Burgers in Antwerp: discover the five best places

Looking for the best burgers in Antwerp? Trot Op! explored the city streets for an in-depth investigation, and came back with Antwerp’s five tastiest burgers. 

 

Homer J. Simpson – the greatest philosopher of our time – already said it, and the man was right. “You don’t win friends with salad.” Dieting and eating health food all day is all well and good, but every now you just have to let yourself go. And nothing feels better in that regard – especially after a wild night out – than stuffing your face with a big, juicy burger. Fortunately, there are plenty of decent burger places in Antwerp. In for a fancy black angus gourmet burger? Can be arranged. Looking for the Bicky Burger – if you’re not from here, please try one – of your dreams? Also a valid option in this town. The choice is yours. After all, your veins can cope for a few more years before they inevitably and fatally clog up. Enjoy it while it lasts friends!

 

Burgers in Antwerp: discover the five best places

But where to find the most excellent of burgers? For every good burger joint, there are two others pushing mystery meat through the grinder, and the tasteless grey cardboard they put in the plastic buns at some unnamed fast food chains, won’t exactly make you any happier either. So let me be your guide. Selfless as I am, I’ve put my perfectly sculpted body on the line this week, just to be able to present you with the best burgers in Antwerp. Beef me up, baby!

 

1.  Beastie Burgers

Beastie Burgers is the newest entry in this list, and has the craziest interior as well. The burgers are served from what looks like the actual A-Team van, and on the first floor, guitar amps are covering an entire wall. The chandelier is an actual drum kit bolted on the ceiling – genius move. The burgers here are big, tasty and were named after a bunch of rock albums: from the signature Beastie Burger to things like High Voltage or Brown Sugar. The fries are exceptionally good as well, and there is a lot of different meat to choose from: several varieties of beef, chicken, fish and even lamb. Great place. www.beastie.be

 

2. Frituur De Jean

This place was already booming during my wild student years, and it’s still going strong to date. Located in the heart of Antwerp’s university quarter, it’s consistently packed all night. Yet you’ll almost always get your order in about ten minutes. This is because things need to move along here. If you’re waiting in line and you still don’t know what to pick when it’s your turn, you will be quite firmly urged to make up your mind. And rightly so: ain’t nobody got time for that.

“Frituur De Jean was already booming during my wild student years, and it’s still going strong to date.”

Make no mistake, however. This is one of the best places for fries in Antwerp, and the Bicky Burgers are heavenly as well. Really hungry? Order a “Grote Jan” instead. This is a burger with two fresh cuts of meat straight from the butcher, and it is grilled instead of fried.

 

3. Monkeys

Monkeys is the only place in this list outside the city centre. It can be found in the District of Deurne, close to the Rivierenhof and Borgerhout. This hip little place quickly became a local hotspot after opening four years ago. This is partly due to the sweet staff, but mainly because of the fantastic burgers (with different types of fries) they serve. You can order beef, chicken or fish varieties, as well as pizzas, delicious mocktails and desserts. Everything is freshly prepared and is completely halal. My more religious readers should thus not worry, and can wildly lose all self-control while they binge-eat themselves into oblivion. Lovely stuff. www.monkeys-antwerpen.com

 

4. Hard Rock Café Antwerp

One can’t really talk about burgers in Antwerp without mentioning the biggest name. As soon as Hard Rock Café opened on Groenplaats a couple of years ago, it started running very smoothly. Every time I grab a burger here I get a little holiday feeling. Groovy rock music, a colourful and wildly tattooed international staff, and burgers so big and sturdy you won’t be hungry again for the rest of the day. And when you can dine with Lady Gaga’s thong or Eric Clapton’s support stockings showcased on the wall next to you, that’s just an extra treat isn’t it? www.hardrockcafe.com

 

5. Manhattn’s Burgers

Manhattn’s Burgers can be found right across from Hard Rock Café and offers the same quality of burgers. This small chain was founded by two Belgians a couple of years ago. Both had a history in New York City, and wanted to bring their own take on the Big Apple burgers to their home country. Now they have three locations in Brussels, one in Ghent and of course this one in Antwerp. Here too, you’ll eat very tasty gourmet burgers in a variety of tastes and shapes, all named after NYC legends or landmarks. Their signature sauce is finger licking good. Don’t ask me how it’s called, but it’s tasty. www.manhattns.com

 

Big eater bonus: Boobie Burgers

Did you just accidentally down fifteen beers and feeling a little hungry? Then get your butt to Boobie Burgers. When I was in college, this holy sanctuary for drunk students was hidden in some tiny niche in the red light district. After every heavy pub night, we all went on a stumbling exodus in the vain hope we would find it. Luckily things got a lot easier when they moved to a bigger location at Falconplein. A Boobie Burger is basically a Bicky Burger on steroids: large, greasy and full of mystery sauce. It’s not healthy and certainly not refined, but damn does it taste good when you’re hammered. Go for it!

“Antwerp is filled to the brim with decent burger places. In for a fancy black angus gourmet burger? Can be arranged. Looking for the Bicky Burger of your dreams? Also a valid option in this town.”

 

You are now up to date as far as burgers in Antwerp are concerned. Did I forget your favourite? Got an experience of your own to share? Would you rather eat a healthy veggieburger? Don’t panic. Since I’ve gained about five pounds researching this article, a piece on vegetarian restaurants is on the way. It’s time.

Would you like to taste some other things beside burgers in Antwerp? Read my articles on the best Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants. Eager to discover the rest of Belgium? Read my articles on Gaume, Koksijde, Liège, Spa and Charleroi. Want to go for a gastronomic adventure somewhere else? Go on a Hong Kong food tour or eat some (fake) poop in Taipei.