Celebrated table

Orbit

Founders Sam Janssens and Laurens Jasperse turned a decade of street food into a walnut-paneled neo-bistro in Antwerpen. Recognized by Le Fooding, their kitchen serves legendary fried chicken alongside handmade pasta and vegetable plates.

The story

Orbit Antwerpen: Neo-Bistro Fried Chicken and Seasonal Plates

Street roots and a permanent address

Orbit in Antwerpen has evolved from a decade of mobile service into a celebrated neo-bistro run by Sam Janssens and Laurens Jasperse. Their shared background at the Yust hotel group eventually led them to convert an old hairdresser into a fixed location. This steady expansion earned them a place on the 2026 Le Fooding list, validating a concept that outgrew its early street stall days.

Signature plates and kitchen techniques

The menu preserves the cult fried chicken while layering in refined preparation methods. Fresh trofie pasta arrives al dente, tossed with a rich chicken jus and scattered with toasted breadcrumbs. A separate course features a juicy breast finished in vin jaune sauce, accompanied by classic fries and homemade mayonnaise. Grilled cauliflower rests on white beans and samphire, then receives a silky sake mousseline to balance the earthy vegetables.

Walnut interiors and curated sound

Designer Nick Bal shaped the dining space using walnut veneer panels and installed oversized speakers to fill the room with carefully selected music. Local artist Kaspar Dejong contributed original pieces that hang above the seating areas. The layout retains the high ceilings of the former salon while introducing clean lines suited to a contemporary neo-bistro. Guests can also collect portions from a dedicated takeaway window located just outside the main entrance.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Le Fooding
Listed

Details

At a glance

Le Fooding 2026 — Listed

History

On the record

2026
Le Fooding — Listed

The best friendships make the best stories! Once upon a time, Sam Janssens and Laurens Jasperse met at school, worked together at the Yust hotel group, witnessed one of their weddings, and eventually launched Orbit. Originally dreamed up as a mobile fried-chicken stand for nearly a decade, they’ve now gone bricks-and-mortar in an old hairdressers. The result? A striking neo-bistro designed by Nick Bal (walnut veneer, oversized speakers, artwork by Kaspar Dejong), where Laurens (also ex- Eppo ) has broadened the menu well beyond their cult poultry: fresh trofie pasta made by his father, served al dente with chicken jus and a carpeting of breadcrumbs; juicy chicken breast lavishly coated in vin jaune sauce, served with fries, homemade mayo and salad; and a clever sweet-and-savory combo of grilled cauliflower on white beans, samphire and plantain, finished with a silky sake mousseline. And that legendary fried chicken? Still very much on the menu: golden, gloriously crispy and seasoned with the secret spice blend that built their reputation. In a hurry? Grab some to go from the takeaway window next door, open from Sunday through Tuesday. · Mina Perlemousse

Established

Location

Find us

Orbit Bistro, Lange Koepoortstraat 16, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Antwerpen, Belgium
+32 3 658 79 89
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Map showing Orbit