Amazing Food and Service! If there is any local business that you should be supporting it's definitely this one. The ambience of this establishment is to die for! If you haven't tried them they are on American Tobacco's Campus in Durham and are truly a gem! Oh and their catering is amazing as well! read more

A fusion of authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and soul food, cooked with love. The service is great and the food will not disappoint.

Tas-tee with a capital T!! I've been wanting to visit since Food & Wine Magazine ooh-ed and ah-ed this place in their 2022 write up on Durham. It was delish! The empanadas are crispy on the outside, savory on the inside. (Be sure to choose a sauce when ordering. Alone they don't have a lot of heat.). The Boricua plate with the pernil pork is yummy and filling. Grab a seat and order from a QR code; the food will be brought to your table. Or you can order takeaway to eat outdoors at one of the many spots on the American Tobacco Campus. So good! read more

Boricua Soul - View from indoor to outside seating area - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of my food. But here's my two cents about my dine in experienced. I ordered two BBQ Empanada with macaroni and cheese. The empanadas are good, they fried them, so they are crispy, the toppings/meat inside wasn't that much. The mac&cheese has good flavor but so how it taste a little dry. I also ordered some Jerk Wings, and fries, wings are a little harder but has some good flavor. read more

I was super excited to try this restaurant, before my Raleigh visit was over. I ordered the Boricua Soul Bowl with Pernil (pork), which is one of the popular items on menu. They didn't have any greens , which go in the bowl so I had extra Mac n cheese. Food was delicious, but I feel a little slighted since I missed the greens. I will be back Boricua Soul! read more

Boricua Soul - Boricua Soup Bowl - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Boricua Soul is one of my go to spots in Durham. Always great service. I got the Chicharonnes de Jackfruit Soul Bowl. Nicely seasoned fried young jackfruit blended well with collards, Mac n cheese, rice and tostones. I added the guava bbq and pique sauce for a little sweet and spicy combination. Highly recommended! read more

Boricua Soul - Boricua Soul Bowl Chicharronnes de Jackfruit. - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food and service were really great. I like the variety and the sides are shareable read more

Boricua Soul - Yummy Mac and cheese with 2 chicken empanadas and my plantain - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I wouldn't say this place is a perfect lunch spot since the food is kinda heavy but I have no regrets! I got the Boricua Soul Bowl because I wanted to try a little bit of everything and it came with rice, collard greens, mac and cheese, fried plantains and I got mine with fried chicken. Everything was delicious! The rice was flavored with a bunch of spices and cooked perfectly. The mac and cheese was nice and cheesy without being overly creamy and the collard greens cut the fattiness of the meal really well. It looks like a big bowl but I managed to eat everything since it was so good! I would highly recommend getting the bowl if you don't know what to get! read more

Nice place to grab a quick bite if you're on the American Tobacco Campus in Downtown Durham. Nice interior (the murals are vibrant!!) and friendly service (many regulars). I ordered the three-empanada platter - bbq chicken, mojo chicken, and curry veggies - and also a sweet plantain side. Then checked into Yelp and was awarded a free empanada, which I used to get a beef/Picadillo empanada to go. The empanadas took about 15 minutes to prepare. My favorite was the curry veggie - delicious spices, freshly chopped vegetables, not too greasy. The two chicken empanadas were filling but otherwise bland. The beef empanada - which I ate a couple of hours later - was more flavorful though a bit on the oily side. The plantains were disappointing - will pass on them next time and try the collard greens instead. Will likely be back next time I'm in town. read more

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I was introduced to this lovely spot by the hosts of our Taste of Carolina food tour. The female owner told us the story behind Boriqua Soul and shared with us some lovely food. In our box was pulled pork, a plantain pancake, collard greens, baked Mac & Cheese, and yellow rice with pigeon peas. Everything was very fresh and flavorful! It was paired with a cider and followed with a sweet potato cheesecake empanada, which was the BEST part of the meal. Limited seating inside but plenty of space outdoors in the courtyard. Fantastic food and wonderful people. Make sure to give them a try :) read more

