Quick answer
Antwerp's best frites, ranging from budget-friendly to gourmet, are a culinary highlight, with Frituur t'Stad standing out as a top recommendation for its authentic, classic experience. To truly savor the best, venture beyond the tourist hotspots and discover where the locals indulge in this Belgian staple. Antwerp, like all of Belgium, is renowned for its frites, but the quality can vary greatly between frituurs (fry shops).
- Best overall
- Frituur t'Stad
- Price/value range
- €4–8
- Top-ranked pick
- Frituur t'Stad
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Frituur t'Stad: Your go-to spot for a perfect, no-nonsense Belgian frites experience in the heart of the old town.
- Frites Atelier: The most controversial frites in Antwerp.
- Frituur De Smulpaep: A beloved local spot that's always buzzing, especially with students.
Antwerp's best frites, ranging from budget-friendly to gourmet, are a culinary highlight, with Frituur t'Stad standing out as a top recommendation for its authentic, classic experience. To truly savor the best, venture beyond the tourist hotspots and discover where the locals indulge in this Belgian staple. Antwerp, like all of Belgium, is renowned for its frites, but the quality can vary greatly between frituurs (fry shops).
Antwerp, like all of Belgium, runs on frites. But not all frituurs (fry shops) are created equal. The perfect Belgian frites are a work of art: double-fried for a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, served in a paper cone with a generous dollop of sauce. Many spots are tourist traps selling mediocre fries. So where do the locals go?
We dug through Reddit threads and local food blogs to find the frituurs that Antwerpenaars and seasoned travelers consistently recommend. Forget the tourist traps — these are the places for an authentic, delicious frites experience.
Frites Map
1Frituur t'Stad
Classic FrituurQuick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Frituur in Melkmarkt 1 with a €4–8 spend range
- Strengths
- Classic Frituur · Melkmarkt 1
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–8
- Price / value
- €4–8
- Why it made the list
- Your go-to spot for a perfect, no-nonsense Belgian frites experience in the heart of the old town. It’s reliable, delicious, and ideally located for a snack while sightseeing. A top-tier classic.
2Frites Atelier
Gourmet FritesQuick comparison
- Best for
- Gourmet Frites in Korte Gasthuisstraat 32 with a €7–12 spend range
- Strengths
- Gourmet Frites · Korte Gasthuisstraat 32
- Limitations
- the quality is undeniable
- Price / value
- €7–12
- Why it made the list
- The most controversial frites in Antwerp. It's not a traditional frituur, and some locals dismiss it. However, the quality is undeniable. If you're looking for an elevated, chef-driven take on frites with creative toppings, this is your spot. Be prepared for lines.
3Frituur De Smulpaep
Local FavoriteQuick comparison
- Best for
- authentic atmosphere and top-quality frites and snacks
- Strengths
- Local Favorite · Varkensmarkt 2
- Limitations
- worth it for the authentic atmosphere and top-quality frites and snacks
- Price / value
- €4–9
- Why it made the list
- A beloved local spot that's always buzzing, especially with students. It's a bit of a walk from the main tourist center, but worth it for the authentic atmosphere and top-quality frites and snacks.
4Frituur No. 1
Touristy & IconicQuick comparison
- Best for
- atmosphere, but manage your expectations for the frites themselves
- Strengths
- Touristy & Iconic · Hoogstraat 1
- Limitations
- it's also historic, perfectly located, and a quintessential Antwerp experience
- Price / value
- €5–10
- Why it made the list
- This place is an Antwerp institution. Is it the absolute best? No. Is it a tourist trap? Yes. But it's also historic, perfectly located, and a quintessential Antwerp experience. Worth it for the atmosphere, but manage your expectations for the frites themselves.
5Fritkot Max
Historic FrituurQuick comparison
- Best for
- Historic Frituur in Groenplaats 12 with a €4–8 spend range
- Strengths
- Historic Frituur · Groenplaats 12
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–8
- Price / value
- €4–8
- Why it made the list
- A true piece of Antwerp history. Fritkot Max claims to be one of the oldest frituurs in Belgium, and it feels like it in the best way. It’s the perfect, authentic alternative to the more tourist-focused spots, serving top-quality frites from a historic spot on the Groenplaats.
6Frituur 't Draakske
Local FavoriteQuick comparison
- Best for
- Local Favorite in Drakenhoflaan 5, Borgerhout with a €4–9 spend range
- Strengths
- Local Favorite · Drakenhoflaan 5, Borgerhout
- Limitations
- it's the place you go if you are on a serious mission for the best possible frites in Antwerp, far from any tourist crowds
- Price / value
- €4–9
- Why it made the list
- This is a true hidden gem, located outside the city center in the Borgerhout district. It's a bit of a trek, but it's the place you go if you are on a serious mission for the best possible frites in Antwerp, far from any tourist crowds. The consistent, glowing reviews from locals say it all.
7Frituur De Jean
Old-School ClassicQuick comparison
- Best for
- Old-School Classic in Ossenmarkt 29 with a €4–8 spend range
- Strengths
- Old-School Classic · Ossenmarkt 29
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–8
- Price / value
- €4–8
- Why it made the list
- Another student-area favorite, De Jean is an old-school frituur that focuses on one thing: making excellent fries. It's unpretentious, authentic, and a great example of a classic Belgian "fritkot".
8Frituur Toothpick
Local FavoriteQuick comparison
- Best for
- Local Favorite in Paardenmarkt 103 with a €4–9 spend range
- Strengths
- Local Favorite · Paardenmarkt 103
- Limitations
- Price band: €4–9
- Price / value
- €4–9
- Why it made the list
- Situated on the lively Paardenmarkt, Toothpick is another solid local's choice that delivers consistently great frites. It’s a reliable favorite for residents in the northern part of the city center.
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