWaf is a dedicated Vegan site meaning that everything they serve up is vegan – waffles, ice cream and syrup. I won’t lie, they don’t quite match up to a regular waffle, but they are still a great alternative when you can’t have one of those!
Looking for gluten-free Belgian waffles in Brussels? You’re in luck, as VeganWaf’s recipes are also gluten-free!
Savoury Belgian Waffles in Brussels – Hashtag Chicken and Waffles
I don’t think savoury Belgian waffles are something that crosses many people’s minds when planning a trip to Brussels, but you might just find a new obsession in Hashtag Chicken and Waffles
This modern restaurant has been running for a couple of years now, and its main offering is chicken burgers served in waffles instead of a bun. It can be a messy experience but the food is delicious and definitely one of the most unique places to eat in Brussels.
This is just a tiny delve into some of the best Belgian waffles in Brussels. There are certainly many more places to be discovered, and I encourage you to go out and find them… if you haven’t gone into a waffle coma after trying all of these spots! If you have any amazing spots for Belgian waffles in Brussels, please share them with me in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!
If you’re looking for more Brussels content, you might want to check out my Brussels Atomium Guide or the Complete Guide to the Brussels Comic Book Route.
I love getting the liège waffles from the waffle vans parked around Brussels too!