This place was very easy to find and very easy to get to...super close to Southpointe. We got there…read moreearly on a Sunday afternoon. This was my first time but my friend's hundredth (her words!) There was plenty of parking. We were greeted upon entry and informed that we could choose where we sat and just to scan the table QR code when we were ready to order. We chose a high top and a server brought us water. The vibrant colors and decor gave off excellent vibes. I ordered the Karaage Bowl (on greens instead of rice AND all the sauces on the side) and a side order of seaweed salad. A server brought them to our table. It was not necessary for us to get up once we were seated. Everything was SO GOOD. Like, "I'm mad at myself for not coming here before" good. All of the sauces were amazing too. I ordered them on the side since I wasn't sure how I would like them all, but I think I'll leave them on next time. The "greens" were a mix of lettuce and cabbage. The side of seaweed salad for $2.50 seemed a little small when they brought it out but it was packed in there and was plenty. The server came around a couple of times to check on us and top off our water. We bussed our own trash. There was only one unisex bathroom that I saw. There seemed like a lot of takeout orders going out (it was a little separate from the dining area which was nice). There was also a lovely outdoor area that would be nice if it wasn't 100 degrees. I will definitely be back to try more menu items!

Loved the guys who opened this place as a food truck, then a small store off rt 55 and finally…read morehere. Unfortunately the new owners deleted the famous delicious bah mi sandwich that made their fame. They have "burnt ends" with corn chips. Nope. Good bye Kokyu. Farewell.

Service was amazing and my latte was yummy.. Cute spot with a great indoor or outdoor seating…read moreoption.

I'm was a little confused by this restaurant with what kind of food it is but it seems to…read moreAmerican/Indian/ Persian fusion after trying a few things. Very international array of flavors. I had the most delicious sandwich with chicken and Munster cheese with mushrooms and onions. It was well made, grilled and stacked. They had a few options for sauces/condiments like aioli and pesto so you can customize whatever you order. I also tried the veggie burger but wasn't a fan because of the overwhelming curry flavor. Not really the fault of the restaurant since I was expecting an American style patty. There have a pretty eclectic menu that is refreshing after all the pizza and pasta places that are popping up everywhere and a definite upgrade from the usual. I'll definitely be back.

Cute little cafe with nice drink selection in a great location. Coffee was tasty. The variety of…read moresandwiches our group got was all fine. Could have been excellent but nothing super memorable. Acai bowl ("protein bowl" on the nenu) was very fresh and tasty. Service was fine. Staff wasn't super busy but wasn't particularly welcoming. Sandwiches came out quickly but protein bowl, which is pretty much just a fruit bowl, for some reason took forever. Everyone had long since finished their sandwiches when it finally came out. No explanation or apology. We weren't looking for much, but staff probably should have said something, especially since we'd asked if it was coming soon. All in all I wouldn't be disappointed to come back, but there are so many great cafes, coffee shops and restaurants in Durham that I'd go to one of the other ones first.

Tucked into a corner with plenty of outdoor seating, this spot is convenient and welcoming. Street…read moreparking is easy, and there are lots nearby around Brightleaf, making it a quick stop to pick up a sandwich for lunch. It's also a nice place to spend a quiet, sunny weekend morning working or reading outside. Indoor seating is limited, and I can imagine it gets busy during the week when people stop in for a bite. It seems to be good a work space, with the fast wifi and even a printer set up. Service was friendly and fast. Their coffee uses high quality beans, and also offer bags of coffee beans from roasters like Black & White and Couture Culture for purchase. Unfortunately, their matcha (got the seasonal wild strawberry matcha) was very watery and lacked much flavor. Would definitely get coffee drinks in the future! Service: 5/5 Drink: 2/5 Atmosphere: 4/5

I needed to get cupcake gift cards for a family birthday, so stopped in for a late lunch. Still the…read moresame fast, friendly service, and amazing food! They have added tents to the back lot (less parking, more seating, gotta make choices!). It adds a garden vibe to the back area they have been updating since COVID. It's still nice and open and airy inside. And the food is still just as fresh and delicious!

