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    Hope Cafe

    4.5 (46 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:30 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Hope Cafe

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    Tom Kha Tofu
    Kassim C.

    What I recommend: The Tom Yum soup, Tom Kha soup, fried beef balls, and mango sticky rice Hope's Cafe is a small but delicious Thai spot right by AMC Southpoint, and it instantly became one of my favorites. My brother and I tried the Tom Yum and Tom Kha soups, and both were a 10 out of 10. I had just gotten back from Bangkok about three weeks ago, and this is one of the first places that tasted truly authentic. We also had the fried beef balls, which were fantastic, and the mango sticky rice was to die for. I ordered spice level 7, my brother got spice level 5, and both were perfect with a side of rice. The staff was very friendly, the food came out super fast, and you can order to go or dine in. Loved it here and will definitely be back.

    Syed M.

    Loved that the owner & the staff are super friendly, makes you feel special & welcomed. Food was delicious & yummy. We tried lots of options & I couldn't pick one.. all were awesome! From Thai Curry Noodles, Spring rolls, Thai Pho, Pad See You to Thai Iced Tea - all were great! The only criticism I have is the ambience. It's not that bad, but I think there is some room from improvement. Best part was that everything they served was Halal. I'll definitely return whenever I'm visiting Durham. Also had a nice & small chat with the owner before leaving.

    Taro Milk Tea
    John B.

    This place is in a fairly small shopping center, but one close to the highway. It is fairly spartan inside, but the staff was communicating in Thai and the menu offered to make things vegan, and that's the combination I look for in a restaurant like this. My drunken noodles were small in portion but resplendent in taste and texture. They didn't come all that spicy, but spice trays were out on the table by default, so I indulged in crushed chili. They didn't have the first flavored tea I asked for, but I landed with taro, which is an easy enough flavor to like. Having spent a decent amount of money, I wasn't quite full after the noodles and wished I'd ordered some spring rolls or something, but instead had to hit the road.

    Mary Z.

    Fantastic lunch today! The place is small, clean, friendly, and unassuming, and we were greeted immediately. The menu, though small, has just enough options and beautiful pictures for you to make a great choice. I decided to go on the lighter side with the Shrimp Salad, which included three large shrimp, ground chicken breast, glass rice noodles, and a tasty lime vinaigrette. It came to the table warm, and the spice level of one (which our server suggested) was perfect for me. It had a spicy kick, but it didn't bruise. At $12, the dish is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. My friend chose Drunken Noodles with chicken from the noodles menu, which gives a choice of several noodle dishes and proteins. He said it was excellent, with lots of chunks of vegetables. He chose a spice level of six (he likes spicy food!). The service was wonderful! Regarding spice level, our server explained that they go from levels zero to ten, and you can request what you want. My suggestion--aim low! Their idea of spicy and my idea of spicy are two different things. They have spices on the table, so you can always add more.

    Beef drunken noodle
    Kevin J.

    New Thai option in the hope valley area. We got the beef drunken noodles, chicken pad thai, and Thai iced teas. The Thai iced teas were authentic and flavorful. The meat for both noodle dishes was good but the noodles were really where the dishes shined! Both the pad Thai and drunken noodles were very flavorful and had a fairly large portion so we were able to make two meals out of them.

    Thai tea
    Jake V.

