Fresh, delicious Asian food in a convenient location.
Ravensteingalerij 8
What’s good? Entering the one-room restaurant, your sense of smell is already piqued by aromas like savory fish sauce, zesty lemongrass and silky coconut milk. Chez Mymy’s Vietnamese and Thai offering — a limited menu that changes every week — is unfailingly fresh. The tom yam kung, or hot-and-sour shrimp soup, was tasty despite its ingredients being adapted to Central Europe (e.g. cremini instead of straw mushrooms). The loompia, or crispy fried spring rolls served with sweet-and-sour sauce, were also satisfying and clearly homemade. The selected main dish, tofu satay or fried tofu in peanut sauce, was slightly bland but inoffensive, and chock full of crunchy vegetables. An envious look to my neighbors yielded the observation that the caramelized chicken may have been the better choice for a main.
What’s not? Don’t come here in a hurry, and avoid peak lunch hours. The very small operation — basically one woman working the tables and counter, and a few hands in the kitchen — quickly reaches its max capacity of circa 20 sit-down customers. Arrive before noon or after 1:30 p.m. to avoid a long wait. Also, don’t be surprised if someone who arrived after you gets served first; dishes are not necessarily prepared chronologically, it seems.
Vibe: Like all establishments in the Ravenstein gallery, decor is basic but acceptable — and not really the reason you’re here.
Who’s picking up the check? Soup, starter and main ran to €18.50. Very affordable!
Spotted: Being so close to the central station, mostly your standard commuter crowd — heavy on the arrivals from Flanders.
Insider tip: The menu is in French and Dutch … hopefully you’ve picked up at least one of those languages by now.
Fun fact: “Mymy” means everlasting in Vietnam — which is where the woman who runs the show is from.
How to get there: From Brussels central station, exit toward the European Quarter, go under the street, then up the stairs into Ravenstein gallery. Chez Mymy is the first restaurant on the left.
Review published on January 16, 2025. Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO.
