This place was very easy to find and very easy to get to...super close to Southpointe. We got there early 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! read more

Loved the guys who opened this place as a food truck, then a small store off rt 55 and finally here. 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. read more

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I always come here every time I'm in Durham. Everything is good! I saw they now have a lot more parking spaces for pick up and it makes sense, if you do things right and are consistent, people will keep coming back. Bravo read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Baht Mi Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Modern fusion spot with a creative take on bánh mì, plus tacos, sandwiches, and protein bowls. Ordering is done via QR code, and food is brought out to you. I had the grilled chicken bánh mì--chicken was tender and flavorful, but the sandwich overall was a bit bland. My partner had their baht banh mi and it was much better. I do like their bread -crispy and held up well. The furikake steak fries were excellent--super crispy and flavorful--and the super sauce was a standout. Parking is right out front, though it felt like staff were monitoring the lot to make sure only customers were parking there--maybe I misunderstood, but it was noticeable. read more

I saw the large number of good reviews and thought I would try the place. It is really pan-asian and had only a few Vietnamese dishes. The food was just okay. The place isn't much more than a take-out with tables. You have almost no interaction with the wait staff as ordering is on your phone, the dishes are served in paper bowls and drinks in plastic cups, and they have no alcoholic drinks (e.g. beer). In addition the dishes for the other couple were served 10 minutes before we got our food. No one came by to ask us about the food or if we needed our water refilled. The best I can say is that the prices were not high. read more

Excellent food. I like the ordering and payment process, which does not involve any waiting. I had the chicken bow which was really tasty. The only downside I think is the prices which are too high for the portion size. read more

Consistently a go-to! I spread the word about this place all the time. Likely my top recommendation in the area. Been eating here for years and it's always a flavor explosion! This is how real chefs flavor food...I talk with experience. read more

Wow, it been a while since I been here but I always remember how great it was. This time we were hungry late at night and were happy that it was an option that was open. The whole staff is extremely nice and helpful! They all made the experience great with their kindness. The food was amazing from the fries, banh mi, and chicken sandwich. Everything is so flavorful!!! My husband was in love. The atmosphere is cool vibes and super quick to get food. It easy to order via your phone. I will definitely be back!! read more

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This the second time I've been here and this place is amazing. There was seating and the space was modern and super cute. The service was excellent. Out waiter was kind, funny, and super attentive. Every single thing we ordered was 10/10 perfection. It was such a nice balance of flavors and freshness with the vegetables. Nothing was too salty or too sweet; everything went together perfectly. Our table ordered the fried chicken and the short rib bahn-mi sandwiches, the shrimp tacos, the lemonade, and corn. read more

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Stopped in with my best friend while she was in town. The place was clean, had a cool vibe and the food was really good. The staff were all very nice. They had a staff member directing folks to the counter for takeout or the dining room where they had QR codes on the table for ordering. You could pay your tab via card from your phone. You were required to enter a card for your tab before you could submit the food order. Totally understandable but it did feel a little impersonal. Not something super important and I can understand as a restaurant why that would be useful but as a customer it was weird to pay for my food at the table before I got it. I think maybe it would have felt different if we could have paid at the counter and then grabbed a table. We will totally go back again because the food was great. I'll just be aware of that requirement next time. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Sopapilla Shake - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I'm not sure that KoKyu Na'Mean was my jam. It sounded great based on all the reviews and I usually love a good bahn mi. I did steer a little away from the traditional bahn mi and went with the baht mi. I was a little bit underwhelmed. The bread was delicious (probably the best part), but it did get soggy and fall apart because there was so much sauce. The meat was okay-it did have a lot of fat. It was also pricey. Next time id probably pick a more traditional and less expensive Vietnamese restaurant for a bahn mi. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Baht Mi Sandwich, jalapeño chips, and lavender kombucha - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

