Restaurant review: Hui Mian

Chaussée de Boondael 272, 1050 Ixelles

What’s good? If you’re wandering around the ULB university campus, you’d be forgiven for missing Hui Mian, an unassuming spot that’s one of a smattering of Asian eateries in the area. If the modest decor doesn’t catch your attention, the sight of the chef in the window stretching and spinning long strands of fresh noodles before dumping them into a boiling vat of water just might.

The bowls of fresh hand-pulled noodles come in a broth or with a variety of saucy toppings. We tried the house favorite, spicy mian, chewy noodles with beef mince, a spicy sauce and coriander. The cold garlic noodles topped with thin slices of beef were equally flavorful and lived up to their name (a pack of gum for after the meal is advised!). And while the menu may look meat-heavy upon first glance, both of these dishes — as well as some others — can be made with a veggie substitute.

The highlight of the restaurant, though, is the traditional huimian noodles that the restaurant is named after, fresh noodles in a rich and comforting broth with slices of beef or lamb, vermicelli and tofu skin.

What’s not? The restaurant doesn’t have any outdoor seating and on a hot summer’s day, sitting next to the steamy vat of boiling noodles becomes (unsurprisingly) very warm.

Vibe: The decor is simple with odes to huimian noodles on the wall — think casual lunch joint for students or a fast, go-to spot for locals picking up some food after a long day at work.

Who’s picking up the check? A bowl costs around €14.50, a decently priced dinner but perhaps a slightly pricey lunch. The rich, authentic flavors and the noodle-pulling show do justify the cost, though.

Insider tip: If you haven’t worked it out yet, the mysterious “mian” that pops up across the menu simply means “noodles” in Mandarin.

Fun fact: Hui Mian is named after the traditional noodle soup from Henan province in China where the owner/noodle-maker in the window hails from. It’s also the home of the Shaolin temple where the eponymous kung fu martial art style originates — we’re more interested in noodle eating, though.

How to get there: Take bus 71 to Buyl from Flagey or tram 7 or 25 to Roffiaen from Montgomery.

Review published on  June, 12 2025. Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO