SŪN rue Defacqz: we tested the onigiri coffee shop

Updated on September 27, 2026 by Pierre

We thought we'd seen it all when it came to Brussels coffee shops, from impeccable flat whites to endless cinnamon rolls. And then SŪN opened on Rue Defacqz with a simple idea, almost obvious once you've tasted it: replace your lunchtime sandwich with onigiri, those little stuffed rice triangles that the Japanese eat every day. We went to try it, and here's what we thought. 🌞

🎬 Two filmmakers behind the counter

The story of SŪN begins far from coffee percolators. Julien Charpentier and Laurent Dryon are two Brussels-based filmmakers who spent about fifteen years telling stories through images with their production company. In 2019, they followed the sailor Thomas de Dorlodot during his transatlantic crossing, and it was somewhere at sea that the idea for a simple and welcoming place where people feel at ease took root. Then Covid changed everything: video changed, formats became shorter, and each of them sought a new direction. Julien developed a passion for coffee, trained, and became a barista, while Laurent continued writing fiction, all the while nurturing a long-held desire: to open a place where people welcome and share.

This desire didn't come out of nowhere. Laurent grew up in a family that made cookies and desserts, and he's been a manga fan since childhood. It was during a film shoot in Japan that the two friends discovered onigiri, which ticked all their boxes: quick, healthy, and affordable. Their first café opened in September 2025 on Rue de Trèves, in the European Quarter. Rue Defacqz is their second location, and the first one open on Saturdays.

🍙 Onigiri, star of the menu

At SŪN, the onigiri isn't just an exotic gimmick placed next to the register; it's the heart of the project. The recipes are created by Mayu, a Japanese expert who works with the founders. Naturally gluten-free, convenient to take away, and surprisingly filling, it offers a true alternative to the office sandwich.

The menu features the classic tuna mayo and a version with eggplant and miso, onigirazu (the "sandwich" cousin of the onigiri), and a few sweet treats, including a cinnamon bun. We would have loved to try everything, but when we arrived, the display cases were practically empty: almost everything was already sold out. A pretty good sign for such a new place.

We opted for the sandos, one with breaded chicken katsu-style and one with egg, and we weren't disappointed. 🥪 But the real surprise was the miso soup: delicious, the kind of comforting bowl you'd come back for just for that. 🥣 As for the price, the lunch special is around €13 for two onigiri and a side, reflecting their commitment to being generous without being prohibitively expensive. Friendly advice: arrive early if you want a good selection.

A quick note for parents: we came with our 2-year-old daughter, and it wasn't the best idea. The sandos aren't easy for little hands to eat, and the spicy mayo is definitely not designed for toddlers. SŪN is more of a place for adults to relax, and that's exactly why we'll be going back. 😉

☕ And what about the coffee in all of this?

Don't forget the name of the place: SŪN is first and foremost a specialty coffee shop. With a trained barista behind the machine, the espresso and flat white rival the best spots in town, and the staff takes the time to guide those who are undecided. The combination of coffee and rice might seem surprising on paper, but it works surprisingly well at lunchtime.

📍 An address that the neighborhood was missing

The place is small, bright, and unpretentious—the kind of spot where you pop in for a takeaway coffee and end up staying. This section of Rue Defacqz was sorely lacking a truly good café, and the neighbors knew it. A bonus for those who don't live according to the office schedule: SŪN is also open on Saturday mornings.

🌅 And tomorrow?

SŪN doesn't plan to stop there. The founders have mentioned the desire for a flagship location near Place Saint-Boniface, perhaps eventually including a sake bar in the evenings to bridge the gap between dawn and night. It's a project we'll be following closely, because in Brussels, we all need a little more sunshine.

SŪN, Specialty Coffee & Japanese Sandwich, 24 Rue Defacqz, 1000 Brussels. Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 16 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 15 pm. Instagram: @sun.brussels