ONGBA is a vietnamese restaurant in Ixelles, Brussels.
Editorially verified May 20, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Pho, Banh mi
Must 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.
Address: Chaussee de Wavre 196, 1050 Ixelles, Brussels
Le Varietes in Ixelles sits on the ground floor of the Flagey Liner on Place Sainte-Croix. Brasserie-rotisserie cooking off a Belgian classics carte.
Signature: Spit-roasted chicken, Belgian beef tartare
Order: Spit-roasted chicken with house jus.
Tip: Kitchen runs lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, then non-stop noon to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in for lunch, book for weekends.
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.
Le Varietes in Ixelles sits on the ground floor of the Flagey Liner on Place Sainte-Croix. Brasserie-rotisserie cooking off a Belgian classics carte.
Signature: Spit-roasted chicken, Belgian beef tartare
Order: Spit-roasted chicken with house jus.
Tip: Kitchen runs lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, then non-stop noon to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in for lunch, book for weekends.
Fanny Thai in Brussels' Saint-Gilles cooks the most editorial Thai room in the city. Priced at €€. At Chaussee de Charleroi 91. Booking recommended.
Signature: Pad Thai, Beef massaman curry
Order: Beef massaman curry and a plate of pad see ew, with a Singha to wash down.
Tip: Closed Sunday lunch and Monday. The back room is calmer than the bar tables.
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893. Located in Sainte Catherine. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie. At Rue des Bouchers 18.
Signature: Moules-frites, Carbonnade flamande
Order: Moules marinieres with frites and a glass of Cuvee Rene gueuze on the house list.
Tip: Open seven days. Ask for the original 1893 dining room; the side rooms feel like a tourist trap.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1921. Located in Sainte Catherine. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie.
Signature: Waterzooi de poulet, Moules-frites
Order: Chicken waterzooi in cream broth, with a Westmalle Tripel from the bottle list.
Tip: Closed Monday. The back salon is the quietest seat; the front spills onto the busy restaurant row.
Au Vieux Saint Martin in Brussels' Sablon has run since 1968. The Niels family invented Belgian filet americain at this corner of the square.
Signature: Filet americain, Shrimp croquettes
Order: Filet americain prepared at the table, and shrimp croquettes to start.
Tip: Open every day from noon to midnight. The terrace looks straight at the Sablon church; book ahead for Sunday lunch.
