As promised, I will continue my blog posts this week with everything Leuven. The first is about some of the restaurants I like in this little town. There are really some great culinary choices, so I couldn't list everything or you'd be reading all day. There are also some I still need to try. So maybe a second restaurant post will follow in the coming months.
Restaurants:
Sit down:
1. La Cucaracha - Tiensestraat
This is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Leuven. Okay, there aren't that many to begin with, but this place is great. The food is fantastic, and authentic, which is something you don't always expect when you're somewhere rather far away from Mexico. I'm used to a lot of great Mexican restaurants at home, so usually my standards are rather high, and this place has met them. The guacamole is delicious, it comes in a rather small portion though, but it's freshly made. I also really like the pollo con mango, something a bit different and very tasty - sweet and spicy. And you can't go wrong with a strawberry margarita.
Tip: There is another, larger Mexican restaurant in Leuven called New Mexico and is on the "restaurant street" Muntstraat. If you like real Mexican food, don't go here. First of all, the guacamole is from a can, which I think is just a terrible sin when running a mexican restaurant. The rest of the food is mediocre. I gave this place another shot recently because my boyfriend wanted Mexican and since it was Sunday everywhere else was closed. Highly disappointed, it's also rather expensive for quality.
2. De Werf - Hodeschoolplein
One of my favorite places. It's definitely a student hangout, and only open on weekdays as a result, but if you can find time during the week to go there, it's well worth it. Their "chowders" are the highlight, especially the Chili Con Carne. It's a large portion that comes served in a big bread bowl. Good chili, good bread. They have a good menu otherwise too, and it's one place to find a decent salad, something I've missed in Belgium. The wraps are good too. The atmosphere of the place is great when the weather is nice. They have a lot of tables outside, lights strung up in the trees and blankets over the chairs for you to get cozy under if it starts to get a bit chilly.
3. The Meating Room - The Oude Markt
A tasty, tasty steak house. They have all sorts of options for the types of steak you can order. I tried the Irish Angus Dry Aged last time I was there with Bearnaise sauce, mmm mmm, very tasty. Best steak I've had in Leuven, or Belgium really. It's a tiny little place though, so you might need to make a reservation. We tried to stop in one Sunday, asking for a table for 3, and we had to wait 45 minutes. Thankfully the weather was nice and it's on the old market, so we just had a drink at one of the bars, but I advise making a reservation.
4. Thai House - Tiensestraat
Another one of my favorites. Their sit down restaurant is nice. It's a completely round building, which is just pretty cool. And the food is great, as is the service. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. I went here with a friend one day and they weren't open for dinner yet, or weren't serving yet, but we were in a rush, so they made an exception. The food is always good. The Beef Thai House is my go to choice and my boyfriend is partial to the Moo Pad Prik, a rather spicy dish.
5. Pepe Nero - Muntstaat
I've been here a few times and it's one of the best Italian restaurants I've found in Leuven. Everything there has been superb. There are a lot of Italian restaurants in Leuven, so it's hard to pick sometimes. This one isn't the cheapest, but if you want a nice evening or have a special occasion, it's a great restaurant.
6. Namaste - Naamsestraat
This little Nepalese place is always good. They also do take-out if you call ahead and order. It's mostly Nepalese food, with an Indian infusion, and it calls itself a Tandoori Kitchen. I highly recommend the mixed starter. Everything I've tried so far has been pretty good, the Kukhura Nariwol and the kip tandoori are my favorites.
Tip: It's a rather small place inside, so go early if you want to get a table. It does take a while to get the food, so make sure you go with plenty of time. If the weather is nice they'll usually have tables outside, which gives more room.
Quick/Take-Away:
1. Thai House Take-Away - Tiensestraat
This place is right across the square from Thai House, owned by the same people. It's just a small take-away place, there are some tables inside and out. You order at the counter, pay and then can stay or go with your food. There are only a few options, but all are good for a quick lunch, also pretty cheap, so good for a student's wallet. I am partial to the Pad Tai Kip (chicken) or the Red Curry.
2. Food Maker - Rector de Somerplein (Fochplein)
This is a chain, but I still wanted to list it, because it's one of the few places to get quick, healthy meals. Their hours are rather annoying at times, because they close early, but if you can make it in for lunch it's a good place. I love the wraps, but they also have a good salad bar. And at the one in Leuven if you show a student card you can get a 10% discount.
3. Donki - Oude Markt
This is a new place, just opened on the oude markt. It's a small little burrito place, which I think Leuven was really missing. It's pretty good. They could still make some improvements, maybe visit a Chipotle in the US for some ideas, and get their processes running a bit faster, but the food is good and pretty cheap. Like 5 to 6 euro for a burrito. You pick the type of burrito and the toppings, and they have tasty margaritas. Worth a visit for sure.
4. Villa de Frit -Hooverplein
These are the best fries I've found in Leuven so far. A lot of the authentic places seem to have disappeared, but this one still is pretty good, and it has the local Belgian seal of approval from my other half. If you haven't gotten Belgian fries before, you're missing out. Now, likely, if you're not Belgian, the idea of eating just fries for a meal seems a bit absurd. Isn't that what most of us would have preferred as children? But we had to eat the other stuff too. Well, it's completely acceptable to eat just fries as a meal. And maybe a meat snack, I recommend not bothering to question what is in it, they're all pretty tasty. You can get the sauce on the side, or right on the fries. Try some different sauces to see what you like. I'm partial to cocktail and andalouise, my boyfriend goes for the spicy samurai.
Tip from the Locals: If you want good fries, go to a fry shack run by natives. They're Belgian fries for a reason. A proper fry shack will usually serve the fries in a paper cone, not a plastic container. A true fry shack will also not be a combo: pizza, fries, kebab, etc. place. It will just be for fries and meat snacks.