Boricua Soul - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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"Feel the Soul" This place is Lit! Walked in and Bam! Energy, Spirit, and Fun! O and it smells good. You walk in and order at the counter. The menu is small but has everything you would want. Great variety of options with and without meat. I got three empanadas- Mojo Chicken, Sweet potato cheesecake, and a special curry vegetable. Even with the drive home about 15 minutes they were crispy and crunchy. For me the Mojo Chicken was the stand out, so flavorful and perfect. The sweet potato was a perfect balance of sweetness and lovely texture. The curry vegetable was a pleasant surprise with nice subtle notes of curry. Overall I know now why this place is so popping and I may or may not be back tomorrow! #DontJudgeMe read more

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Ordered chix salad with handmade potato chips and pork empanadas. Food tasted pretty ordinary. After reading all the reviews, we were a bit underwhelmed. Potato chips were a mix of crunchy and soft. Empanadas tasted like bbq pulled pork - again, nothing speci. And service was lackluster. Person who took our order seemed like he didn't want to be there which put a damper on our experience. Maybe it's better to come on a weekend when things are a bit more lively! read more

I tried this for the first time and was excited based off the reviews. I was disappointed. The mac was dry and flavorless and cheese only on top. The pork was under seasoned. The empanadas were good and flaky but so small, both of them fit tin the palm of my hand. I spent over $50 but still had to purchase dinner elsewhere because my family was not satisfied. Also I picked up two slices of cake when I got my order. The banana pudding cake tasted overwhelming artificial while the hummingbird cake was good and did not have the same artificial banana taste. I don't know if I will be back. read more

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Looking for amazing empanadas...look no more. Boricua Soul is simply delicious. Review is strictly on the empanadas. I had the pleasure of trying their beef and chicken empanadas today at their brick and mortar location as I was looking for a light snack. The only con was the length of time it took for the 9 empanadas I bought...i think we waited for 20-25mins. They were making them fresh. Also, each empanada costs $3.50. With that being said, it was totally worth it. The "pastry outer breading" was light and flaky with a good crunch, nothing like the empanadas I have had before. The filling, beef and chicken, was generous and flavorful. I like the creative element of adding a flag to distinguish one filling from the other. I would definitely try other items on their menu in the future if I'm in North Carolina again. read more

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The food is EXCELLENT and the service is friendly :) Also recommend getting dessert!! read more

If you ve had real PR food you will find the offerings substandard. In addition none of the juices , margaritas or mojitos are restaurant made. They re canned. No Gracias . read more

My bride and I were out for a Durham Bulls game and looking for a new "pre-game" place to go since our favorite pre-game restaurant/bar (Cuban Revolution) has closed up for good. The name of the restaurant would indicate Puerto Rican food, but it's more about Empanadas and I guess "Soul Food." The food is okay, not sure about the authenticity of it, but it's nothing to write home about. Maybe it's just not my flavor. I tried a bowl and three different Empanadas and really didn't find them all that flavorful. The seating being limited to outdoors is a little "meh" but I guess that's still a pandemic thing. No restrooms here, and the restrooms in the building they are in are locked up, so watch your beer intake ;) I guess our search to find a new "pre-game" spot is still on. read more

Important: Checking in through Yelp (the first time) will bring a free empanada. Boricua Soul is a gem within the American Tobacco Campus. When wandering the area previously, I had visited the Mellow Mushroom for lunch (against my will) and thoroughly wish I had gone here instead. I ordered the BBQ and Mojo Chicken empanadas, with a side of mac and cheese. Altogether, around $10- a delicious and filling meal. The BBQ empanada had the classic, deep fried wrapper, and was stuffed to the brim with genuine (and juicy) BBQ shredded/pulled pork. The Mojo Chicken empanada was also amazing- very juicy, with a slightly sour taste to balance out the richness. Something I did notice was that the wrapper for it was different, more flakey and bubbly, as opposed to the wrapper of the BBQ empanadas. If you're familiar, it was more like 葱油饼 (scallion pancakes). The mac and cheese was an extra $2 as a side, and was great! I love how you can actually taste the black pepper as a prominent, but not overpowering flavor. While I did not get the picadillo empanada, my friend did and some quotes from them are: "amazing- order it, do it. I dare you" The picadillo empanadas are on my next order for sure. My one complaint is due to their understaffing- they only had one register/person working in the front, so they constantly had to switch between bagging orders/sending them out and taking people's orders, which made ordering in a short line very slow. The food came out relatively slowly as well, but I'd say it was worth it. read more

