Iyagi, Brussels

Celebrated table

Iyagi

Discover Iyagi in Brussels, a Le Fooding-listed kitchen dedicated to traditional Korean cooking, house-made kimchi, and carefully sourced ingredients.

The story

Iyagi: Authentic Korean Family Food in Brussels

A quiet corner of Brussels

Iyagi brings authentic Korean family food to the heart of Brussels. Founded by Se Min Yang and Igor Allard, the kitchen now operates under chefs Gil Han and Haejin Satya. They keep the menu deliberately tight to focus on honest preparation. The space reflects this philosophy through its walk-in policy and compact layout near Place Fernand-Coq.

From the cast iron to the table

Dishes like bossam arrive straight from a heavy cast-iron saucepan. A whole piece of farm-quality pork rests in a bath of denjang and organic Belgian beer before landing on a warm rice bed with vegetables. Bulgoggi offers thin slices of Irish beef marinated in pear, garlic, and ganjang sauce. Both plates carry a comforting intensity balanced by fresh green onions and toasted sesame.

Slow fermentation and fresh textures

Sweet potato noodles define their japchae, stir-fried quickly with market vegetables and Korean soy sauce to preserve texture. Every bowl finishes with a generous spoonful of tangy kimchi, which the team ferments in small batches since 2018. This unpasteurised cabbage develops complex layers of flavor without any added preservatives. The kitchen also bottles these traditional batches for home tables across Belgium.

Recognized for consistency

Le Fooding listed Iyagi on its 2026 roster after sampling the kitchen's consistent approach to Korean cooking. The guide noted how seamlessly the team blends familiar techniques with local ingredients like Walloon brewery beers and Irish beef. This recognition highlights a kitchen that prioritizes patience over trends. Diners return for the deliberate pace and the clear lineage behind every plate.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Le Fooding
Listed

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Le Fooding 2026 — Listed
Cuisines Asian, Korean
Services Outdoor Seating, Takeaway

History

On the record

2026
Le Fooding — Listed

This story begins with Se Min Yang (Korean) and Igor Allard (Belgian), who fell madly in love in Zagreb. They eventually settled down in Brussels and before even finishing their studies, they opened this cute little Korean café located behind Place Fernand-Coq. They’ve since flown away to the Land of Morning Calm, entrusting the keys to Gil Han and Haejin Satya, who are equally at ease wielding a pair of chopsticks. Tasted that evening, always in take-away mode: a dastardly good bulgogi rice bowl piled high with thinly-cut Irish beef marinated in pear, garlic and ganjang sauce (a kind of soy sauce); Belgian-style bossam, featuring pork belly simmered in beer from the Walloon Silly brewery and denjang (Korean miso); and slurpable japchae – sweet potato noodles stir-fried with market vegetables and sesame oil; all served with the diabolically delicious homemade kimchi. In short, it’s a story that both begins and ends well. // Alba Nebbioli

Established

Location

Find us

Rue Longue Vie 40, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
+32 2 647 58 47
Visit website
Map showing Iyagi