And The Friet

In cities such as Amsterdam, a trip to the friet (chip van) provides essential ballast at the end of a boozy night out; it’s a fast fix. Making a friet stop (or frite stop, if you speak French rather than Dutch) at this Hiroo takeaway is a more sophisticated experience. You may have to queue, which gives you the chance to peruse the menu and choose which deep-fried goodies are put in your cardboard carton. First, the chips: skin-on Japanese-style skinnies, wide Belgian-style, curly ones, wedges, or even a sweet potato version. Then pick the sauce. Mayo is de rigueur in Belgium and the truffle, basil and honey-mustard versions here pass muster. To round it out, choose a side dish of fried fish fillet, sausage, falafel or, as we did, crunchy deep-fried chicken and the ‘popcorn’ shrimp. This feast in-a-box will set you back from ¥850, extra for a bottle of Belgian beer – although if you’re a cheap date, a small cone of chips is from ¥520. Guilty pleasures needn’t cost you dear.