Eating cheaply in Brussels is not mission impossible, especially if you’re indulging in waffles and fries! But since variety is key, Brussels offers numerous affordable restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world. The quickest and easiest option is to head to Rue des Bouchers, where there are plenty of restaurants with economical menus available at all times. In this post, we’ll share 10 restaurants where you can eat cheaply in Brussels, allowing you to enjoy a good meal without spending too much.
Frites Atelier, our favorite place for cheap eats in Brussels
If you’re in Belgium, you must try the fries. They’re the best in the world! Eating this delicacy is also a great option for cheap eats in Brussels. One of the best places to try them is Frites Atelier. The restaurant is centrally located and quite spacious.
For reference, a generous serving of fries costs €5.95 and includes two delicious sauces (the truffle sauce is especially amazing). If you prefer something more elaborate, they also have other servings of fries with various toppings, though the price is a bit higher.
Tonton Garby, one of the most famous places for cheap eats in Brussels
This spot is an institution in Brussels, especially if you want to eat cheaply. Both locals and tourists flock to this place to enjoy their incredible sandwiches. They’re delicious, and most importantly, the ingredients are top quality, which you can taste.
The staff is super friendly and always ready to suggest the best combinations based on your preferences. Without a doubt, one of the best places for cheap eats in Brussels.
Plaka
In the heart of Brussels, you’ll find several Greek restaurants. We thought Plaka was the best, although it’s not quite the same as eating in Greece. They serve traditional Greek dishes at economical prices, making it a good option for cheap eats in Brussels!
The restaurant itself isn’t very appealing, but the food is decent and the prices are very affordable. For example, you can get a gyros in pita bread for just €4.50. These are almost unbeatable prices in the Belgian capital!
Peck47
This is the trendy spot for brunch or a quick meal in Brussels. They make delicious sandwiches, burgers, and salads, but their specialty is cakes. Their motto is “cake or death,” so you shouldn’t leave without trying one. As cheesecake enthusiasts, we confirm that Peck47’s is delicious.
The best part is they offer several budget-friendly menus. For example, from Monday to Friday, they offer a soup of the day for €8 or burgers and sandwiches for €13.50.
They also make savory waffles and finger-licking good milkshakes. All this in a cozy spot where they pay attention to every detail.
Bia Mara, a great option for cheap eats in Brussels
At Bia Mara, they serve what many consider the best fish and chips in Brussels. For €13, you get a generous portion of fresh, quality fish with various breading options and delicious fries. They also have chicken options and even vegetarian dishes.
Even though it’s a quick-eat spot where you’re expected to leave your table after eating, the service is excellent. And the best part is it’s centrally located, right next to the Grand Place!
G Spud
Near the Palace of Justice, this restaurant bases its menu on baked potatoes. From there, each person chooses what to accompany them with, as they have more than 50 ingredients to choose from.
A healthy and cheap option, as each of their abundant portions costs around 10€. Don’t wait until dinner to try it because they are only open from 11 am to 5 pm.
Fritland, a classic for cheap eating in Brussels
Here you will find the most typical fast food in Belgium: French fries. For just 4€, they serve a very generous portion of fries with the sauce of your choice from more than 10 options.
They also have sandwiches called “metraillette,” which are a real bomb: meat, lettuce, onion, and French fries with sauce on top. Try it once if you don’t want your cholesterol to skyrocket. Without a doubt, a very good place to eat cheaply in Brussels.
Aux Gauffres de Bruxelles, one of the places to eat the best waffles in Brussels
We couldn’t finish this post about the best restaurants to eat cheaply in Brussels without mentioning their delicious waffles. Like French fries, they are one of the most characteristic elements of Belgian cuisine. And they will also help you save!
So, if you want to eat something quick in Brussels, crepes and waffles are always good allies. They have a lot of variety, both sweet and savory. The cheapest waffles cost 3.80€, and from there you add ingredients.
Although waffles are their specialty, they also serve paninis, omelettes, salads, and other dishes at really economical prices if you fancy something more complete. Who said eating cheaply in Brussels was complicated?
Il Colosseo
As you can guess from the name, this restaurant serves Italian cuisine at very reasonable prices. They mainly serve pasta dishes and pizzas, although the latter are their specialty.
There is quite a variety, and they are really good for the price. To give you a reference, the cheapest pizzas cost 9€, although most are around 10€. Although the place doesn’t look inviting from the outside, the food is good.
L’Éxpress
Finally, to end this post about the best restaurants to eat cheaply in Brussels, we want to mention this Lebanese restaurant. Brussels is a multicultural city, and you can find restaurants with cuisines from all over the world.
There are many Lebanese restaurants in Brussels, but we believe this one is the best considering the quality-price ratio. The dishes are very economical! For reference, they serve very complete shawarmas starting from 8€, and they also have their mezze, ideal for sharing between two people, starting from 25€. And by the way, don’t forget to try their halloumi cheese. Spectacular!