WOW!!! I have been looking for good Puerto Rican for soo…read morelong and I'm so happy this place exists. Tostones were crispy, pork belly amazing, and rice and beans were INCREDIBLE! I am a Puerto Rican originally from south Florida so my expectations are HIGH, but they knocked it out of the park. I almost CRIED when I saw they had guava con queso pastelitos !!!!!! New favorite spot for sure.

First time at Koki Creative Puerto Rican Kitchen and we loved it! We tried the carne frita (fried…read morepork), the Spanglish Cuban, pork belly, and tostones (fried plantains)--everything was absolutely delicious. The flavors were amazing and you can really taste the authentic Puerto Rican touch in the food. The portions are huge, the prices are very affordable, and the service was great. Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience and we'll definitely be coming back!

In a sea of food trucks, an Empanada truck makes a lot of sense in that the food can be served…read morequickly, vs. some of the other trucks which can take 20-30 minutes for food. I had Mike Nice Empanadas on 3 occasions. I had their Anaheim Breakfast Empanada which was filled with lots of egg with some tomatoes and onions. It was good but could have used more flavor. Their Vegan Chorizo was just ok... I've had WAY better vegan chorizo with a ton more flavor and moisticity (is that a word?). These were good, but could have used eggs or something else. And their lunch chicken and cheese empanada was so cluckin' good. It was my favorite of the 3 I had. If you like empanadas with virtually no big pockets of air in them, then this food truck may fit the bill. If you like empty airy empanadas, then skip this place.

Best empanadas I have found. They shells are crispy and the filling is packed in there. The size of…read morethe empanadas are large compared to other places.

I'm from Charlotte and my friend was in the southeast visiting so we met up in Durham. ChatGPT…read moresuggested Boricua Soul as a part of our girls day. First stop. We never made it anywhere else lol! I'm so excited to write this review!! We chose it because when I reviewed the Yelp reviews they were stellar. But mostly I was super intrigued by the sweet potato cheesecake empanada and y'all it was everything I hoped it would be. It's small, you can maybe get 4 or 5 bites. The filling is sweet but not overpowering, good balance. The crust, crunchy and delicious. Came with a side of whipped cream. Drizzled in caramel sauce. I had the restraint to save it for last. We opted to split the shrimp sandwich and house made chips because we weren't too hungry and wanted to save room for the empanadas. Perfect plan. The sandwich can be ordered with a garlic, jerk or buffalo sauce. We were given a sample of the jerk to determine spicyness. Super spicy (which I loved) but my friend doesn't so we went with buffalo which wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were a nice size, coated and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is small with about five tables but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with other businesses. We knew we planned to relax and catch up so we opted to eat outside. Despite the 90 degree weather, the entire area was shaded with a little wind so perfect. We got a number and our food and drinks were served to us. (Peach passion froze----yum!) Now. Boricua Soul is a great example of why I love seeking out and patroning local restaurants. The founders, Serena and Tori Fredericks, were both present, Serena managing the front, Tori managing the kitchen and both in and out of the restaurant serving people outside as well as inside. They were all over! Very welcoming. We were there for four hours and Serena's smile never left her face. She personally checked on us throughout. It felt like hanging out at your family's for the day. When we came in just a few people there, no line. Serena was at the register. I told her I came from Charlotte and she graciously gave us samples of the mac and cheese and collard greens as she described the menu. Both by the way, amazing! I don't think I've ever been able to find delicious perfectly seasoned greens with no meat. Before we knew it the line was to the door. By then I had the chance to experience her love for what she does and her heart for the community. Clean restaurant, beautiful and personable decor. Clean gender neutral private bathrooms. I took pics of the article on the wall about them, well worth the read. You too will drive miles to experience this Caribbean and Southern inspired restaurant! Im coming back and bringing people. There's so much more for me to try.

We visited for lunch on a beautiful spring weekday. The place was hopping, both inside and out. The…read moremusic was great, the ambience was fast-casual. I love how they had a lot of drink options, including fountain drinks, and special lemonades. We got here on the late side for lunch, and found there to be several different options for ordering. You could wait in line and order with a cashier, you could do a self service kiosk, or you could order from a QR code at a table. We ended up grabbing a table and opting to do it with a QR code. Everything was very clear, and I like that they showed what was popular immediately. I opted for a Boricua Soul Bowl, which I'd sampled during a food tour a few years back- then I tried it with chicken, so today I opted for shrimp. I feel like you really should go with pork since that's the default, and a mainstay of Puerto Rican cuisine and soul food, but alas I have an aversion to pork so I can't. I was also intrigued by the jackfruit option- there's something for everyone! My husband went for a platter with pork, which he said was delicious and rich. The Mac and cheese was amazing, and the collards were to DIE FOR! They have four house made sauces, which were a very fun way to add different flavors (I doused mine in Guava!). Since I've now been, I understand that there are many different methods of ordering, but I'm not sure I understand if there's a benefit or staff preference to one over another. I think one thing I might do in the future is order online (if you're using Toast Tab anyway, might as well order in advance) and then sit outside after I arrive. It took about 30 minutes to get our food, which probably means everything is made to order and fresh (as opposed to sitting around) so that's great, but I was STARVING by the time we got our food. Will definitely be back!

We attended the holiday festival and market in angier and they had approx 10 food trucks of…read moredifferent varieties. We decided on the Rican lab as the food smelled really good. We had to wait around 15min but the food was pretty good. We wish there was a little more seasoning to add flavor but overall it was good food and worth the price. The amount of food was good as well.

We took a stroll through the International Food Truck event in downtown Raleigh with one mission in…read moremind: find some unforgettable empanadas. Ever since trying some amazing ones in California and Florida, we've been on the lookout for something that hits that same note--and we may have found a solid contender. Out of the many food trucks selling empanadas, The Rican Lab stood out. Their empanadas didn't disappoint. The crust was just right--crispy, not greasy, and not overly doughy. I didn't get any of that lingering cooking oil taste, which is a huge plus. I went with the beef empanada, while my husband tried the buffalo chicken. The beef had good flavor, but it could have used a binding agent--maybe cheese or sauce--to hold everything together. It felt a bit loose, so I imagine the beef and cheese version would have had better structure. I also think using shredded or chunked beef might work better than ground beef for a more satisfying texture. The buffalo chicken empanada was the real winner--well-seasoned with just the right kick. Neither empanada was dry or overly saucy, but both could benefit from a solid dipping sauce to round them out. We also grabbed a cherry lemonade, which was wonderfully refreshing. It hit a perfect balance--not too sour, not too sweet, and just tart enough. Bonus points for the generous serving size--it definitely felt worth the price. Beyond the food, the event itself was an amazing experience. There were food trucks representing a variety of cultures--Laotian, Filipino, Greek, and more. The diversity of choices was exciting. On top of that, local performers added to the festive atmosphere with live music and dancing. All in all, the Raleigh' Annual International Food Truck Festival is a must-visit. If you're on the hunt for good eats and good vibes, this is the place to be. We're already looking forward to our next visit--and the next round of empanadas.

I was a bit disappointed with Kokí. We came on a Thursday for lunch because the empanadas looked so…read moregood in the post, but they were out of almost every flavor except for cheese and a mushrooms one or something like that. If we would have had more time, we would have left and went somewhere else. My fiancé and I actually saw two groups (7 people total) leave the restaurant after speaking with the people at the register. We ended up getting the Señor Iglesias Chicken Sandwich, which was good but very messy. The chicken isn't a patty and the bun isn't solid enough to hold the sandwich together so the tomato and chicken strips were constantly falling out. The Spanglish Cuban was very meaty and good as well. Not my type of sandwich but that's what I got from the bite I did have and my fiancé loved it. The pinto beans and steamed white rice were good. I probably won't return out of fear that I might waste time going there because if you don't have the empanadas during your lunch rush, when would you have it.

Found Koki on TGTG and decided to try it out! For ~$6, I got two bowls filled with pulled chicken,…read moreblack beans, salad mix, and white rice. Nothing mind blowing, but it was still a great deal. Service was fast (took about 10 minutes after arrival) and friendly. Ambiance was nice, casual. There's nearby parking in City of Durham garages after 7pm or on weekends. 9/10 would recommend, at least through TGTG!

Not only was the service great but the food was delicious. Being someone that lived on the island…read moreof Puerto Rico for 26 years. I could definitely tell that they were native cooks as well. Our waiter was very, very attentive ensuring that our meal with flawless I'm sorry I don't remember his name, but he did mention that he had just gotten to Fayetteville recently. I would definitely recommend and I will definitely be coming back.

While visiting family in North Carolina, we were craving good Spanish food and went hunting for…read morePuerto Rican cuisine. Tucked away in a strip mall, this spot is the definition of a hidden gem. Honestly, if I hadn't specifically searched for Puerto Rican restaurants, I probably would've driven right past it without ever knowing the flavor explosion hiding inside. The restaurant itself is quaint, simple, and unassuming... but then the food arrives and suddenly you understand why people keep coming back. EVERYTHING we ordered was absolutely outstanding. We were a party of 9, which can sometimes be a challenge, but our waiter handled it like a pro. He was attentive, friendly, patient, and never missed a beat. I ordered the mofongo with carne frita and whew... that first bite almost made me emotional. The mofongo was packed with flavor and the carne frita was perfectly seasoned and crispy. You can tell the food is made with love. I also ordered a jugo de parcha. At first it was pretty tart since they use the actual pulp, but they immediately offered to remake it and added a little liquid sugar for balance. After that? Absolute perfection. Great food, amazing service, and authentic flavors that hit the soul. Don't let the location fool you -- this place is worth finding.

The best mofongo in town! Always had a positive experience with great customer serviceread more

Food is delicious flavorful and tasty the service is great and drinks are delicious I recommend…read morethis spot check it out a hidden gem

Very good size portions of good tasting food. There were so many menu options it was slightly…read moreoverwhelming but very glad we came to try this place. There were not many people but still liked the vibe because of the good music. I think it would be a great place for a night out. Also enjoyed the service. The waitress seemed new and had to ask a lot of questions but I prefer that over someone guessing.

Generous portions, large variety of food and nice presentation. Flavor is not very consistent- some…read moredays the food tastes fresh, others it does not. Service is ok- everyone looks like they do not want to be there.