Restaurants:
Sit down:
1. La Cucaracha - Tiensestraat
This is definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Leuven. Okay, there aren't that many to begin with, but this place is great. The food is fantastic, and authentic, which is something you don't always expect when you're somewhere rather far away from Mexico. I'm used to a lot of great Mexican restaurants at home, so usually my standards are rather high, and this place has met them. The guacamole is delicious, it comes in a rather small portion though, but it's freshly made. I also really like the pollo con mango, something a bit different and very tasty - sweet and spicy. And you can't go wrong with a strawberry margarita.
Tip: There is another, larger Mexican restaurant in Leuven called New Mexico and is on the "restaurant street" Muntstraat. If you like real Mexican food, don't go here. First of all, the guacamole is from a can, which I think is just a terrible sin when running a mexican restaurant. The rest of the food is mediocre. I gave this place another shot recently because my boyfriend wanted Mexican and since it was Sunday everywhere else was closed. Highly disappointed, it's also rather expensive for quality.
2. De Werf - Hodeschoolplein
One of my favorite places. It's definitely a student hangout, and only open on weekdays as a result, but if you can find time during the week to go there, it's well worth it. Their "chowders" are the highlight, especially the Chili Con Carne. It's a large portion that comes served in a big bread bowl. Good chili, good bread. They have a good menu otherwise too, and it's one place to find a decent salad, something I've missed in Belgium. The wraps are good too. The atmosphere of the place is great when the weather is nice. They have a lot of tables outside, lights strung up in the trees and blankets over the chairs for you to get cozy under if it starts to get a bit chilly.
3. The Meating Room - The Oude Markt
A tasty, tasty steak house. They have all sorts of options for the types of steak you can order. I tried the Irish Angus Dry Aged last time I was there with Bearnaise sauce, mmm mmm, very tasty. Best steak I've had in Leuven, or Belgium really. It's a tiny little place though, so you might need to make a reservation. We tried to stop in one Sunday, asking for a table for 3, and we had to wait 45 minutes. Thankfully the weather was nice and it's on the old market, so we just had a drink at one of the bars, but I advise making a reservation.
4. Thai House - Tiensestraat
Another one of my favorites. Their sit down restaurant is nice. It's a completely round building, which is just pretty cool. And the food is great, as is the service. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. I went here with a friend one day and they weren't open for dinner yet, or weren't serving yet, but we were in a rush, so they made an exception. The food is always good. The Beef Thai House is my go to choice and my boyfriend is partial to the Moo Pad Prik, a rather spicy dish.
5. Pepe Nero - Muntstaat
I've been here a few times and it's one of the best Italian restaurants I've found in Leuven. Everything there has been superb. There are a lot of Italian restaurants in Leuven, so it's hard to pick sometimes. This one isn't the cheapest, but if you want a nice evening or have a special occasion, it's a great restaurant.
6. Namaste - Naamsestraat
This little Nepalese place is always good. They also do take-out if you call ahead and order. It's mostly Nepalese food, with an Indian infusion, and it calls itself a Tandoori Kitchen. I highly recommend the mixed starter. Everything I've tried so far has been pretty good, the Kukhura Nariwol and the kip tandoori are my favorites.
Tip: It's a rather small place inside, so go early if you want to get a table. It does take a while to get the food, so make sure you go with plenty of time. If the weather is nice they'll usually have tables outside, which gives more room.
Quick/Take-Away:
1. Thai House Take-Away - Tiensestraat
This place is right across the square from Thai House, owned by the same people. It's just a small take-away place, there are some tables inside and out. You order at the counter, pay and then can stay or go with your food. There are only a few options, but all are good for a quick lunch, also pretty cheap, so good for a student's wallet. I am partial to the Pad Tai Kip (chicken) or the Red Curry.
2. Food Maker - Rector de Somerplein (Fochplein)
This is a chain, but I still wanted to list it, because it's one of the few places to get quick, healthy meals. Their hours are rather annoying at times, because they close early, but if you can make it in for lunch it's a good place. I love the wraps, but they also have a good salad bar. And at the one in Leuven if you show a student card you can get a 10% discount.
3. Donki - Oude Markt
This is a new place, just opened on the oude markt. It's a small little burrito place, which I think Leuven was really missing. It's pretty good. They could still make some improvements, maybe visit a Chipotle in the US for some ideas, and get their processes running a bit faster, but the food is good and pretty cheap. Like 5 to 6 euro for a burrito. You pick the type of burrito and the toppings, and they have tasty margaritas. Worth a visit for sure.
4. Villa de Frit -Hooverplein
These are the best fries I've found in Leuven so far. A lot of the authentic places seem to have disappeared, but this one still is pretty good, and it has the local Belgian seal of approval from my other half. If you haven't gotten Belgian fries before, you're missing out. Now, likely, if you're not Belgian, the idea of eating just fries for a meal seems a bit absurd. Isn't that what most of us would have preferred as children? But we had to eat the other stuff too. Well, it's completely acceptable to eat just fries as a meal. And maybe a meat snack, I recommend not bothering to question what is in it, they're all pretty tasty. You can get the sauce on the side, or right on the fries. Try some different sauces to see what you like. I'm partial to cocktail and andalouise, my boyfriend goes for the spicy samurai.
Tip from the Locals: If you want good fries, go to a fry shack run by natives. They're Belgian fries for a reason. A proper fry shack will usually serve the fries in a paper cone, not a plastic container. A true fry shack will also not be a combo: pizza, fries, kebab, etc. place. It will just be for fries and meat snacks.
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