Who’s Got The Juice?: Staffer reviews various local juiceries to find the best juice in the KC area

As winter approaches, my body feels more tired and weaker than usual. With a lack of sun, it’s difficult to find the vitamins I need to get me through the long day. Juices packed with energizing vitamins and nutrients give me just the boost I need to get through the cold, dark days of the Kansas winter.

I went on a quest to find the best juice in the area, asking for the most popular juice at three of Google Maps’ top rated juiceries.

First up was Nékter on the Plaza, conveniently located around the corner from Power Life Yoga — there’s better than a refreshing juice after hot yoga. The store was a stark contrast to the brightening juice I was hoping for — the concrete floors and commercial setup wasn’t setting up for a great juice. Their most popular drink was the Apple detox. It was tart and fresh, but it lacked the extra flavors that the other juices I tried had. I paid about $8 which is very affordable compared to the other juiceries.

Next, I tried a health food cafe called Enjoy: Pure Food and Drink.

But I didn’t just want to buy juice, I wanted to buy their entire menu filled with wraps, salads and even chicken parmesan. I asked the employee for their most popular juice: the “cleanZING green juice.” It had green apple, lemon, zucchini, cucumber, kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, ginger and sea salt. It was tart and the ginger gave it a subtle spice – overall a great taste. 

The interior designer needs a pay raise ASAP, as I fell in love with the plants and mirrors hung on the walls. 

After a tip and tax, my total came to $9.50, which was reasonable considering it was a local restaurant and the drink came in a glass bottle. Enjoy, I enjoyed you, and I will be back. 

Our last stop was a tiny juice shop called Billie’s Juicery, located in Brookside. Being a huge fan already of Billie’s Grocery, their sister restaurant, I was excited to see how the two would compare.

The tiny café had high ceilings giving it an expansive look, plus lots of bench seating. It was filled with plants, patterned pillows and modern-looking furniture, and overall had a very cozy atmosphere.

The kind employee guided me toward their Citrus 03 drink. They explained that the blend of lemon, oranges, ginger, turmeric and chia is helpful in clearing allergies. I was stunned after just one sip. I can only describe it as sunshine in a bottle – a citrusy zing with a little spiciness to it.

They had so many interesting drinks in their fridge, like hemp soda, golden milk, pecan pie toddy and more. The design of all the bottles was amazing. The rounded glass bottles and the bright colors of the drinks made them look like magical potions. I wanted to buy every drink just to keep on display.

The atmosphere and bottle designs will keep me coming back every week until I run out of money, which might be soon, as the citrus 03 was over $10.

While all juice shops missed points for different reasons, there is a winner. 

Nekter, however convenient and affordable, was not my favorite taste and its commercial atmosphere doesn’t make me want to stay and hang out. But, thanks to its convenience, I’ll definitely be making a few quick post-workout juice stops. 

Enjoy is definitely somewhere I’d go for a healthy lunch or breakfast, as the atmosphere is cute and clean and the food looks amazing. However I probably wouldn’t make my way all the way out to Mission Farms just for a fancy glass bottled juice. 

That leaves Billie’s Juicery. It’s only 10 minutes from East, and has a drive through for speed and convenience. The menu is mostly juices and smoothies, and each one has a specific medicinal effect. The branding and design of everything is superb, and the juice was the best tasting out of all three places. Although it was the most expensive juice, the cuteness and coziness of the restaurant totally makes up for the extra dollar.

So who’s got the juice? With everything taken into consideration, there is a clear winner: Billie’s Juicery.

from right to left- nékter: apple detox / Enjoy: CleanZing juice / Billie’s Juicery: Citrus 03