Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$

Must try: Crab Spring Rolls, Ca Ri Ga, Cha Ca La Vong, Bahn Xeo (actually get one of everything on the menu!)

Bún-ker offers some of the best street-style Vietnamese food in the city right now. I think it might be one of the more memorable meals I have had recently anywhere.

Housed in the oddest of locations, amongst a stretch of industrial warehouses in Maspeth/Ridgewood, this does not deter foodies from flocking to this hotspot.

Bún-ker is helmed by the ultra talented Chef and Co – Owner Jimmy Tu, who has worked in several fine-dining kitchens such as Eleven Madison Park. Tu has managed to artfully combine his skill with his passion which journeys to his Vietnamese roots. This combination is nothing less than spectacular. The food at Bún-ker is simple in its origins and flavors and hearty at its core. The blend of spices and textures make for some seriously tasty plates.

One of my favorite dishes was the Crab Spring Rolls which are bursting with juicy chunks of crab meat within a thin but crispy sheet of crunch. Their Ca Ri Ga ( chicken curry) is a must try – it has so much depth in its curry and it served with a crispy roti which is the perfect accompaniment.

Though the incongruity of the location worries me a bit – but then I think of Pok-Pok and its wild success. Surely Bún-ker will follow suit. It is still rather accessible by subway. Hey for food this good – I would just about travel anywhere – you should too!