Mad Hatter is an iconic establishment in Durham. On the corner in the Whole Foods shopping center…read morenear the Duke campus. I moved back to the area a couple of years ago and came here for the first time after many years. It hasn't changed much which is good. Order at the counter and get a number and they'll bring your food to you. The bakery case has lots of delicious choices including large cookies and scones. Service is fast and friendly. I got an avocado toast. I prefer fresh avocado to the creamy kind that comes out of a package but the bread was good as was the presentation and generous fruit garnish. I got an iced tea but I'm sure their coffee is good. It's kind of noisy because it has that industrial, almost cafeteria type vibe but it's a good place to go alone or with a friend because it's so consistent and reasonably priced for the portions.

Very cutie spot! Love the ambiance when we came in, the seating is very unique, cute, and…read morecomfortable. If you're looking for your knees to pop a little when you sit down, this is the place for you haha. Go support your local small businesses! I got the ube ice milk at 50% sugar and it was delish! There's only one size and it's pretty big. I definitely recommend mixing it super well with the coated ube on the sides of the cup, otherwise you're just gonna taste the milk. I loved it though cause it felt like I was getting different layers of the drink based on how much ube I had mixed in- very high quality milk and drink. I would totally recommend! My roommate got their strawberry matcha, and we watched them make their matcha and 100% authentic, it's not just some concentrate, we watched them mix the matcha with the designated whisk- super high quality and she loved it too. I had a sip and their boba quality is also 10/10, super super chewy and nice! The guy behind the counter was also really kind- very quick service, patient with you as you look at their wonderful menu. You can also ask to sample some of their toppings to make a well-informed decision for yourself. They also have little gifts you can buy in the form of tea, popping boba, or even cute boba/drink carriers. Also, they have a cute interactive wall where you can write a note or draw some pictures. Would be back again! Personally think it would be fun if there were also board games around too!

| Overview + Brown…read moreSugar Ice Milk is deliciously creamy + Boba texture is perfect + Decent milk tea size in a cute cup with "ears" + Good selection of fruit teas, smoothies & iced coffee drinks + Cool ambiance + Fast customer service - Boba cost extra for Brown Sugar Ice Milk - Taro milk tea here is made of powder / other ingredients look artificial - Various toppings in the open - are they clean? - Menu is purely drinks; no desserts or snacks | Full Review Located in a corner of the Hope Valley Commons shopping area, Bapu Teahouse Durham looks inviting from the outside with its cool boba milk tea structure by the cafe's front door, showing Bapu's simple logo outside. Bapu's ambiance inside looks artsy, with cute aesthetics and cool atmosphere. What stood out to me was the assortment of toppings displayed. The good thing: they look pretty colorful and fresh; the not-so-good thing: they're uncovered, so I'm not sure if they're clean. Nonetheless, it's convenient to see the different topping options you can add to your milk tea. I noticed Bapu uses the artificial purple taro powder for its milk tea instead of taro paste, so I eliminated that choice from my milk tea selection process. There was only one young employee who took orders and also made the milk teas when I went, but his customer service was good as he made fine recommendations and served my order fast. Unlike Boba Baba's eye-aching menu screens, Bapu Teahouse's menu overhead looks clear with photos, highlighting its special drinks. There are no kiosks here, so you'd have to order face-to-face. As the server recommended, I ordered the Brown Sugar Ice Milk (75% sweetness, light ice). It doesn't look as Instagram-worthy as Tiger Sugar's brown sugar milk teas, but it looks yummy enough, with brown sugar syrup clearly visible in Bapu's cute & translucent cup with ears. Bapu only serves 1 size for its drinks. When I ordered this, the server asked if I wanted boba. Most decent milk tea cafes I go to automatically already have the basic tapioca pearls or boba by default in their brown sugar milk tea drinks but Bapu charges extra for that. Brown Sugar Ice Milk is listed as $6. With the boba topping, I ended up paying a total of $7.76, which is slightly higher than average price of brown sugar boba milk teas in cafes I've been to. Compare that to Feng Cha in Morrisville, which offers Dirty Boba (brown sugar milk tea for only $6.25 with the boba already included, so Bapu's pricing here sounds like a joke. To be fair, the size of the cup is large enough, with its cute top that reminds me of Doraemon or Hello Kitty. The material of it doesn't look cheap and it feels fun to hold. The sweetness of the brown sugar flavor was just right. It might have been too sweet if it was set to 100% sweetness level, and it's still probably slightly sweet at 50% but my usual preference of 75% for any brown sugar milk tea was perfect here. The milk was deliciously-creamy with the fresh & chewy boba - perfect texture. Server did a good job blending with just the right amount of ice, good amount of brown sugar syrup & boba. It's not on the same level as Boba Baba's Brown Sugar Boba or Tiger Sugar's brown sugar drinks but it's better than many mediocre brown sugar milk teas I've tried in other cafes. Bapu Teahouse's menu is purely drinks, with a nice variety of milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies & iced coffee. Sadly, there are no snack or non-drink dessert options here that you can pair with your milk tea. It's not a big deal if you're only craving for a drink, and it looks like Bapu has a good selection of toppings to customize your order. Just prepare to pay extra for those. | Overall Score: 3.4/5 | Recommended Alternative: Sharetea in Morrisville

