Obviously you can’t go to Belgium without getting waffles.
I mean, I guess technically you could. If you’re an idiot.
Pretty much everyone seems to agree that the best waffles in Brussels are found at Maison Dandoy, a local bakery with almost 200 years of history.
I got a little concerned when the clientele appeared to be 100 percent tourists, but everyone online was pretty emphatic about the deliciousness of the waffles here, so I set that aside.
The term Belgium waffles doesn’t actually exist in Belgium. There are two main types of waffles here. The first are Brussels waffles, which are more like traditional, Eggo-style waffles, with a crispy, light yellow exterior and a fluffy interior.
The second, and what we know as Belgium waffles back home, are actually liege waffles. This style of waffle is dense and cakey, with chunky pearl sugar mixed into the batter before they’re baked (or waffled, I guess).
I figured the only sensible thing to do would be to get both, which came up to an insane 10 Euros. 10 Euros! For two waffles! That’s like 15 bucks Canadian. Yikes.
Still, I’m in Belgium. I’ve gotta get waffles, and these are the best ones.
Except they’re not. They were mediocre at best.
The liege waffle was just uniformly cakey in a really boring way, with no pops of texture from the pearl sugar or exterior caramelization. It was barely crispy on the outside. It didn’t taste any better than the prepackaged waffles you can get at the supermarket.
The Brussels waffle was slightly better — it had a crispy exterior, at least, and a fluffy interior. But nothing about it stood out. It was boring.
Dear everyone on the internet who recommended this place,
Get better taste buds.
Sincerely,
Michael Nusair
P.S. You all owe me ten Euros. Converse amongst yourselves and let me know how you want to pay me.
Location: Rue au Beurre 31, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
How to find it: It’s right around the corner from the Grand Place, so if you’re a tourist in the city, you’ll be in the vicinity.