    Update: Owner replied to this review, claiming I did not pay for my meal, so I had to check my debit card records, and it shows that I paid on Feb. 13. I've attached a screenshot from my bank to prove. The owner accused me of not paying probably in an effort to discredit my review. | Overview + Easily customize spice levels with available sauces + Chicken in Drunken Noodle is tender + Authentic Thai noodle dishes - Owner claimed that I did not pay - Menu is limited; no Thai curries - Drunken noodle is not worth $16+ in my book - Thai tea is served in cheap glass | Full Review Hope Cafe is a newly-opened mom-and-pop Thai restaurant located in the Woodcroft shopping complex. The owner was super-friendly; we had a good conversation about Thailand. Sadly, I was surprised to see how limited Hope Cafe's menu was - just mostly Thai noodle dishes headlined by Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. When I asked the owner if they have any Thai curry dishes, he said they are planning to eventually add them, but I was upset that they didn't have them when I went. To me, having at least 2 choices of Thai curry dishes should be a standard in any authentic Thai restaurant, and the best ones I've been to, serve them delightfully. This is the first purely Thai restaurant I've been to that doesn't offer curry dishes. I went during weekday lunch time; there was one other customer there, and I noticed the small ambiance lacked decor; no visuals to remind me of Thailand's rich culture. This restaurant didn't have any lunch specials. I asked the owner his recommendation; he said the Drunken Noodle, so I ordered that with chicken as my protein choice ($16) and a glass of iced Thai tea ($4). Other protein choices for the noodles are beef or shrimp ($17), and mixed vegetable or tofu ($15). * Thai Iced Tea The glass of iced Thai tea arrived to my table right away. I've seen taller glasses with more Thai tea in other restaurants that are worth about the same price; the taste of this one was typical and balanced with the right amount of sweetness and ice. The cheap-looking glass kind of ruined my mood to enjoy one of my favorite drinks. Compare that to Thai Station's slender glass (which I previously reviewed with 5 stars), and it just made me think that Hope Cafe didn't seem to care about the visual details of a customer's dine-in experience. * Drunken Noodle As someone who's tried a good amount of pad thai and drunken noodles from various Thai restaurants, Hope Cafe's version failed to meet my expectations for a $16 noodle dish. The serving amount was surprisingly little; there was no complimentary appetizer or soup, and the taste wasn't special to justify that amount for that price. I liked how the chicken was tender and the flavors were well-balanced. I got more value from a $12+ lamb & chicken over rice from the Tasty Halal food truck (I know totally different types of food but this comparison proves a fair point). The owner placed 4 small sauce containers for me to adjust my Drunken Noodles' taste: chili, chili sauce, vinegar, and sugar. I added a bit of chili sauce, but didn't use any of the other ones. If you really enjoy eating drunken noodles or pad Thai and don't mind the lack of value from Hope Cafe's noodle dishes, you might think this is acceptable, but I'd rather spend that amount in a Thai restaurant that could offer more in terms of both quality, quantity, and menu choices. As much as I wanted to spread the word about a new Thai restaurant in Durham, this one failed to give me hope to return. | Overall Score: 1.2/5

    Pad Thai Chicken
    Rachel L.

    1000000/5 stars. We love Hope Cafe. Delicious food as always. Seriously, always amazing and never disappoints! This place rules!

    Drunken Noodles
    Kristine N.

    I stopped by Hope Cafe recently and really enjoyed it! It's a casual Thai spot tucked in a shopping center with plenty of parking available. I was greeted by the owner as soon as I walked in, and the service was friendly and quick. I ordered the Drunken Noodles, which you can customize with your choice of protein and spice level. Solid portion and great flavor--definitely a place I'll come back to when I'm craving Thai!

    Pad Thai and Thai Curry Noodle Soup
    Anna C.

    Hope Cafe is a no-frills, cozy Thai spot run by friendly staff who seem genuinely passionate about the food they serve. The menu is beautifully decorated with photos of every dish, making it easy for even the most indecisive eaters. We started with the chicken potstickers, which sat in a citrusy soy broth and garnished with crispy fried garlic... so simple, so good! For our mains we tried the curry noodle soup and beef pad thai. The soup's broth was on the thinner side, but incredibly flavorful with just a hint of heat. Both dishes were generously portioned and thoughtfully crafted. I appreciated the extra limes, onion, and spice rack with various toppings to adjust the heat to our liking. Excited to come back!

    Interior tables

    Brand new Thai noodle and street food place just opened up in the Food Lion plaza, right between domino's and Pulcinellas. I'm going to cut right to the chase; It's better than good, folks. It's great, like Alexander. The place is clean and no nonsense in presentation, and the staff are gracious and welcoming. I got the drunken noodles, and I can say with no exaggeration, it's the best stir fry dish I've had. Period. Ever. The layering of flavor, the sweet savoryness, and that subtle slow spice. My sinuses were doing back flips. It should be illegal to taste this good, but I'm glad it's not. I got a Thai Iced Tea to drink, but they also serve canned, and bottled drinks, and it looks like you can also order boba tea, or ice cream, if you're feeling froggy. Between this place, and Reno's, if you're down in the Valley, pull on up to the table.

    Drunken Noodle

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    10 months ago

    peak food it taste great if you are a foodie eat here great customer service the fried beef balls are good I was full for the next 2 days

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    1 year ago

    great customer service. greeted us nicely and love the space. food was also great, we'll be sure to come back too

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    Thai At Main Street - Spicy Eggplant w/ a side of rice

    Thai At Main Street

    3.9(228 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    Reasonably priced, delicious, and generously proportioned! Just about everything on the menu can be…read moremade vegan on request, and I've never had a dish here I didn't enjoy. Of the many restaurants downtown, I especially appreciate Thai At Main Street's flexibility around serving large groups on relatively short notice. We came here on a Friday night (always busy in Durham). We called half an hour in advance for a group of 8 people, and by the time we arrived they had a table ready for us. The inside isn't large, but even though all of the tables were full, the volume was very reasonable. At our table of eight, we had no trouble hearing one another and conversed as a group. Service was prompt (even though the place was packed), and the food came out within 15-20 minutes. I got the Drunken Noodles, which I've had here before & always enjoy. My partner got the Pad See Ew, which was also phenomenal. Two in our party got the pineapple fried rice, which was a big hit (even with my slightly picky younger sister!). Overall, I recommend, especially for short-notice dinners, large groups, or anyone just craving some fresh, flat rice noodles (i can never get enough of those).

