Belgian Fries!

[runcmg727]

Hello fellow food mongers! I am looking for a place that has authentic belgian fries and sauces. Any recs out there?

[abbeyraish]

You could try Father's Office on Montana (in Santa Monica). I'm not sure if they have all of the traditional mayo options or if they only have one with which they serve them, but I've heard positive reviews from many.

[carter]

Well, if your definition of belgian fries requires the twice fried approach, the new Oinkster opening this weekend in Eagle Rock might provide you with one option, whether proximate to you I have no idea, but the fries are really tasty.
As to the sauces, Andre Guerrero is chef/owner of the Oinkster and will be providing all homemade dipping sauces, but these will be of the somewhat familiar flavors as in catsup and mayo, etc.
www.oinkster.com

[David Kahn]

Carter -- what's the scoop on this place? If they're not open yet, how did you get to try the fries? Have you tried other stuff, and if so, is it good?

[carter]

Read my reply on the oinkster on another thread. The pastrami and the fries have been available at Max restaurant in Sherman Oaks, where I live, for about the past 2 months or so on Monday nights, while the fries have been available for nearly the past year with the filet mignon entree, which at under $30 is one of the best meals anywhere, assuming those items are of interest.
A mini version of the pastrami sandwich was available at the Savor the Seasons benefit at the Hollywood Palladium a couple of weeks ago as well.
Andre is one of the best chefs in southern California, and has had lengthy talks with Norm Langer, as just an example, regarding pastrami. That is how thorough he is in determining the way pastrami should be prepared, with modifications as only Andre might choose.

[nosh]

Oh, how I miss Benita's Frites on the SM Promenade.

[jjbelsky]

EVERYONE misses that place. But the Promenade now has the same stores as a thousand other foot malls in a thousand other American cities. I miss the gyros at Egyptian Lover that were in the same food court as Benita's.

[kevin]

benita's fries.

[brekkie_fan]

I stumbled upon this place when making dinner plans before a performance in Laguna. Who knew it would be soooo good?

http://www.brusselsbistro.com/

It's not near, but it's authentic.

[Ernie]

Not exactly Belgian frites but might satisfy your craving, Skooby's in Hollywood and Hermosa Beach make excellent, fresh twice-fried fries with an addictive aioli dip.

www.skoobys.com

[mwynn13]

New Belgian-style fry stand, Flanders Frites, just opened in the space on the back (Hill St. side) of Grand Central Market, directly across from Angel's Flight. Yummy, fresh, crispy twice-cooked fries, delicious dipping sauces (Satay, Aioli, etc.); also has Currywurst and various croquettes on the menu along with salads, sandwiches and casual lunch fare.
Only cons, for you Belgian Traditionalists, is no Mussels on the menu, and the fries don't come with pickled onions- but I am nitpicking.

[Peripatetic]

Krokets? That's great! Did you happen to notice what varieties they have?

[mwynn13]

I can, and they do!

[Peripatetic]

Apologies, I edited as you replied. Did you happen to notice what varieties?

One of the best parts of frequent business trips to Amsterdam was krokets at Van Dobben and the occasional bamischijf from FEBO. LA could really use more Flemish street food!

[mwynn13]

I didn't take note, beyond Meat and Not Meat.

[Bradbury]

One of the (few) examples of Dutch cuisine I miss from my expat years in Amsterdam were the garnalenkroketen (North Sea gray shrimp croquettes) with mustard soup at Brasserie Joffers... would love to find something like that around here on a rare cold day.

For TRUE Flemish frites, though, they'd have to be fried in horse fat, which isn't going to happen around here anytime soon. Actually they're harder to find these days in Flanders, too, though I did once get them from a frites cart at the foot of the Molenberg as we waited for the Tour of Flanders to pass through. Absolutely disgustingly good.

[There's an old joke in that part of the world about how you can tell the Flemish from the Dutch: If you see a dead guy clutching a cone of frites to his chest, he's Flemish. If you see another guy trying to steal the dead man's frites, he's Dutch.]

[JAB]

Brussels Bistro has what your looking for or a very close proximity.

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Brussels Bistro
222 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

[kevin]

wow, awesome. haven't even heard of this yet. it's in the old Chimu space?

[matikin9]

Yes! I passed by today and saw it... having a Belgian Frites place so close to my office almost makes up for Chimu being gone. I'm definitely going to go try it soon.

[wienermobile]

Some good Belgian's at Wurstkuche Venice and Downtown plus great dips including
Sweet and Sassy BBQ
Buttermilk Ranch
Thai Peanut
Tzatziki - Greek yogurt sauce
Chipotle Ketchup
Curry Ketchup-my favorite
Bleu Cheese Walnut and Bacon Sundried Tomato
Chipotle Aioli
and Pesto Mayo.

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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

[echoparkdirt]

OMG must try...i love belgian fries!
PS. the fries at Standing Room in Redondo Beach are amazing, and come with lots of different wonderful AiOli

[foodiemahoodie]

Good fries, not great fries. Oinkster much better, and often at Hal's (ask for them to be browned).

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Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

[EricDC]

Yeah, Wurstkuche does 'em... they're pretty good. I don't love the place, but the fries are pretty darn good.

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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

[matikin9]

I like Wurstkuche's fries WAY more than Oinkster's fries, which remind me of In-n-Out's fries. Wurstkuche gives you big meaty fries that have a good outer crustiness and are never soggy.

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Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

[kevin]

yeah, wurskuche's fries are pretty fucking delicious. and i'm not at all a fan of in n out fries.

[mrshankly]

I concur with Wurstkuche fries being pretty damn good... I always get two orders so I can get my fix and not wait in their awful line twice.

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Wurstkuche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

[echoparkdirt]

OK. I just went to wurstkuche venice. I agree with foodiemahoodie -- to me, they were good, interesting, respectable, but not great. they were good. chunky, not that crispy. the dipping sauce (chipotle aioli) was very good. the other one (thai peanut sauce) was terrible.

Wurstkuche was fun, an experience, with respectable food.

[Robert Thornton]

If you're ever out here in Claremont, the Back Abbey has good Belgian fries.

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The Back Abbey
128 Oberlin Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

[BrewNChow]

I second this rec. Back Abbey is very fun and they fry their frites in duck fat, which is always good.

There's a guy at the west LA farmers market http://www.westlafarmersmarket.info/
who makes, bar none, the best Liege waffles anywhere (Belgium included.

)

I usually only buy his waffles (5 for 10 bucks!!!!!!!!!), but he makes frites too and considering that he bothers to make authentic Liege waffles (a nauseatingly involved process, requiring a particular type of waffle iron) I'd be surprised if he didn't take the time to also make authentic frites.

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The Back Abbey
128 Oberlin Ave, Claremont, CA 91711