Street grub like you’d get in Taiwan, and what’s more, it’s vegan! Welcome to the Upside Down in Marolles, where things are running smoothly in this adorable restaurant (pastel chairs, wooden tables, vintage tiling) managed by half-sisters I-wen Liu and Hsuan Lin – the former used to work at Loving Hut in Leuven, the latter in the world of ethical fashion. Almost as soon as we ordered them at the bar, the platters seem to arrive: smoutebollen disguised as calamari to dip in a homemade wasabi vegannaise; “scampi” beignets (which were in reality konjac konnyaku dough) in a spicy red pepper chili sauce; before an excellent Chinese-spiced broth with rice noodles, Chinese cabbage, fried tofu gyoza, edamame, spring onions, cilantro, fried tofu and shiitake mushroom ballekes (meatballs). Grabbed from the fridge and brought home to leave room for the next round of salivating guests, a portion of a peanut-heavy snickers dessert. // Luce Berdon
FEELING THIRSTY? A handful of alcohol-free drinks: Yugen mango-turmeric kombucha (€5), Ritchie Cola (€3.80), Pajottenlander apple juice (€3.50), Yogi Tea (€3 a cup)…
PRICE: Appetizers €3-7, mains €17.50, desserts €4 to €4.50.
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