Looking for a New Lunch Option Near the Junction?

By MIA BELKIN and HALA HASSAN

Are you sick of going to the Junction after school every day just to eat from the same three or four chain restaurants? Well, we were too. So after two years of going to the same few spots, we set out to discover some new options. Here's what we found:

Moku Hawaiian BBQ (★★☆☆☆)

1581 Flatbush Ave

We’d never seen this place before even though it’s so close to our normal food spots, so we knew we had to try it! When we walked in, we stood there for a couple minutes before someone eventually came to the counter. We ordered teriyaki chicken served with white rice, broccoli, and macaroni salad ($11.79), then went to sit on their booth-like seats that appeared to be falling apart. At first glance the meal looked pretty good. The chicken was topped with a thick layer of teriyaki sauce, the white rice and macaroni salad were attractively placed on the side platters, and the steamed broccoli peeked out from under the chicken. But the chicken’s texture was too chewy, like thick rubber. And the broccoli was a little cold and hard, though the teriyaki sauce added a flavorful element that helped out with the blandness. The rice and macaroni salad were average but palatable.

Island Burger (★★★★☆)

2093 Nostrand Ave

Walking down Flatbush, we found this cute spot with little benches out front, bright red doors, and big glass windows that covered the whole wall. We decided to order the Trini-Chinese style wings with french fries and garlic sauce ($6). The wings were crunchy and well-seasoned but no flavors really stood out. When we dipped them in the garlic sauce, we found the rich flavor we were looking for. The fries were arguably our favorite part of the whole meal: perfectly seasoned, crunchy on the outside, and tender on the inside. It’s worth a trip back to try their signature Island Burger, topped with pineapple and garlic sauce.

Fisherman’s Cove (★★★★☆)

2137 Nostrand Ave

After seeing Fisherman's Cove's big yellow sign at the Junction every day, we finally decided to give it a try. We walked in to see many people watching the cooks prepare the food behind clear glass panels. We ordered the jerk chicken with white rice and plantains ($9.25). The chicken was soft, perfectly seasoned and cooked, and filled with a variety of juicy flavors. Although it was a little messy to eat, the jerk sauce elevated the bird with its spicy but sweet taste. Mixed with the rice, it was the perfect bite, and it paired nicely with the soft plantains. Just a little more sauce would have made the texture and taste even better, but that’s an easy request.

Bake and Things (★★★★★)

1489 Flatbush Ave

As we first entered, we noticed a lovely painting of a Caribbean beach scene all over their walls. Bake and Things is a small restaurant with little seating, but still cute nonetheless. The menu was filled with many appetizing options that were difficult to choose from, but we decided to try the roti with curry chicken ($8) and passionfruit juice ($5). The outside of the roti was a delicate stretchy and soft bread filled with chicken, potatoes, and curry. Every bite provided an abundant amount of flavors and textures that paired together impeccably. The chicken was tender, the potatoes were savory, and the curry was rich. The passionfruit drink was sweet and delicious and provided a refreshing contrast to the strong spice of the roti. In spite of the fact that the drink was on the more expensive side, we thought the food was fairly priced. We definitely plan to go back to try their traditional fish bake, stew chicken, and doubles.

Jupioca (★★★★★)

19 Hillel Pl

After our adventure exploring these four restaurants, we embarked on a quest to find a nice drink spot to compliment the food. We came across Jupioca, a charming shop just a five minute walk from school. The menu was overflowing with a variety of bubble teas, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and poke bowls. We decided to try the Island Cooler smoothie with tapioca ($5.50) and the lychee green tea with strawberry popping boba ($5.25). Upon taking our first sips, we were blown away by how much flavor these drinks had. There were many bubble options to choose from, but the popping boba and tapioca had to be our favorites. Considering the size of the drinks, the cost is a little high, but the array of flavors and options compensate for it. We couldn’t resist also trying the Classic Açai Bowl topped with mango, banana, nutella, strawberries, chia seeds, and granola ($10). The fresh fruits left us satisfied. They also have an all-blue bowl, “Blue Majik,” that we definitely will be going back to try. Overall, Jupioca is a must-visit for anyone in search of a refreshingly delicious and aesthetically pleasing beverage.