These healthy ‘Radishing tacos’ at a West Michigan juice bar taste like chicken

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Juice by J offers visitors a personal, curated dine-in experience that starts with a prompt greeting and ginger shot for first-timers.

The juice bar, located at 12 Oakes St. SW in downtown Grand Rapids, serves fresh-pressed, raw juices and whole foods using locally sourced ingredients from Michigan farms.

Owner Joan Byj, a licensed nutritionist, opened the bar five years ago with a concern for healthy eating habits. She’s worked to remain a fixture in the West Michigan health food scene, weathering financial challenges and adapting to changing trends.

Healthy eating was instilled in Byj as a child by her grandfather who cooked curated meals to suit her needs. Byj, who was born with celiac disease and later survived childhood cancer, knew then that she’d one day cook for others in a similar way.

“Healthy eating habits start young. Milk in a carton at school is not really good enough. One apple a day is not really good enough. Some kids grab it, they bite and throw it out,” Byj said “Study a little bit and watch what you eat for one week. Go to the grocery and buy organic. You’re gonna feel a difference in your body.”

Juice by J offers a rotating menu of whole foods like Radishing Tacos, Vegan Waffle Burger and Waffle Carrot Cake.

All meals cost $22.50. They showcase a creative blends of organic seeds, fruits, root vegetables and other plant-based ingredients.

Radishing Tacos are the newest addition to the rotation and took about 20 years of experimentation to formulate. The “chicken” is a flavorful mixture of lentil, jackfruit, garbanzo beans and beets, offering a familiar taste and satisfying texture. It’s served on a crunchy radish shell and topped with savory date sauce and fresh microgreens.

All juice is freshly squeezed using a hydraulic cold press, preserving natural flavors and nutrients from the pulp. The current menu features a variety of options, including earthy Rockin’ Beets, refreshing Celery Detox, Avid Apples and Cool Cucumbers, and tropical Hawaiian Hula. A 16-ounce bottle costs $12.50 each.

Booster Shots, like Ginger and Tumeric or Cherry and Ginger, come in 2-ounce glasses for $5.50 each. Matcha lattes, beet lattes and espresso shots “without the crash” are also available.

Byj also offers group juice cleanses that start at $1,250 per person. They require a 45-minute consultation.

The eatery is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It’s closed Tuesday and Sunday.

For more information or to check for daily offerings, visit the juice bar’s Facebook here or call (616) 240-0889.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter.

Do you have a favorite local restaurant that should be featured in Michigan’s Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Isaac Ritchey at [email protected].