KoKyu has been on my list to try for a while, and I finally got the chance to do so! They're known for their sandwiches so I got the Baht Mi. It was packed full with tender and flavorful short rib + so many refreshing veggies and was absolutely delicious. My friends and I also got fries to share, but this was pretty disappointing: it was a terrible portion size (seen in the photo) for $8. Ambiance is really nice with both indoor and outdoor seating. Service is fast, you order via QR code. Lots of free parking in the lot up front. 7.5/10 would recommend overall, 10/10 just for the sandwich! read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Baht Mi Sandwich, Fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Really great service and really solid food. We came for takeout and the service was fantastic. Got a tofu banh mi and a spicy tofu bowl. Both were fantastic in their own way and tasted great. I would agree with what some other reviews say though, which is that you should come here if you want good tasting/quality food, not for cheap eats. You are paying for good food, so don't expect cheap eats or cheap price. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Tofu Banh Mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The food was absolutely delightful, service was exceptional, and the ambiance was very warm and welcoming

Today was my first visit to KoKyu. A quick Maps search for the nearest 4+ star eatery brought me here after leaving the Southpoint Mall. I called in advance to inquire if the street corn dip was made with either mayo or egg. The person on the other end of the phone was so sweet. She happened to be standing near a member of the kitchen staff who verified that it did not have either ingredient, but that it does include dairy. That was music to my ears. I was in! Once I arrived I was greeted by a very kind woman that gave me the rundown about it being a seat yourself venue that utilized a QR code ordering system. I sat right up front near the front door since I wasn't ordering much (because of my dietary restrictions). While waiting for my order I couldn't help but notice how incredible their whole operation is. The staff are intuitively attentive. Every customer was met and greeted at the door with upbeat energy and was made to feel welcome. I even heard someone providing a customer with the WiFi passcode during his intro before directing the party to their table. The bald gentleman (I wish I knew his name) was incredibly kind. I could not be more impressed with their attention to detail and internal communication systems that allow them to keep the whole train moving smoothly (including to-go/pick up orders and patio & indoor seating). I ordered the street corn dip and LOVED it. As I explained to several staff members that stopped by to check on me, folks that don't eat egg products don't often get to enjoy street corn so I was elated that their preparation suited my needs. It came out nice and hot And it's absolutely DELICIOUS! I ordered extra jalapeño and requested another lime. Together, it's out of this world! Can't say enough about how excellent my first visit was! read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Street corn dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

All the sandwiches were good. Their fries are also really good, unique seasoning. Venue is bright and airy.

Considering that this place started with a bad impression on me for non-Asian ownership of an Asian restaurant, I have to say that it's overcome that impression to show how well cultural cuisines can be honored by those outside of that culture - what I mean by that is that the food. tastes. good. The kitchen staff works tirelessly to make this operation run smoothly. Don't let the lack of indoor seating throw you off; it's meant to run efficiently as a pick-up spot, but regardless, if you show up in person like I did, the people working will kindly and patiently explain to you how it all works. Despite no indoor seating, they keep a pretty good vibe in the store with just enough grunge in the decor. All the banh mi are loaded with meat (take notes please, other restaurants), and the flavors demonstrate a knowledge of the authentic Asian kitchen, rather than a brief foray into the Wegman's international aisle. It's not perfect - I can't find pate in any of the banh mi, and the prices are a bit steep; but then again, I haven't seen pate anywhere in the triangle and the price of admission is worth the quality of the food. read more

Wow!! I got the tofu banh mi and it was excellent. The tofu was seasoned so well, and the banh mi was packed with vegetables. The bread was also the perfect texture - not too hard and easy to bite into. Service was excellent - right as I parked in a pick up parking spot, I was greeted by a server and my food was brought out. I can't wait to come back and try another banh mi! read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Tofu banh mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Awesome Ambiance, bright cheerful clean space. Very attentive service. Watermelon freeze drinks were delicious We ordered fries, corn, bahn mi and pimento burgers everything was delicious Fast service read more

The best food I have eaten in a long time. The futikake fries and chicken bowl and baht min. We will definitely be back. The staff was so awesome- refilling water, checking on us. read more

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KoKyu is the only takeout my extremely picky daughter will eat. I could exist solely off the fries. No notes. We love KoKyu

