Can’t be bothered to fly nine thousand kilometers to Bangkok for a proper Thai lunch? Luckily, the next best shortcut lies just by Saint-Pierre station: a neon-lit eatery buzzing with karaoke tunes, run by Ton Sakhon Duangmala (formerly a waiter in Antwerp and Ghent) and his partner Miguel Major, who swapped tourism for Thai cooking. They serve up seriously solid dishes, so good, in fact, that what started as a humble takeaway spot has quickly become one of Ghent’s best-kept secrets. On the menu: spot-on shrimp tom yum in a deeply fragrant broth spiked with galangal and lemongrass; finely minced chicken laab striking a perfect balance of heat and tang, served with toasted rice powder and an umami-rich fish sauce; plus som tam tousled with tomatoes, carrots, peanuts and pla ra (fermented fish, optional); and a gloriously aromatic beef salad zinging with mint, cilantro, lime and chili. Same same, but different. · Zoé Ripaille

Feeling thirsty? Tame the heat with ice-cold Thai Chang lager (€5 for 330 ml), Mondello or Yak ales from Stroom brewery (€4.50 for 330 ml) and toasted coconut water (€4.20 for 330 ml).

Price: Starters €13-€16.50, salads €23-€26, soups €13-€25.50, dishes €21-€25, desserts €7.50.