Yes—people definitely do, even if it doesn’t always feel like it from internet jokes.
Brussels sprouts used to have a bad reputation (mainly from overboiled versions that taste bitter and sulfur-y). But they’ve had a big comeback in the last 10–15 years because when they’re cooked well, they’re actually really popular.
The difference is usually how they’re prepared:
- Roasted with olive oil → sweet, crispy edges
- Air-fried or pan-seared → nutty and caramelized
- Tossed with garlic, bacon, balsamic → very common in restaurants
In fact, they show up pretty often on modern restaurant menus and holiday dinners—especially in roasted vegetable mixes.
So yeah, people do eat them. It’s just that nobody posts “I enjoyed my perfectly fine Brussels sprouts” as much as they post the boiled ones they suffered through.