Omg the food here is a 10/10! While perusing the menu we definitely thought it was a little pricey for casual dining but boy oh boy it didn't disappoint. You must must must get the pork belly banh mi sandwich. Originally I was going to go with the bowl because I didn't spot the sandwiches section on the menu but my husband found it and I had to get it. He ordered a spicy chicken sandwich (dunno which one) which was nice as well but mine was the clear winner and comes with a choice of side (I went with seaweed salad which the server also recommended). It's your standard everyday seaweed salad. The other options are kimchi daikon radish, a bunch of choices of chips, escabeche (Mexican pickled carrots), or a macaroni salad. There is absolutely no seating inside whatsoever. When our server told us that initially we thought they just meant that they were at occupancy but no, there is no indoor dining. We came here in the afternoon around 1:30 and there were 2 other tables with diners. It was during a lull in thunderstorms but still raining quite a bit, the umbrellas were struggling to carry all the rain on top without splashing huge amounts of water on the sidewalk. Despite all the elements it is still so worth it. Please come here. You won't regret it! P.S. our server ended up walking us all to our separate cars while holding an umbrella over our heads even though he was getting absolutely soaked. He held the umbrella over me while I was getting my toddler into her car seat and then walked me separately to the driver's seat. That kind of service cannot be beat. I mean how kind and thoughtful is that? Amazing. read more

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Super delicious flavor bombs all over the menu! A local favorite with great and fast service, a new dining area, and great drink options. Super cool vibe and ambiance in the seating area. Can't wait to get back here again. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Doenjang Steak Bowl (with Taku sauce) - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food has really excellent flavor. I ordered their banh mi with chicken that had this soy honey flavor, really delicious! The outdoor only spot had limited service (they bring water!) and you need to scan a QR code to order and eat at their tables along the sidewalk. Otherwise we saw many people picking up their carry out orders. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Hot Pot Banh and kimchi daikon - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food is insane. Get the burnt end nachos! Everything we ordered was so good. Takes a while because it is fresh but very nice people!

This is a ghost kitchen so there are many restaurants under one location. There is no indoor seating so luckily the first time we came I had a blanket in the car. The second time we brought the kids and the weather was nicer. They have lots of beers by the car, milkshakes, burgers, sandwiches. But I live and die by the corn dip and the chicken peanut sandwich. So so good! This will for sure be a monthly stop for me! read more

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Wow, another amazing sandwich from KoKyu! Special this week was a brisket birria with jalapeños, pickled red onions and Cojita cheese with birria sauce. So good! read more

Great spot with good sandwiches and a great variety of drinks. Does a great job with the online ordering and frequent checkins

This place is everything! No it literally is. They are several ghost kitchens in one with an assortment of tacos, banh mis, chicken sandwiches, burgers, and shakes. As of July 2022 they only have outdoor seating but all tables have umbrellas and I'm here for it. Simply scan the QR code on the table, place your order, and they'll bring your food out to the table. We split the pork belly banh mi and chicken and peach taco special. The banh mi was huge with top notch quality pork belly and came with a delicious sauce on the side. The tacos were the epitome of summer with smoked chicken complimented by the sweetness of fresh diced peaches and barbecue sauce. Can't wait to try one of their other ghost kitchens the next time I'm back in the Triangle area. read more

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We were greeted by a very friendly individual who told us they are patio seating only, and currently full. We placed our order, waited in our car, and by the time the order was ready, so was a table. So we were able to eat outside on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed the food. Both the chicken bowl and the pork belly bowl were flavorful, nicely cooked, and large portions--too much to finish at one time. Also enjoyed the vegetables in the bowls along with the rice and meat. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Pork belly - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The sandwiches and dishes are solid in flavor. Unfortunately, the dishes are way over priced. I guess restaurants only cater to the upper classes of society. Which is puzzling especially for this restaurant because they have a counter culture vibe which is obviously a facade. read more

The food is amazing! I'd say this is my top choice to grab a bite in southern Durham. It is also a place I recommend to anyone in the area. The brisket nachos and the Milanese sandwich are some of the best. For tacos, you can't go wrong with the pork belly. read more

I just gotta say....OMG!!!! everything I've ever had here has been utterly PHENOMENAL. Incredibly tasty, well balanced flavors, good portions (sides are small). Fair warning....the spice levels are moderate to high, so ask for adjustment if that's not your thing. Service is spot on....all staff has been pleasant and helpful. Ambiance is cool if you like being outdoors next to a parking lot. I love outdoor dining...the parking lot maybe not so much BUT they have beautified their little piece of heaven with plants and such...so if ya squint, you can pretend the cars are boats in a marina or something LOL. Totally a cool vibe...just chill. Now....I'm on a mission to try EVERYTHING on their menu to see if the rest is as good. I'm betting it is!! Go here!!!!! read more

