Mendo — Restaurant in Ixelles - Elsene

A new arrival in the Bailli/Châtelain neighbourhood, Mendo makes the bet of serving reasonably affordable Japanese dishes with ingredients sourced from the Belgian "terroir". They have succeeded beautifully, resulting in a hearty, succulent, yet affordable cuisine, and an absolutely lovely dining experience.

I arrived in the early evening each time I visited. The location itself is quite simple in its layout and decoration - a few tables in an open area, then alcoves in the back, with Jpop and City Pop tunes serenading you during your stay. Service was impeccable, generous and attentive, both times, and waiting times were perfectly reasonable.

But of course you'll want to hear about the food. Folks, this one is a winner.

So far, from their starters I've had their kaarage - that time somewhat spongier in texture than I anticipated, but the chicken was delicious - their Spicy Buta Don, which was delicious, with impeccably flavoured rice and cubes of fatty pork that were melting in my mouth, as well as some piping hot crispy gyoza.

As for the main stars, I have sampled their Shio Ramen, their Kurogoma Ramen - Aka variation (spicy, but very pleasantly so), and their Shio Paitan Ramen - Kuro variation (with black garlic oil).

Each dish was excellent, and positively bursting with flavour. The Kurogoma and Shio Paitan's broths were thick yet smooth, and the Shio Broth, while light, still carried all its flavour. Incidentally, for those who value this information, the chef also made the choice not to use MSG, but the dishes deliver rich and complex umami nonetheless.

I also had their matcha and adzuki bean ice cream, which struck just the right balance of not overly sweet, yet refreshing after the meal.

My only remaining blind spot is the vegetarian option, a Hokkaido pumpkin based creation which I hope to try next time to complete my review.

Even so, I can only extend my warmest of recommendations. While ramens between 16,50 and 18,50 are not exactly cheap, this remains an excellent price for a quality meal, and an excellent dining experience- one I look forward to...

My girlfriend and I visited Mendo in 2024, a noodle restaurant in Brussels, while battling a mild flu. We were pleasantly surprised by the restorative powers of their incredibly flavorful broth. It wasn't just a simple broth; the depth of flavor suggested a careful selection of high-quality ingredients and slow simmering, extracting the essence of each component. This, combined with the fresh, hand-made noodles, created a truly comforting and revitalizing meal. While the portion of noodles was perhaps a tad smaller than expected, the exceptional quality and taste more than compensated for this. The noodles themselves had a delightful texture, indicative of their handmade nature. Beyond the food, the atmosphere of Mendo contributed to our positive experience. The restaurant provided a pleasant and relaxing environment, allowing us to fully enjoy our meal and each other's company. The service was also efficient, with our food arriving in a timely manner, further enhancing our dining experience. From the moment we entered until we left, feeling rejuvenated and no longer hampered by our flu symptoms, Mendo provided a welcome respite. The combination of delicious, carefully prepared food and a comfortable atmosphere made it the perfect remedy for our ailments. We left feeling completely refreshed and satisfied, a testament to the quality and care put into every aspect of the Mendo experience. It's a place we'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly exceptional bowl of noodles in Brussels, and we'll certainly be returning ourselves. The experience was so positive, it turned a day that started with feeling unwell into a memorable and enjoyable outing. Mendo truly lived up to its reputation and exceeded our expectations, making it a standout dining experience...

A much awaited visit considering all the hype over this place. The kids and us were excited to be trying some traditional ramen. The flavours on the meat, eggs, bamboo shoots and the cucumbers were excellent! Some of the best we have had. The broth however, was lacking flavour. The service staff didn’t even ask when we returned a full bowl of broth at the end of meal. Not even a was the food good and what was the issue if any! Also rocket in a veggie broth doesn’t make sense, it’s overpowering and not tasty :/

The service was terrible considering we were in before the Saturday evening crowds. Yet, had to wait 15’ for the orders to be taken and 30’ before the 3 bowls of ramen were served!! The other tables of two getting served after having arrived and ordered after us was insulting to say the least.

There are way better spots for service an...