Now, if there's one thing that you need to know about Mike and I, it's that we love fries. Whatever you call them, fries, chips, frites... good, tasty sticks of hot, salty, fried potato always have a knack of making our mouths water! So you bet we were excited when we found out about Belgium's famous delicacy: Belgian Frites! These aren't just any chips, and we headed to the stunning, riverside city of Bruges to try some... made completely vegan!
But wait, what exactly are Belgian Frites?
Now, this is a controversial topic, but the Belgians claim that the dish that the world knows as 'French Fries' are incorrectly titled, and actually come from Belgium! Legend has it, American soldiers sampled Belgium's hot, fried potatoes (invented by fishing communities to supplement their fried fish. When they took the dish, which ultimately spread across the world, back to the USA, they mistook the origin of these fries as France. This is a pretty contentious topic, with the French arguing that actually fries belong to them - but this hasn't stopped Belgium from petitioning UNESCO to officially recognise fries as a Belgian invention.
So, what makes Belgian frites special? Well, these potato fries are usually served on their own (not as a side dish): they come in a cone, topped with a nice dollop of sauce. This is usually mayonnaise, though nowadays plenty of sauces are available. The bad news for vegans? Though this snack is potato-based, they are not usually vegetarian, let alone vegan. This is due to the tradition of frying them in animal fat. And of course, the mayonnaise that is traditionally served on top of the frites contains egg, too.
Where did we try vegan Belgian Frites in Bruges?
Where else to grab traditional frites in Bruges than somewhere called Fritbar? This place is named after frites, and this is the number one thing that they serve. The great news for us vegans is that this warm and welcoming bar serve fully vegan frites - with a hearty serving of vegan mayonnaise! If there's one thing we love almost as much as fries it's mayo, so we were very excited!
So come on - tell us all about the frites! How did they taste?
Oh my goodness! We were so excited to get these frites served in a cone - and even though the vegan mayonnaise wasn't dolloped on top of the frites as is customary, the dish of mayo was a little more practical!
The frites themselves were really fresh and crispy. The golden crunch on the outside gave way to a soft, fluffy, potatoey inside. These tasted chunky fries tasted so good: they were perfectly salted and the exquisite vegan Mayo set them off incredibly.
We loved these fries so much and would be so excited to go back for more - they have a vegan burger on the menu too.
How much did the plant-based frites cost - and was it worth it?
A cone of fries with vegan mayo cost €6 (approx. £5.50 or $7.12). While this is pretty expensive, we thought that it was an okay price to pay to try such a delicious, signature version of one of Belgium's national dishes - safe in the knowledge that they were entirely plant-based! The bar and the staff were lovely, it was a really nice place to spend time - and to warm up, as when we visited Bruges it was snowing! Rain or shine, we really recommend these frites!
Have you tried vegan frites in Belgium? Or elsewhere in the world! Where did you go and what did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
Bruges may be a pretty expensive place to visit, but the city has plenty of cost-effective solutions too. Lybeer Travellers' Hostel prides itself on its friendly, homely atmosphere: you'll feel really at home in their clean and comfortable private and dorm rooms. Snuffel Hostel, meanwhile, has simple, modern rooms - again, a choice of dorms and privates are offered, with a really convenient location.
Tours & Experiences
Bruges is a beautiful place, with so much history. Many people like to include a visit to Flanders Fields while visiting Belgium, and this trip to the WWI battlefields offers a poignant experience with lots of opportunities to learn about the history here and pay your respects to the fallen soldiers. Or if that's not for you, check out some of the top-rated Viator tours below!
Please note that the tours displayed below are automatically selected for their popularity by Viator, not chosen or recommended by us. Please check whether any food or drink based tours are suitable for your dietary requirements before booking!