Delicious, fatty, huge banh mis that are PACKED with flavor. Like an explosion of savoriness in your mouth. I recommend the pork belly banh mi and the beef short rib one. Both have ooey gooey tender meat and have their own tangy sauces paired with them. They give you a ton of juicy meat, to the point where my bread on the beef banh mi got so soggy and super messy to eat. Nonetheless, it was still so good. The fries are also a must try here. Super crispy and fatty with that steak fat. Each banh mi also comes with a small side of your choosing. The crispy pork banh mi was a little bit dry, so I suggest choosing a different one. But honestly you can't go wrong with anything here. Will definitely be back!! read more

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Baht miiiiii (bahn mi with Korean beef) so good, I get it every time. Messy dish, esp if you take it to go (juices/sauces soak through bread over time) but matters little. This is one amazing sandwich. Bread is perfection, the meat tender, the pickled veggies and raw cukes a fantastic complement to add some crunch along with spicy peanut sauce with Sriracha. And did I mention that bread? Heaven inside and out with that perfect outer crunch. I keep forgetting to order w/o the raw jalapeño slices but easy to pick off (on the very bottom aka put on first). Seaweed salad is also a fantastic complement. 10 of 10 would eat again and again (and do) read more

This may be my new favorite place in Durham. Great ambience. Friendliest staff. And the food! So delicious. You will fair best if you like spicy food and most of the menu does have a little heat to it, but I went with my elderly mother and we found something for her that wasn't too spicy. Definitely will be taking more folks there. What a treat. read more

KoKyu gets 5 stars because Adam our server was THAT phenomenal. Adam, you are the MAN!! Somebody get that man a raise! He was very hospitable and went above and beyond. I brought my girlfriend and sister with me to try out the fish tacos during the Dine In The 919 Event and they were having trouble checking in and getting the code. Adam was persistent and made sure that we got the discount. He also gave us free samples to try while we waited for our food. The fish tacos were the best had (also the only) fish tacos I've ever had. I loved the presentation of the tacos with the beautiful purple cabbage and parsley on top. The purple cabbage had a vinegary taste which was the perfect compliment to the savory fried fish and the spicy sauce. My tastebuds were in paradise. I was thinking about these tacos days later. We also had the cranberry freeze and even though it was freezing outside it was worth every sip. For $9.19 this deal was a steal! One tip is to make sure that its not cold, rainy, or windy when you go because they currently do not have indoor dining. read more

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I gave it five stars because they know what they are doing. I ordered wrong but that's not their fault. It was beautifully made. I wasn't thinking of how salty pork belly was going to be. I could hardly stand it. The sweetness from the sauce made it a little better. The bread was perfectly soft and crispy. I would try it again but a different selection. The service was great as well. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Baht Mi Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I ordered the baht mi sandwich. It was pretty good. I would definitely come here again. If it's your first time ordering from here, they will tell you to choose a table outside. You scan the menu and also order over your phone and provide the payment this way too. At first, I wasn't sure how this was going to work, but it ended up turning out okay. I ordered the baht mi. It was good, the meat was very juicy. I was expecting a Korean short rib for some reason, but this one works too. I ordered the BBQ chips as my side. I would say the price is alittle higher than I would usually pay for a banh mi, but it's different. Give it a try. The baht mi had a really nice honey peanut sauce and plenty of pickled veggies to even everything out. Staff was nice. Bring a jacket if your eating outside, it got a little cold today. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Baht Mi Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is a cool restaurant with unique Asian fusion food featuring bahn mi and multiple other entrees. I tried the baht mi and hot chicken sandwiches. Both were very flavorful. However, it was to the point actually though where I think there was a bit too much sauce that overwhelmed the overall sandwich. Nonetheless, the sandwiches were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, which is just how bahn mi bread should be. The sandwiches were quite filling, and also come with a small side each. I tried the seaweed salad (classic and good) and the macaroni salad (also good). Total cost for the two sandwich meals was about $33. Right now, it's outdoor seating only. You can call ahead to place your order. It's a bit off the beaten path, so use google maps to get there. There's plenty of parking available. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - baht mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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