Bun-Ker Vietnamese
“All finished off with some very sweet coconut tapioca pudding, as well as an artichoke keffir lime iced tea.”
“The crab chips, an Asian bodega staple, are nice palate cleansers, while the banh xeo is a sizable omelet that could double as a meal.”
“The beef cubes with watercress dish was flavorful and the closest I've had to my favourite authentic Vietnamese place.”
Bun-Ker Vietnamese
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Stumbled upon this hipster viet spot. I would definitely call ahead for reservations because the place gets packed fast. As soon as you walk in, there is a self serve/refill water cooler. The place felt so homey. From the super friendly staff to the authentic viet food– everything was amazing. We ordered the pho ga (chicken) and the soup broth was so delicious. I didn't taste one drop of MSG. We also ordered the beef short rib over vermicelli. The beef was marinated in some short of satay sauce. We ended our meal with the coconut tapioca dessert (must have!) Everything was a little pricey but it was worth it because it tasted healthy. I would definitely come back again.
This restaurant is good. I had ca ri ga which was a great yellow curry. The chicken was on the bone. The restaurant looks like a bamboo bunker in Vietnam. You can BYOB but there is a corking fee.
What can I say about Bun-Ker that hasn't been said?
It's in the middle of nowhere but close to my apartment in Ridgewood, so luckily for me I was able to walk there. The space is tiny and the interior screams authentic, although I've never been to Vietnam, it just wasn't the usual decor. I expected super hipster atmosphere, hipster owners and such but it was just the usual hipster crowd. The restaurant seats about 15 people or so, so try to get there during non busy hours to snag a table.
Staff was super nice and laid back and always had a smile on their faces.
I enjoyed the tom thit ram dish (garlic shrimp with rice) which was $26 – very pricey considering the area but it was a decent serving. We had the tapioca and coconut rice pudding which was a godsend. And we of course had to try the banh xeo (egg, bacon and shrimp crepe) after seeing it made on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
Glad I got to finally try the place after having it bookmarked for so long. If you're further out of this neighborhood, jump in a cab and check them out!
Food wise, it's great. Pretty flavorful dishes – I got the vermicelli w the pork and it had a lot of meat and sauce. The spot is interesting- kind of in the middle of random greenpoint/Williamsburg near all of the warehouses. Price? Way too overpriced for Vietnamese but that's what you get for gentrified food spots.
Bun-ker is one of those places that I heard about way before I moved to New York and then took FOREVER to try it despite being so close to my neighborhood. Now I'm upset that I didn't knock it off my "to try" list sooner, since I've been craving quality Vietnamese food for a very long time.
Like most good restaurants in this industrial part of Brooklyn (well, I guess it's technically in Queens), Bun-ker is one of those places that you'd never walk by on a daily basis. It's definitely a hole in the wall (their kitchen is separated from the dining room by a curtain and very very small), but this only adds to the quirky ambiance.
We tried a bunch of different plates, which initially seemed like way too much for two people, but portions were moderate:
+ Summer Rolls – can't go wrong with these. Huge rolls, and the peanut sauce was really complex with a slight spicy note.
+ Traditional Banh Xeo – had to try this after seeing it on Triple D. It was delicious, but probably not worth all that hype. Definitely stuff it to the gills with the mint and Thai basil that they give you.
+ Japanese Eggplant – one of the winners. Really light and delicious, particularly with the crispy shallots. They lost their flavor as they cooled, so fight through the burning pain to shove them in your mouth.
+ Cha Ca La Vong – the catfish was amazing. Super crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. They only give you 3 smallish pieces though, and the accompanying vermicelli noodles / salad didn't add a whole lot.
+ Coconut Tapioca Pudding – a stellar finish to our meal; I could have eaten 3 of these and still wanted more. It's a small portion but perfect for ending on a sweet note.
The service was also really wonderful; they were patient, explained how to eat things we hadn't tried before, and were really on top of everything we needed. I also really appreciated self-serve water on the side, since I drink a ridiculous amount.
Like a lot of other reviews have mentioned I do think Bun-ker is a little overpriced, but you are paying for quality. I'll be back for more of that incredible pudding soon.
Overpriced Vietnamese food…. Will please the average joe but not for us Vietnamese people who live by legit Vietnamese food.
I could not believe how much they were charging for Spring Rolls and Vietnamese pancakes that were nothing but average. The waiter was really nice and attempted to teach me how to eat Vietnamese food. The portions were so small and the pay check that steep considering you could get the same meal elsewhere for probably 1/3 that price.
I could make that for cheaper…. The serving of water out of Gatorade tubs was a little weird to me too …. Not sure what theme this restaurant was going for. What am I tipping for then?
Yikes. Also this place isn't even in the city and the city does not even charge that much…. I would reconsider if at the very least the portions were of value but they weren't even…. Oh boy
3.5 star review! Came here on a sunday afternoon & didn't got seated since place is packed. So we ordered their iced coffee & waited outside. Bad idea! Its very windy & dusty. We waited for about 30 minutes.
The place is small with a few tables, probably can seat 15 to 20 people. For food I got the cha ca lavong $17- crispy ginger turmeric with crispy catfish, vermicilli & peanuts. The fish is crispy & delicious! When you mix the sauce & everything together it is great. My bf got the suon nuong xa $16- grilled lemongrass pork loin with fried egg & rice. The pork is juicy & tender. It was cooked perfectly. We got the coconut tapioca $5 for dessert- this is heavenly! I enjoyed everything especially the coconut cream. Very creamy & tasty!
The waiter is so nice that he gave the dessert for free because he said we waited patiently. So nice of him! They're very busy that day that when we call him he can't come to us right away.
Honestly, I think that the food is good but so expensive. I live in elmhurst area & theirs lots of good vietnamese restaurant that offer good food with a cheaper price.
I grew up in Philly in a Vietnamese family and believe when I say this: I KNOW good Vietnamese food. And IMO Bún-Ker – after searching for four and a half years – is New York City's only good Vietnamese restaurant.
Tomato Garlic Fried Rice is very savory – almost like how my Aunt makes it. It didn't taste acidic at all. Lime-ade has basil seeds like the drinks I had as a child. And the Pho Ga was a huge portion in a prosperity bowl. Has thicker noodles – and the broth was just as good as it would be if it were a beef broth. Curry was on the sweeter side – coconut is extra strong in it.
The vibe – with the lighting, walls, bamboo lining, and lychee cans – was like my Grandma's kitchen. Very cozy. Music was my favorite genre: nineties R&B and Hip-Hop. Think "Return of the Mack." Very nostalgic. Friendly and quick service.
Although it's not an authentic Vietnamese place (pho and bo luc loc costs 15/18, banh xeo has bacon – which I'll admit could be interestingly good, etc.) I feel the vibe, service, and flavors aggregated are five star worthy.
I left with more than a good meal – I got some songs for my playlist, too. Good job.