Rue Saint-Boniface 7, 1050 Ixelles
What’s good? Le Deuxième Elément serves a wide variety of mouth-watering Thai food ranging from the famous pad thai — fried rice noodles mixed with vegetables and beef, chicken or scampi — to comforting soups, meat stews and curries.
The starters include classic spring rolls, steamed dumplings and soups. If you want to get a taste of everything, we’d recommend ordering the “Thai Special,” a mix of the rolls, dumplings and fried bites. Starters range from €9 for a veggie soup to €14 for the spicy scampi salad. Mains are usually served with steamed white rice.
There are also a few vegetarian dishes, although these tend to be the same as the meat dishes but with the protein removed and vegetables added. If you’re hungry, fear not; the ample portions will certainly fill you up.
What’s not? The chicken stew with vegetables and ginger lacked seasoning. If you want spicy thai food, you’ll be a bit disappointed as the restaurant keeps a light hand on the hot chillis for the more delicate palates. It’s also a shame not to see any typical Thai desserts, with the restaurant preferring to offer French staple tarte Tatin and chocolate fudge cake.
Vibe: The atmosphere is nice and cozy, and the staff are welcoming. The decor is sleek, made up of pastel colors, wooden panels and hanging plants.
Who’s picking up the check? You’re unlikely to get away for less than €30 per person for a two-course dinner. So if you’re on a tight budget, the better option might be a quick takeaway Thai salad for lunch to escape the Parliament’s canteen.
Insider tip: It gets crowded pretty fast in the evenings, so you’ll need to show up early if you haven’t booked a table and want to enjoy the calm before the storm. The room at the back tends to be a bit quieter.
How to get there: It’s a 10-minute walk from the European Parliament. Cross Place Lux, head up to Place de Londres and straight down to the Saint-Boniface square. You’ve arrived!
— Review published on November 10, 2022. Illustration by Maggie Cowles for POLITICO.
