Visiting Lille for a weekend ? You’ve probably already heard about the famous French fries. But the northern French region has so much more to offer when it comes to local cuisine ! Influenced by both French and Flemish traditions, the dishes here bring together the best of both worlds. In this Lille food tour, I’ll take you through the must-try specialties that truly represent the region. From cheesy Welsh to sweet Meert waffles, here are the flavors you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Lille.
French Fries
I can’t start talking about Lille’s local cuisine without mentioning French fries ! I promise you, nothing compares to them elsewhere in France. The most delicious fries are found in the north of France and in Belgium. While you’re in Lille, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try fries, as they’re served on the side of nearly every dish. But since there is a yearly competition to crown the best French Fries maker and one of the latest one is from Lille, you can visit Friterie Mestré !
Le Welsh
A famous cheese dish served almost everywhere in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, the Welsh actually originated in Wales. Made with cheddar cheese, this recipe has been embraced by northern French people for generations. But what is it exactly ? Quite simple: a slice of bread topped with ham, covered in melted cheddar mixed with beer. The dish is, of course, served with fries so you can dip them into the cheese.
There are variations, the most popular being the welsh complet, which comes with a fried egg on top. Some restaurants also add mustard to the bread for extra flavor, but that depends on the place. Don’t worry, if you’re not a fan of mustard, you can always ask before ordering.
Where to eat one ? Many restaurants in Lille serve Welsh, as it’s a true staple of the local cuisine but you can check out l’Estaminet du Welsh. Welsh is their speciality ! (Try to book a table in advance on the weekends, as it gets crowded easily)
And if you missed it or want to do it yourself check out this recipe :
Les Moules Frites
Since northern France is close to the sea, fish and seafood often appear in local dishes. The most famous is moules frites (mussels with fries). The mussels are served in a large pot, and you open them yourself, tossing the empty shells into the lid.
This dish is especially popular during Lille’s biggest event of the year: the Braderie. Held every first weekend of September, this giant flea market attracts over 2.5 million visitors and 5,000 sellers. During this festival, moules frites is the official dish, as it coincides with mussel season and has become a long-standing tradition. Restaurants even compete to make the largest pile of empty shells, stacking them outside in the streets. To give you an idea, about 500 tons of mussels are eaten during this one weekend !
Not visiting during the Braderie ? Don’t worry many restaurants in Lille serve excellent moules frites year-round. I recommend visiting Aux Moules
La Carbonnade Flamande
Another staple of northern cuisine which needs to be on your Lille Food Tour is Carbonnade Flamande. It takes its name from the Flemish region, which spans northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The word comes from “charbon” (coal), since coal mining was once central to the local economy.
If you’ve tried Boeuf Bourguignon, this dish is somewhat similar. However, the sauce is thicker, made with beer and sometimes even gingerbread for sweetness. Naturally, like most local dishes, it’s served with fries.
You can find a good Carbonnade Flamande at Estaminet La Vieille but also try out other local dishes !
Les Gaufres Meert
I already mentioned this in my article on why you should visit Lille, but you simply can’t visit without stopping by Meert. This 300-year-old institution is famous for its waffles filled with rich vanilla cream. They’re exquisite and once you’ve tried one, you’ll want to return again and again !
The shop also offers excellent teas, pastries, and chocolates, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
Le Merveilleux
The Merveilleux is a historic pastry from northern France. Traditionally, it’s made with meringue (crisp on the outside, soft on the inside) covered in whipped cream and topped with chocolate shavings. Sweet yet airy, it’s delicious without being too heavy.
In Vieux Lille, you’ll find Au Merveilleux de Fred, a pastry shop created by French chef Frédéric Vaucamps, dedicated entirely to merveilleux. Through the windows, you can watch them being handmade. His version tweaks the traditional recipe by using two meringues instead of one, along with a variety of toppings. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the different flavors and find your favorite !
La Cramique
This brioche-like pastry is another staple of Flemish cuisine. Originating in Belgium, cramique is somewhere between bread and brioche, enriched with raisins, sugar, or chocolate. It’s typically enjoyed at breakfast or during goûter (the traditional afternoon snack around 4:30 p.m.), making it a beloved part of daily life.
There isn’t one single bakery to recommend — most boulangeries make their own. But in Vieux Lille, Maison Brier is especially popular and worth a visit.
Now that you have finished your Lille Food Tour, check out my other article on Lille here and my other French articles here !
