Ghent: Food Walking Tour with Tastings & Gruut Beer

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Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 35

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk Ghent’s old streets tasting fries chocolate waffles & beer

On this Ghent food walking tour you’ll taste hot fries at Frituur Tartaar, sample Ganda ham and local sweets at Ooost, enjoy handmade chocolate pralines and crisp waffles, then finish with a glass of Gruut beer. Expect laughter with your guide and real moments between bites — plus plenty of stories behind every flavor.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Taste Belgian specialties in Ghent

Meet at Hostel Upperlink
Taste fries at Frituur Tartaar
Visit Ooost for Ganda ham and candy
Try handmade chocolate praline
Sample traditional waffles
Enjoy a free glass of Gruut beer

The Experience

You know that first whiff when you step outside and something’s already frying? That’s how we started — right outside Hostel Upperlink, the air thick with the smell of potatoes and rain on cobblestones. Our guide, Pieter, was already joking about how Belgians get touchy if you call them “French” fries. We wandered over to Frituur Tartaar for our first taste. The fries were hot enough to burn your tongue if you weren’t careful (I wasn’t), and Pieter told us about the whole potato-frying tradition — apparently there’s a secret to the double fry. Still thinking about that crunch, honestly.

After that, we ducked into Ooost where it felt like everyone knew each other — lots of nods and quick hellos in Dutch. There was this slice of Ganda ham, salty and thin as paper, plus a weird little candy I’d never seen before (Pieter said locals try to keep it secret). I tried to ask what was in it but just got a shrug and a grin. The rain had stopped by then so everything outside looked extra shiny; I kept getting distracted by the way the light bounced off the canals.

The chocolate stop was next — pralines shaped like Jan van Eyck’s lamb. It sounds fancy but really, it just melted instantly on my tongue. Someone in our group tried to say “praline” in Flemish and totally butchered it; everyone laughed (including Pieter). Then came waffles — not those big fluffy ones from fairs back home but thin, crisp-edged things that tasted almost caramelized at the corners. I probably could’ve eaten three more if I’d had the chance.

We finished with tickets for Gruut beer at this brewery nearby. The place didn’t open until afternoon so we hung around outside for a bit, talking about which snack was best (no one agreed). The city felt quieter suddenly — maybe just that post-lunch lull or maybe it was the beer kicking in early. Anyway, I left with sticky fingers and a new respect for Belgian snacks. If you’re into food tours or just want an excuse to wander Ghent eating every half hour… yeah, this is your thing.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tastings of Belgian fries at Frituur Tartaar, samples of Ganda ham and secret local candy at Ooost, handmade chocolate pralines shaped like Jan van Eyck’s lamb, crisp medieval-style waffles along the way, plus a ticket for a glass of Gruut beer (for those over 18) after the tour finishes near the brewery — all led by a local guide who shares stories behind each bite.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Gent Free Walking Tour