Filipino€€Mon 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 is a filipino room in Brussels. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Counter seats face the kitchen; the back table is the spot for groups of four.
Why locals love it: Centre-Sainte-Catherine dining room serving Filipino-inspired sharing plates with Belgian produce.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Counter seats face the kitchen; the back table is the spot for groups of four.
Belgian€€Tue-Thu 12:00-14:30, 18:30-22:00, Fri 12:00-14:30, 18:30-23:00, Sat 18:30-23:00, Sun 12:00-15:00, 18:30-22:00, Mon closed
Au Stekerlapatte is side-street marolles bistro where locals eat boudin noir with caramelised apples on the same wood-panelled banquettes since 1974.
Why locals love it: Side-street Marolles bistro where locals eat boudin noir with caramelised apples on the same wood-panelled banquettes since 1974.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Open evenings only; the dining room fills with regulars night after night.
Belgian€€Mon 18:30-23:00, Tue-Fri 12:00-14:30, 18:30-23:00, Sat 18:30-23:00, Sun closed
In 't Spinnekopke in Brussels: 18th-century estaminet on a quiet square that cooks Brussels-specific dishes with lambic beer as a sauce ingredient.
Why locals love it: 18th-century estaminet on a quiet square that cooks Brussels-specific dishes with lambic beer as a sauce ingredient.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The wooden banquettes are 1762; lambic list runs 30 bottles deep.
Belgian€€Wed-Sun 12:00-14:00, 18:00-21:30, Mon-Tue closed
Friture Rene is pre-war fritkot-bistro hybrid on place de la resistance in anderlecht: hand-cut beef-fat fries, steak from the grill, white-shirt waiters.
Why locals love it: Pre-war fritkot-bistro hybrid on Place de la Resistance in Anderlecht: hand-cut beef-fat fries, steak from the grill, white-shirt waiters.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Lunch service runs to 14:30; the dining room books out on weekends.
Bakery€€Tue-Fri 07:00-19:00; Sat 07:30-18:00; Sun 07:30-16:00; Mon closed
Boulengier in Brussels: Saint-Gilles sourdough bakery that ferments breads for 24 hours, a habit most Brussels bakeries skip for faster turnover.
Why locals love it: Saint-Gilles sourdough bakery that ferments breads for 24 hours, a habit most Brussels bakeries skip for faster turnover.
Tip: Closed Monday. The pain de campagne sells out by 13:00 most days; arrive before noon.
Japanese€€Mon 09:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00; Tue 09:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00; Thu 09:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00; Fri 09:00-18:00; Sat 08:30-17:30; Sun 08:30-13:30; Wed closed
Yasushi Sasaki Patisserie (Japanese) in Brussels: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The yuzu millefeuille sells out by Saturday lunchtime; pre-order for parties.
Why locals love it: Woluwe-Saint-Pierre patisserie where a Japanese pastry chef works yuzu and matcha into the French canon, in a residential quarter east of the centre.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. The yuzu millefeuille sells out by Saturday lunchtime; pre-order for parties.