Smokey Banh Mi is a vietnamese restaurant in Vieux Lille, Lille.
Editorially verified August 3, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: Meat smoked on the premises and bread bought from the Degruson bakery up the road, which is why an 11.50 euro sandwich has a following.
Tip: Ask what has been in the smoker that day. The pork is the constant, the rest rotates.
Address: 8 Avenue du Peuple Belge, 59000 Lille
Bernard et Léon on Rue de la Clef in Lille is a bowl canteen named for the founders' two grandfathers, open at lunch only and priced under 16 euros.
Why locals love it: A lunch-only canteen on Rue de la Clef whose bowls are named after the founders' own grandfathers, Bernard and Leon.
Tip: Lunch only, and it shuts at 14:30 on weekdays. Saturday runs half an hour later.
Chez la Vieille on Rue de Gand in Lille is the maroilles house of the strip, a cluttered estaminet where the cheese turns up in almost every course.
Why locals love it: A cluttered maroilles house on the historic Rue de Gand, with a summer terrace looking straight at the Porte de Gand.
Tip: Reservations are essential in the evening. The room fills with regulars before the visitors arrive.
Au Vieux de la Vieille spills onto the cobbles of Rue des Vieux Murs in Lille, the terrace estaminet locals send visitors to for carbonade and welsh.
Why locals love it: It sits on the tiny Place aux Oignons rather than the main circuit, which keeps the terrace calm on a busy Saturday.
Tip: Take the terrace on Place aux Oignons rather than a table inside. It is the quieter side.
L'Estaminet Lillois on Rue de la Barre in Lille pours around twenty regional beers and cooks carbonade, potjevleesch and chicken in maroilles.
Why locals love it: Closed Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday dinner only, which keeps it a locals' room rather than a tourist stop.
Tip: Wednesday is dinner only and Sunday is lunch only. Check before you build an evening around it.
Estaminet La Vieille France on Rue de Gand in Lille seats 65 and cooks the northern canon, carbonade, blanquette de veau, potjevleesch and pot au feu.
Why locals love it: Sixty-five covers doing the regional canon rather than a tourist carte, on the busiest estaminet street in the city.
Tip: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch, which catches out most people who just walk up.
Bernard et Léon on Rue de la Clef in Lille is a bowl canteen named for the founders' two grandfathers, open at lunch only and priced under 16 euros.
Why locals love it: A lunch-only canteen on Rue de la Clef whose bowls are named after the founders' own grandfathers, Bernard and Leon.
Tip: Lunch only, and it shuts at 14:30 on weekdays. Saturday runs half an hour later.
Chez la Vieille on Rue de Gand in Lille is the maroilles house of the strip, a cluttered estaminet where the cheese turns up in almost every course.
Why locals love it: A cluttered maroilles house on the historic Rue de Gand, with a summer terrace looking straight at the Porte de Gand.
Tip: Reservations are essential in the evening. The room fills with regulars before the visitors arrive.
Au Vieux de la Vieille spills onto the cobbles of Rue des Vieux Murs in Lille, the terrace estaminet locals send visitors to for carbonade and welsh.
Why locals love it: It sits on the tiny Place aux Oignons rather than the main circuit, which keeps the terrace calm on a busy Saturday.
Tip: Take the terrace on Place aux Oignons rather than a table inside. It is the quieter side.
Le Barbu d'Anvers is a 130-seat Maître Restaurateur estaminet near Rihour in Lille, serving northern regional cooking across three panelled rooms.
Why locals love it: A 130-seat Maitre Restaurateur estaminet that long-time Lillois keep returning to, hidden a street back from Rihour.
Tip: Service is fast even when the room is full, which is why the lunchtime regulars keep coming back.
L'Estaminet Lillois on Rue de la Barre in Lille pours around twenty regional beers and cooks carbonade, potjevleesch and chicken in maroilles.
Why locals love it: Closed Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday dinner only, which keeps it a locals' room rather than a tourist stop.
Tip: Wednesday is dinner only and Sunday is lunch only. Check before you build an evening around it.
Estaminet La Vieille France on Rue de Gand in Lille seats 65 and cooks the northern canon, carbonade, blanquette de veau, potjevleesch and pot au feu.
Why locals love it: Sixty-five covers doing the regional canon rather than a tourist carte, on the busiest estaminet street in the city.
Tip: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch, which catches out most people who just walk up.
