Bun-ker Vietnamese has become one of the most talked about restaurants in the Borough Vegetarian world. Not only have friends raved about it, and the restaurant has become a blog and reviewer favorite.
When we finally went to Bun-Ker, found on an isolated stretch of Metropolitan Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, I have to admit my expectations weren’t that high. We arrived just after their 5pm opening time, and the restaurant was already packed with many young, “new Brooklyn” patrons. The restaurant also had the hallmarks of some of the Brooklyn over-hyped eating places, with the self-serve water cooler in one corner and wooden rustic decor.
When we started getting our food though, which came in waves, I was definitely blown away. I was also pleased with how nice our server was, and accommodating of my nut allergy and vegetarianism.
The garlic tomato fried rice (pictured above) was pungent, sweet and salty - I don’t know if I have ever had anything like it before.
The otherwise simple sauteed Chinese broccoli with garlic was also a winner with perfectly salted greens.
The only potential low point was the vegetarian main course Bun-Ker offers, the grilled zucchini and eggplant with noodles, though I think the lack of flavors is mostly my fault. When given the sauce to accompany the vegetable/noodle dish, I didn’t know if the sauce was fish-sauce based so didn’t really eat it. We found out after I was done though that the sauce was completely vegetarian and probably would have jazzed up the dish. **UPDATE: The dish is much more flavorful with the sauce and has become one of my favorites in the city!
Thankfully, we ended the meal another very, very high note - the coconut tapioca pudding with jack fruit and palm seeds. It was so sweet and tasty - and I am not a huge tapioca fan.
While Bun-Ker isn’t the cheapest place to eat (entrees from $13 - $25, and appetizers in the $8 - $11 range), it is definitely a Borough Vegetarian must visit!
46-63 Metropolitan Avenue
Ridgewood, Queens
10 - 15 minute walk from the Jefferson St L stop, or accessible by the Q54 Metropolitan Ave bus that goes through Queens and Brooklyn