Italian-belgian€€€ixelles
Racines in Brussels' Ixelles is the Italian-Belgian dining room on Chaussee d'Ixelles. Priced at €€€. At Chaussee d'Ixelles 353. Booking recommended.
Signature: Hand-rolled pasta, Italian-Belgian tasting menu
Order: Whichever pasta is on the chalkboard, with a glass of the house orange wine.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bar seats face the open kitchen; lunch is the budget pick.
Modern French€€€dansaertMon-Fri 12:00-14:00, 18:00-22:00, Sat-Sun closed
Henri in Brussels' Dansaert is the neo-bistro on Rue de Flandre. Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch set is the value pick; book ahead for evenings.
Signature: Beef tartare, Cheese souffle
Order: Beef tartare prepared at the table, with the cheese souffle for two.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch set is the value pick; book ahead for evenings.
Ethiopian€€dansaertMon 18:00-22:30, Tue-Thu 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:30, Fri 12:00-14:30, 18:30-23:00, Sat 12:30-15:00, 18:30-23:00, Sun 12:30-15:00, 18:30-22:30
Toukoul in Brussels is the city's canonical Ethiopian restaurant. Located in Dansaert. Order the a vegetarian beyaynetu for the table. Priced at €€.
Signature: Doro wat, Vegetarian beyaynetu platter
Order: A vegetarian beyaynetu for the table, plus doro wat, all rolled into the injera with no cutlery.
Tip: Open daily for dinner. Vegetarian and vegan platters are the value; tej (honey wine) is the drink.
Fish and Chips€€saint-geryMon-Sun 12:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00
Bia Mara in Brussels' Saint-Gery is the British-style fish and chips counter near the Bourse. Sustainable cod, hand-cut chips, condiment bar runs Belgian.
Signature: Beer-battered cod, Hand-cut chips
Order: Beer-battered cod with hand-cut chips, plus the curry-leaf mushy peas.
Tip: Open seven days lunch and dinner. Quick service; the bench tables fill at peak lunch.
Vietnamese€€ixellesMon-Fri 18:30-22:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-14:30, 18:30-22:00
ONGBA in Brussels' Ixelles is the Vietnamese kitchen on Chaussee de Wavre that earned a Bib Gourmand in 2026. Priced at €€. At Chaussee de Wavre 196.
Signature: Pho, Banh mi
Order: A bowl of beef pho with extra tendon, and a banh mi to take away.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Lunch service is fast; dinner runs slower with full carte.
Filipino-inspired Sharing Plates€€€sainte-catherineMon 12:00-15:00, Mon 18:00-22:30, Tue 12:00-15:00, Tue 18:00-22:30, Wed 12:00-15:00, Wed 18:00-22:30, Thu 12:00-15:00, Thu 18:00-22:30, Fri 12:00-15:00, Fri 18:00-22:30
Humphrey in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine is a Yannick Van Aeken concept where chef Glen runs Filipino-inspired sharing plates. The room is small.
Signature: Sharing-plate tasting menu, Filipino-Belgian small plates
Order: The sharing-plate tasting; let the kitchen send what they're cooking that week.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Counter seats face the kitchen; the back table is the spot for groups of four.