Its name immediately brings to mind an old 1980s action movie, but Brussels’ next “Big Trouble” isn’t taking place on the big screen. Big Trouble in Chinatown is set to open in early October in Saint-Gilles, with a clear goal: to take Brussels residents on a journey through the world’s largest Chinatowns without them having to leave the capital.
A little piece of Chinatown coming soon to Saint-Gilles
Behind the project are John Prigogine, who previously founded Old Boy and Rambo, andAnh-Tu Pham, founder of the Vietnamese restaurant Nénu. For this new venture, the focus is on Cantonese cuisine and the vibrant spirit of the Chinatowns in Hong Kong, New York, London, and Bangkok.
The idea, then, is not to replicate a traditional restaurant to the letter, but rather to recreate that special energy: the lively dining rooms, the neon lights, the large tables, and above all, the meals where it’s much easier to order “for the table” than “for yourself.”
Dishes to share and rotating tables
One of the most intriguing elements of the concept is right in the middle of the table. Big Trouble in Chinatown plans to make lazy Susans a central feature —those rotating trays that allow diners to share dishes without having to reach over their neighbors’ heads— an invention that, frankly, should be more widespread.
The menu remains largely a mystery, but the promise is already clear: Cantonese cuisine designed for sharing, in an atmosphere that promises to be far livelier than a quiet dinner for two.
See you on Rue Saint-Bernard in Saint-Gilles in early October. And given the pedigree of the teams behind the project, it’s a safe bet that this “big mess in Chinatown” won’t remain a secret for long.
📍 Address: 1 Rue Saint-Bernard, 1060 Saint-Gilles
📅 Date: Scheduled to open in early October 2026