    I would say that the red curry was too watery (as opposed to thick and creamy), and the bell…read morepeppers were cut too large. Like, when you're stuffing half a bell pepper in your mouth, is just not very attractive. My daughter did enjoy her Khao Soi, and the presentation was very nice. Our server was rude. She was impatient in taking our order, and other than that, only stopped at our table one other time for about half a second to ask if everything was okay, before she rushed off without waiting for an answer.

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    Thai At Main Street - Interior

    Interior

    Thai At Main Street - Chicken Satay

    Chicken Satay

    Thai At Main Street - Pad See Ew w/ Beef

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    Pad See Ew w/ Beef

    Krill

    Krill

    4.1(134 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    On our anniversary trip, my husband and I wanted to try something exotic and we figured, why not…read moregive Filipino food a try! We were not disappointed! We arrived at 8p on a Friday night to a busy but fun scene in a smaller but chic restaurant. The waitresses and waiters were all very pleasant and sat us quickly. I had a lychee limeade mocktail and my husband had a San Miguel beer. We ordered crispy Brussels sprouts and Lumpiang Shanghai roles.....one word....delicious! Do yourself a favor and order these rolls! For dinner, I had a tofu fried rice and my husband had a chicken stir fry, which both tasted so light and fresh! Definitely worth the visit!! Food quality: 4.5/5 Customer service: 4/5 Value for cost: 4.5/5

    This was a wonderful place to try Philippino food! My first time trying this type of food and what…read moreto pick. My friend is from that area of the world and on her recommendation we tried this new place in downtown Durham. It was terrific, what a find! The restaurant's unique handmade paintings on walls and other Philippino decor was very eclectic and cool. They had a hand painted mural of the famous Chef Anthony Bourdain Which was cool but he's from New York so I'll have to ask the owner about that next time I come back. Lol The place was packed and we were walk ins but the owner was at the reception desk and told us to wait and she might be able to find us a table. We were in luck and she directed us to the back room. The server was extremely knowledgeable about all the dishes. Since I had my Philippino friend along she told us what she liked as well as the helpful server. The food was delicious and had a beautiful presentation. What I ate I can't pronounce so look at my pics of the menu ;) I had a bowl w beef filet, onions, tomatoes, cucumber lining the bowl w Jasmine rice and a fried egg on top. My friend had oxtail and the other had an appetizer of Lumplang Shanghai and entre of Pancit Behon, all food was extraordinary and large portions. No doubt that was why the place was packed! It's a great place in downtown Durham to check out next time you want to have some adventurous dining. Kain Po Tayo! (Enjoy your meal!)

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    Krill
    Krill
    Krill

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    M Kokko - Spicy Ramen

    M Kokko

    4.3(580 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    We came with a group of three on a Thursday night around 7pm. We accidentally walked into M Sushi…read morefirst (right around the corner), but they sent us on to the right place. There's not a ton of seating, but we got a table quickly. The service was quick, and even though the place was small, it felt more cozy than cramped. I liked having the menu on the wall! They had two vegan options, and my partner & I both got the Biang Biang noodles. It was good, and perhaps even better the next day (the serving was big enough that I couldn't finish it). My sister got the Jjajiang Mian & absolutely loved it. This was a very positive experience, but not mindblowing--I think that the hype around the "M" restaurants perhaps raised my expectations a bit too much. It's also possible that their non-vegan options are stronger than their vegan options. Overall, though, very yummy, the prices are very reasonable for Durham ($16 for the Biang Biang noodles), and I would come back & try the veggie curry if given the chance.

    I came to M Kokko after trying M Sushi their two vegan dishes. I went on a Thursday evening and was…read moreseated immediately as a party of two. I was disappointed however when they told me they are currently out of the vegan udon curry dish, which was 1/2 items I could eat. Nevertheless, I ordered the other dish, Biang Biang Noodles. The store was not full, there were two servers and at least 3 tables that were empty but the wait time to get my single dish or noodles took over 30 minutes - way longer than expected. While the noodles were well cooked and packed with flavor, I felt that the dish was far too oily and without much tofu/protein. Perhaps the other meals are less oily and more protein packed, but for being the only vegan option available that day, unfortunately this is all I have to offer at this time.

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    M Kokko
    M Kokko - Spicy Ramen

    Spicy Ramen

    M Kokko - Biang Biang Noodle. $15. Smoked tofu, yu choy, cilantro, crispy shallots, pickled mustard, black vinegar, and chili oil.

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    Biang Biang Noodle. $15. Smoked tofu, yu choy, cilantro, crispy shallots, pickled mustard, black vinegar, and chili oil.

    Hope Cafe - noodles - Updated June 2026

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