We were wandering around Brussels when we spotted this long queue snaking outside Fritland. Classic sign of good food, right? Problem was, we’d just smashed a heavy lunch and honestly couldn’t stomach more food at that point. Mental note made: come back later when the queue dies down. Which we did.
Can I just say, I’ve eaten more fries in Amsterdam and Brussels than I normally would in an entire year, haha! It’s wild. Fries here aren’t just a side dish – they’re THE street food. Everyone’s walking around with a cone of frites, and now I get why.
More Than Just Fries at Fritland
Fritland isn’t just about Belgian fries, though that’s obviously their main thing. They’ve got sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and other fried snacks on the menu too.
But what really caught my eye was the Mitraillette. Saw someone ordering one and my jaw literally dropped. It’s this massive baguette sandwich stuffed with a burger patty AND Belgian fries. Like, who thought of cramming fries INTO a sandwich? Carb overload to the max, but I respect the audacity.
We Kept It Simple: Just the Fries
We weren’t feeling that adventurous, so we stuck with what we came here for.
Small Fries with 1 Sauce €5
Fritland offers more than 10 different sauces to choose from. We went with Joppie sauce, which is basically curry mayonnaise. Tastes pretty good. It’s got this refreshing quality to it, not heavy or overwhelming like regular mayo. Really good pairing with the fries.
How Were the Fries Though?
Right, the actual fries. From what I could tell, these aren’t double-fried like the ones at Manneken Pis in Amsterdam. So yeah, they’re not as crispy as I was hoping for. Bit of a letdown on that front.
That said, they’re still pretty tasty. Nicely seasoned, fresh out of the fryer, piping hot. And you know what? Standing in Brussels’ cold weather, munching on hot fries – that’s just shiok. Proper comfort food vibes. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Quick Warning: Watch Out for Scams
Okay, so something happened while we were queuing that I feel I should share. Two teens came up to us with the whole “we’re hungry, we have no money” story. Instead of giving them cash, we bought them fries – figured if they’re genuinely hungry, food’s better than money anyway.
When my husband handed the fries to them, the older one at least said thanks. But the younger kid? He had this whole “is that all?” expression on his face and just walked off looking annoyed.
Pretty sure it was a scam for free food. These situations are super common in touristy parts of Brussels. You’ll see variations everywhere – women with babies, young children, people with elaborate sob stories asking you to buy stuff from the supermarket. It’s a thing.
Just be aware, yeah? If something feels off, trust your gut. You can say no and walk away. Don’t let anyone pressure you into “helping” when you’re not comfortable with it.
So, Is Fritland Worth It?
Look, Fritland serves decent Belgian frites at fair prices. The sauce selection is great – that Joppie sauce alone makes it worthwhile. Would I wait in a massive 30-minute queue for it? Probably not. But if you’re walking past and the line’s manageable, grab a cone. It’s one of those quintessential Brussels experiences, and sometimes that’s reason enough. 🙂