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I ordered the Cuban sandwich on Saturday, pre-tipped 20% and it was the worst attempt at any sandwich I've ever eaten. The roll was stale and every bite, the middle ingredients came out the side. I wouldn't recommend this place nor would I ever return. read more

Best Puertorican food in the area. I am born and raised in PR and being living in NC since 1996. This place food is amazing, it just transport me back to my island!!! Most visit place in Durham, NC read more

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Love the scrumptious perfectly cooked pork and Mac & Cheese! We have eaten at the restaurant and had it delivered and both meals were amazing! read more

Boricua Soul is one of the few food trucks that I will seek out if I know it's going to be somewhere so I am super happy that they have a permanent place (and are keeping the truck!) Plus, American Tobacco is in need of some new restaurants since Tyler's and Basan closed their doors. The actual store is pretty small but the space is well designed (who doesn't love a good mural?) to fit lots of people. It hasn't been too crowded when I have been in but I imagine it could get crowded for lunch. The owners and staff are very friendly. The food comes out quickly so the line also moves fast. As far as the food, it's just as good as the food from the truck but with more options (and you know they won't be sold out of anything)! I prefer the empanadas with mac n cheese but my husband loves the bowl with all the sides. You really can't go wrong here. If I had to have complaints, I would love to see a larger beer selection, more specials, and the menu can be hard to read with the glare. But those are very small things and I am glad to have another great option in downtown Durham! It will be interesting having two new Puerto Rican options in Durham with Spanglish also opening but I think their menus are different enough to set them apart. read more

My husband and I attend a show at the DPAC Theater and found this gem of a food spot! The owners were extremely friendly and so nice. They recommended food since it was our first time and it did not disappoint! Food was so delicious and hot! We will definitely be back! LOVED IT! read more

Boricua Soul - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great place for a quick bite! Absolutely loved the Greens, Beans, and Queso empanada. Also got the beef empanada and sweet potato cheesecake empanada as well. They were good but not as good as the Greens. the side of Mac and cheese was decent too. Also got this fun peach passion froze in a pouch which was actually quite strong. If the empanadas were all the same level of deliciousness I would have given it 5 stars bit the greens really blew it out of water for me! read more

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Got the Pernil Platter, Soul Bowl and a few empanadas between 3 people. I'd say you can't go wrong with any of those depending what you are in the mood for. Portion sizes are average, not huge but enough to be full without overeating. The sweet potato cheesecake empanada was also great as a light dessert and not too sweet. Would have received 5 stars but unfortunately service was a bit slow. We ordered at the counter around 7:15 on a Friday evening and did not get our food until close to 8. We actually got our order called before some of the smaller parties that had ordered before us though so not really sure what was going on in the kitchen. Hopefully it was just an off night as the food was really delicious once we finally got it read more

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Pretty good sandwiches, nice service. The sauce ordering station is pretty fun. The lighting is nice and so is the location.

