Was hanging out in Durham and decided to check out this spot. I got the vegetarian Cuban sandwich…read morewhich I have not seen at many other places and the yuca fries. The sandwich itself was okay. Was very salty and the flavor seemed off slightly but overall decent. The yuca fries were a good choice with the dipping sauce that comes with it. The space inside is spacious with plenty of seats when we went. The staff is friendly and helpful with any questions you may have. You can also order online to go. For parking, you can park on the street or deck parking. Prices were slightly higher than expected but appropriate for downtown Durham. Overall, a cool restaurant with a variety of options. Unsure if I will come back but recommend trying it if you are in the area.

Cool way to celebrate a birthday.... Have a food truck cater the party! The Spanglish crew served…read moreup some delicious Latin cuisine. Started with the pernil mallorca melt... mouthwatering pork roast, slow-cooked & fork tender, on sweet-ish mallorca bread with melted cheese and a spoonful or two of the pork juices. Excellent. Next, a Cuban sandwich. The same pork roast, this time with as slice of ham, Swiss cheese and sliced pickles, slathered with mustard on pressed mallorca bread. A great rendition of a Tampa-style Cuban but missing that Cuban bread. Also tried a trio of empanadas. The beef is a hearty mix of chunky beef, well spiced, juicy and tender. The chicken is chunks of white meat, with slivers of carrots and other vegetables. A little more bland than the beef, but still flavorful, moist and tender. Each was ensconsed in a traditional half moon pastry and fried deep, golden brown. Not at all greasy, these were crunchy, savory and delicious. Honorable mention to the s'mores empanada. The same half moon pastry, stuffed with chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker, then deep fried. WAY better than your standard cookout s'mores; these were decadent and sweet. The perfect dessert to top off the meal. Be on the lookout for this food truck. Really good food - fresh and delicious.

Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

I would say the service here was average to poor. The sweet tea had a strong chemical/artificial…read moretaste to it; I recommend they simply take it off the menu. The food is decent!

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.

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!

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.

Every time I visit Fayetteville, I have such a hard time finding good food, and an even harder time…read morefinding a restaurant that's clean with good service. This place delivered in all aspects. The mofongo was great, and I highly recommend getting their sampler appetizer tray. Marion was a wonderful server and very accommodating.

I've had this placed saved to try for a while and finally got the opportunity to try it out on a…read morerandom Wednesday. The space is large with plenty of seating and also bar seating. You order your food at the front (bar) and then grab a seat wherever you want. I got a mango margarita which they didn't skimp on the tequila in it! Was sweet enough where I didn't notice at first how much tequila was in it (a win in my book). For dinner, I got the pernil w/cuero which was full of flavor. Tostones were nice and crunchy without being greasy. The rice was just okay, I prefer a bit more sazon and sofrito. I think this restaurant would do well in a more inhabited area instead of connected to the mall but the guy working stated they do very well on the weekends, so I hope it brings them continued business!

Visited with my family of 6 for my son's 17th birthday. Location is in the Triangle Town Center…read morethat is unfortunately vacant. Very few stores remain. Dining was ample and clean. My wife said the bathrooms were dirty. Seating and ordering are on your own, there is no service. Good menu options, and good portions for the price. The pulled pork and fried plantains were really good. Everything else was fine, but nothing special. The name is a bit misleading. Filipino lechon is an extremely tasty slow roasted pig with candy like bark. This was just pulled pork. Doubtful that'd we'd return.

Someone told me that this was the place to go if you want the best pinchos. He was right! This is…read morea food truck that's only open Thursday through Sunday for dinner. The pinchos are spot on! Being married to a Puerto Rican and having traveled to PR many times, this place tastes as authentic as being on the beach in Luquillo where there's a line of these The pastelillos, which are otherwise more recognizable as empanadas, were so good (chicken was our fav) and the pinchos are flavorful. There's a homemade guava pastry dessert that is so good that I have to practice some serious self-control not to eat the entire pack. What else is really good is the freshly-made pina coladas. They are non-alcoholic, but let me tell you...you don't miss the alcohol because they're so good! I wish they were open during the week, but the owner has another full-time job so he can't. Perhaps once this place gains more recognition, he can quit his other job! It's hard waiting all week to go back. We have been back every weekend since we discovered this place!

We had the pastelon pastellito, that had ground beef, mozzarella cheese, and plantains inside. The…read moremost amazing pastellito I've had in Raleigh! Must need try and we'll definitely be back soon!

A new Puerto Rican restaurant in the downtown area. As a native Puerto Rican, this is DAMN good…read morefood. The Arroz con Gandules (yellow rice with beans) is almost as good as my mothers. Give this place a try! You won't regret it ;)