When you say Groningen, you say eierbal, or as city people say it: aaierbal. A typical Groningen delicacy with a hard-boiled egg, coated in ragout, breaded and deep-fried. This is not just any snack; it is intangible cultural heritage with an official UNESCO stamp. Originating from pure Groningen frugality just after the war, it has long since ceased to be modest. We have listed ten places where you can enjoy this ball of fame.
Snack Corner
Grote Markt 34 - No night out on the town is complete without a pit stop at De Hoek. For many Groningers and visitors, this is where they once pulled their very first eierbal out of the wall. Not only pubs and clubs, but also snack bars like this one stay open all night. Ideal for the night owl craving something greasy after hours of dancing. Because say it yourself: who doesn't get hungry after a night like this?
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Cafeteria Koning
Bedumerweg 15 - Cafetaria Koning is a household name in Groningen, with a secret family recipe behind their beloved eierbal that has been a favourite with city dwellers for years. Although the business changed hands after 78 years in 2023, the original recipe remained untouched. For regulars, nothing will change: from interior design to snacks, everything will remain exactly as it was. Long live the King.
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Restaurant Niemeijer
Akerkstraat 20 - Where most people eat their eierbal on the fly, at Restaurant Niemeijer you quietly slide in for Groningen's fanciest ball. Not snack bar style, but a refined version with a soft-boiled egg, vadouvan, fermented curry and honey from their own bees. Here you eat the eierbal like you've never tasted it before.
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Piet's fries
Meeuwerderweg 112 - Friet van Piet is perhaps the most popular cafeteria in the Oosterpoort neighbourhood. For a classic eierbal you've come to the right place, but those who like a bit of spice choose the Feierbal, a fiery version with sambal for an extra kick. Not for wimps. Fun fact: Groningen's biggest eierbal was once deep-fried here, thanks to a bunch of students with an ostrich egg.
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De Drie Gezusters
Grote Markt 36-30 - For the snacker with a small appetite, or those who still find the eierbal a tad exciting, there is the mini-variant. At De Drie Gezusters, you taste egg balls in a more modest format: a quail egg in curry salt with a crispy jacket. Perfect as a gentle first taste, or simply because small is also nice. Ideal with drinks and just a little bit different.
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De Belg Waterloo chip shop
Vismarkt and Grote Markt - Indispensable at the two markets: chip stall De Belg Waterloo. While you gather your fresh vegetables from the market, score a homemade eierbal here that is just as fresh. Those Flemish fries? Freshly cut from organic potatoes, nice and crispy and with a little extra love for the environment. Not a fancy lunch spot, but certainly the spot for a good snack to get you through the day.
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Chip shop Groningen
Folkingestraat 63 - If you walk into the city centre from the station, you will automatically pass the Groninger Frietwinkel. A regular stop for city dwellers and visitors craving fries made from local potatoes. But this is also the right place for a tasty eierbal. Whether you opt for traditional fries or the iconic Groningen snack, you will find both here.
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Cafeteria De Korre
Korreweg 196 - In the Korreweg neighbourhood, just get your eierbal at cafeteria De Korre on Korreweg. The interior? Pink floral wallpaper that will make you happy, and the sweet couple always ready and waiting behind the snack counter. That's where you order your eierbal, have a chat and wait patiently for it to come fresh from the fryer.
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Lekkel Lekkel
Gedempte Zuiderdiep 23 - At Lekkel Lekkel, Dutch snack culture meets Asian cuisine. Here you can get the eierbal that makes every Stadjer hot: perfectly crispy and full of flavour. You can also order fries and Asian dishes or just combine them together, because why choose?
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Groningen Store
Nieuwe Markt 1 - After all those greasy, salty snacks, you naturally get a craving for something sweet. At the Groninger Store, you get the ace ball in the shape of a chocolate bar. White chocolate with a subtle hint of aaierbal, sounds crazy but here they think otherwise. For daredevils who like a surprising twist, this is the snack to try. Sweet, a touch rebellious and surprisingly delicious. Exactly as it should be.
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