It's not authentic Puerto Rican but the food was good. Service was ok. Not much of a dining area. I'm sure they get hit hard when the events are in town. They are near the Durham Bulls Baseball Stadium tucked away in the American Tobacco Market read more

Went here for Sunday lunch during the pandemic. They were only seating outside and had well-distanced tables. The inside looked colorful and atmospheric, so I would like to go back at some point when we can safely eat indoors. I got the pernil bowl. The pork had excellent seasoning, but my piece had a large section of fat and gristle. I wished the rice and peas side had a little more flavor; I thought it was a little bland. The staff was very nice and the portions were a good size -- they don't overserve and the price was very reasonable. I'd like to go back and try more of the menu because the concept is appealing. read more

Oh my what tasty comfort food (Cubano, homemade chips and pork rinds) to find mid-afternoon at AT in Durham! The service was way above par, personal and attentive. We sat outdoors underneath cover, extremely pleasant and comfortable. Absolutely will return! read more

We stopped by Boricua Soul last weekend when taking in a show at the DPAC across the road and couldn't be happier that we did! He hadn't really heard much about it but it was convenient to the DPAC and parking deck we were near. Boricua is soul food with a Puerto Rican flare and it was amazing! I opted for the Soul Bowl with chicken to get a little taste of everything and I will definitely be getting it again on any future visits to the area. The chicken was super crispy and flavorful but juicy at the same time which is sometimes hard to master the perfect balance of. You get a sample of the Mac and cheese that was wonderful as well, coming from a self pro-claimed Mac and cheese connoisseur myself lol! Next you get a sample of the collards and my oh my was I loving this. I could have gotten just an entire meal of these collards they were so good! Perfectly cooked and seasoned and a perfect example of soul food! You get a portion of Arroz con Gandules (Rice and Pigeon Peas) which I have never had before this visit but was glad it was included! And to finish everything off you get a serving of 3-4 Tostones (flattened plantain chips) that were perfectly seasoned and added great texture to the bowl. All in all a wonderful experience! While there are a few tables indoors, we sat outside as they were all full. They do have plenty of seating outside and even a great view of some of the Christmas lights that are up around the campus! read more

Boricua Soul - a christmas tree in front of a water tower - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I visited here over the weekend they have a very nice spot.The staff was very friendly and inviting to me. It was my first time here they helped me with some recommendations. I ended up getting the Boricua Soul Bowl, Empanadas, Wings and the Watermelon Lemonade. I will say the food was worth the drive very flavorful fresh, I love their twist on Puerto Rican Food. The lemonade was a great addition to the food I'm usually not fond of watermelon as it doesn't have strong taste. The juice was the perfect balance. I will definitely be back for seconds! read more

Boricua Soul - Boricua Soul Bowl - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Tl;dr: Authentic food made by authentic people -- expect a wait on busy/game days! Jut moved to the area so we decided to go to a Durham Bulls game and decided on Boricua Soul based on reviews. The restaurant is just across the street from the stadium in a shaded area with lots of open air seating. The restaurant is tucked away but you can order via QR code on the table, or at the ordering station inside. The menu has something for everyone! We ordered the wings with guava sauce, beef empanadas, and the soul bowl (titular item that is worth getting on your first visit). The food took a little while to be prepped, but that is because they were busy (d/t the game) and they prep everything to order. Once we got the food, we dug in immediately (sorry, no pics). The guava wings were SO TASTY. The wings were cooked perfectly so that the insides were not dry and the outside was crisp while still carrying the guava sauce perfectly. If you have been following my reviews, I do wings often. These are top 5, easy. The empanadas were definitely something I would love 50 of. They are smaller than I am used to, but the quality was top tier. The soul bowl was out of this world. A perfect smattering of food. The taste was awesome, and the food was all cooked to perfection. No mushy vegetables, no overcooked meat, just perfection. If youre in this area... make a stop here. If its busy, grab a frozen drink or a beer and hang out. The owners are probably working in there and enjoy a friendly hello! read more

This was my first visit to Boricua Soul. I ordered three empanadas for the price of $10.50. The beef empanada was very bland and seemed as if the cook forgot to season it. The chicken empanada was very tasty and the crust was homemade, very flaky and delicious. If Heaven had a taste it would be the taste of their sweet potato Empanada. The sweet potato empanadas comes with a side of homemade whipped cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. read more