If I could give this place 100 stars, I would! From the…read moreoutside, you would never guess what awaits inside. It looks like a small neighborhood spot, but the moment you walk through the doors, you're immediately welcomed by a charming bakery counter filled with fresh pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Then, as you make your way to the restaurant in the back, the entire experience transforms into something truly special. The ambiance is absolutely stunning--warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. I honestly spent half the meal just taking it all in because every detail was beautiful. Now, let's talk about the food... phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe it. Everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Our brunch came out surprisingly fast without sacrificing quality, and every bite was bursting with flavor. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy making sure guests had a great experience. You could tell there was pride in both the food and the hospitality. If you're anywhere near Durham, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're stopping in for coffee and a pastry, grabbing a sandwich, or sitting down for brunch, you won't be disappointed. I'll definitely be back, and this has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Five stars isn't enough--this place deserves 100.

I have frequently gone here as it's my favorite place to grab curry mussels. With that being said I…read morecame here today to celebrate my girls birthday and it was one to remember for all the wrong reasons. 3/4 of us ordered the same exact meal and I never received my dish. By the time I was able to waive down the waiter , the table was finished eating and they brought out my meal 25-30 min after the fact. I was hopeful that management would own the mistake, but when my bill came nothing was comped. I had to raise my concern with a waitress and she got a manager. Frankly I am disappointed all around by the experience. "Worse birthday ever" was stated a few times by the birthday girl so idk if I'll be coming back. If I'm going to spend $200 on a meal I at least want to eat.

Nice decor and vibe. I'd give the Pork chop rice plate a 3.8 and classic black milk tea with boba…read moreand pudding a 3. Rounding up to 4 stars because the rice plate was a good value at $12.95. For the rice plate, the pork was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Not a huge deal but the crispy part fell off from the meat so it took more effort to eat the whole thing. The broccoli wasn't too salty and balanced out fried pork. The broccoli was room temperature though likely intentional for this Taiwanese dish. Tea egg could've been stewed longer for better flavor. Overall, I'll come back again if I have a hankering for Taiwanese food. Milk tea had good flavor but boba was overcooked and soggy. Pudding was good. I also forgot to adjust the sugar and ice level so make sure you do that!

A spot near a campus that definitely needs bubble tea. The tea was large, but delivered in a…read moreregular cup without the seal common to such places or the larger straw helpful for the solid ingredients typically layered in. I ordered a passionfruit tea, which gave plenty of tea flavor but not a lot of actual passionfruit. A satisfying beverage in its own right, but for the price and compared to top notch drinks of this sort, just okay. They had food options, including tofu, that I did not seek but which seemed worth considering.

This is now my favorite coffee place to visit in Durham! I had a lovely time here with a dear…read morefriend. It's such a cute place, lots of comfy seating, the breakfast sandwiches are absolutely delicious, and the coffee is superb. Service was wonderful. We got the Jebena coffee and shared it, and the setting was so beautiful. Will definitely be coming again.

Perfect spot for a flavor-packed lunch break. If you've had Goorsha's food, it's the same delicious…read morefood, just repackaged in clever ways, as sandwiches (panini) and bowls. We tried the Gojo panino (chicken, roasted red pepper, sauce) and a protein bowl with chicken, tekil gomen (cabbage, potato, carrot), fosolia (green beans & carrot), and beet salad. The food came out super quickly (there were only a few other folks in at the time). While the panino was tasty enough, I would recommend/reorder the protein bowl more. The portioning is super generous on the bowl: the bottom is layered with injera, and the scoops of protein and sides are massive. I ate my fill and still had leftovers to take home. They also have coffee and pastries, though we did not try that on our visit.