Boricua Soul - Chicken, Beef, and Sweet Potato Empanadas - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food nicely packaged for takeout. Not as authentic as the name suggests. I had the pernil box with extra tostones. Food was decent but the tostones were over cooked. I'd recommend to my non Puerto Rican / Dominican friends and family. read more

Stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner and the customer service was very welcoming. They now have you order at the door with outside seating for safety- love it. I ordered 2 beef empanadas, tostones, greens, and chicharrones de pollo con arroz con guandules. Let me you everything was delicious!! The flavor & portion sizes was just right. The crunch on the chicharrones de pollo - I need to figure out how to recreate this dish! They have the tastiest vegetarian greens. The drive to Durham is over an hour but was so worth it. read more

I soooo regret not taking a photo of this meal before absolutely devouring it, because this was one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. Every single thing in the Boricua Soul Bowl was packed to the effing brim with flavor. Normally when I get a plate that has lots of different things on it, I'm expecting at least one or two items be a bit meh. Not this. The tostones - FIRE. The rice and beans - SLAPPED. The mac n cheese - FUEGO. The collard greens had me seeing god. And I simply must praise the southern fried jackfruit Listen, I'm a vegetarian who lives in Austin, TX (a very vegan-friendly city)...I have had my fair share of jackfruit. Nothing, I mean NOTHING, has come close to being as delicious as this fried jackfruit. I had to do a double take at first to make sure they hadn't accidentally given me some kind of white meat. It slapped me in the face with flavor, the texture was divine, and the juiciness would make Doja Cat blush. I love Puerto Rican food and Soul Food - so I'm definitely noting this heaven-sent fusion restaurant as one of my top faves in the U.S. read more

This is really one of my favorite places to go in Durham. The food is delicious and very flavorful -- literally everything I've tried from here from the Soul bowl to the empanadas have been outstanding. They have the best baked Mac and cheese in the area and they also have great flavored lemonade. Outside of the food, their location is perfect for shady (meaning not in the sun lol) outdoor dining. The family that owns this business are also just genuinely great people. This is a MUST TRY! read more

Boricua Soul - Soul bowl and jerk chicken wings - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Arrived for an early lunch and decided to try their signature platter with pork. I will say the staff seemed very friendly and I did not wait to long after placing my kiosk order. Now let's get to what you really want to know about, the FOOD. The pork 9/10 cooked perfectly. The only reason they missed a point is because of the excess fat. Rice 7/10 good but lacked seasoning. Mac n cheese 8/10 I would definitely recommend. I am a Mac n cheese lover and this hit the spot. Overall, I would come back again. #traveling4taste read more

The food here is delicious. I was excited when I first came across their food truck. Now I am definitely pleased with their restaurant as well. First off the owners are amazing. Truly down to earth, great personality and care for their guests and community. Now to talk about the amazing food they continue to make... My tastebuds are always so pleased. Today I brought my Bestie with me. I grabbed an extra fork to try and take a bite of his food as well. Definitely wasn't happening because he was eating too fast. Trust when I say he definitely enjoyed every bit of it. He was happily saying how he didn't even need to grab any condiments. Everything was amazing just the way it was. He had the soul bowl... Pernil, collard greens, arroz con gandules, mac n cheese and tostones. I love french fries and tostones. I just had to try some. I was so pleased. I ate every bit of it. I was also happy they had a sour beer on tap. Great service, food, atmosphere, company, and drinks... I had a truly amazing visit and will definitely be back. read more

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Located in the great American Tobacco Campus, Boricua Soup serves up the real deal of PR food. I had a greens, beans and queso empanada that was the best empanada I've ever had the privilege of eating. The vegan collards and chicharrones de jackfruit were absolutely delicious. The Mac and cheese was divine. The Maduros were creamy, caramelized and just the right amount of sweetness. To top it off, they have a great selection of local beers. This is a must stop, and the fact they serve vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options makes this a standout, a must-visit. read more

Boricua Soul - Chicharrones de jackfruit and Maduros. - Soul Food Near Me - Durham, North Carolina