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!

This places continues to do Colombian food in ALL the right ways. If you're needing a good hearty…read morecreamy soup, get their seafood soup it comes with shrimp, mussels and squid. Dip the rice in the soup, delicious! If you don't know what to get, you can't go wrong with the Bandeja Paisa, it has a little bit of all the best things, steak, chorizo, chicharron, rice beans eggs and some sweet plantains. More than enough for two! The food always comes out fresh. I'd definitely go in between the week, evenings and weekends are packed! The restaurant is really small so expect a wait.

The food was good.. seriously the rib eye sandwich is the way to go…read more We waited more than 10 minutes to order and the burger was a tad dry. I would still return as the service after receiving food was top-notch and great seasoned food

My recommendation, get the 'Plato Típico Chapin'. It offers a mix of various Guatemalan specialties…read morelike Garnachas, pastelitos de papa and a stuffed poblano pepper. I like grabbing it for the stuffed poblano, but the Garnachas are wonderful too. The entire plate is FILLING and it pairs so nicely with what they offer at their salsa bar. Speaking of their salsa bar... The orange sauce is legendary, the grilled jalapeños are delicious and the pickled vegetables are tasty! That was so nice to have! Ambience is a mix between store and restaurant, so you can even take some Guatemalan treats to-go. Service is solid. Definitely worth a stop.

We live near by and have never tried so we stopped by today at lunch time and grabbed a few…read moredifferent dishes mostly appetizers. My favorite was the garnaches, the tortillas were so crispy and the ground sirloin was juicy and flavorful. All the veggies were super fresh and amazing. Some of the best taquitos I've had in a while. The Ceviche was our overall favorite just full of flavor and tastes very fresh. The inside is like a mini bodega and there is a dinning room with seating. They have a sauce and toppings bar. So many drink options as well. A hidden gem must try for sure. Our cashier said they have been here over 10 years and told us to come back to dine in for dinner one night and we most definitely will be.

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!

AUTHENTIC! Quick service and nicely decorated…read more Having spent 12 years of my life in Peru, I feel confident with my assessment of Mi Peru. I was in town for business and as in every location I travel to, I look for Peruvian food. This is in my top three. One was in Austin, TX, one in St Louis, MO and now this one in Durham, NC. I had the lunch special. It included a drink, soup and entree. Of course you have to drink Inca Cola (tastes like Squirt with Cream Soda) nice and cold. I'll have to get a Chicha Morada to take with me (which I did, and it was fruity and sweet, like a non-alcoholic sangria with cinnamon). The soup was a chicken and lentil soup with various veggies. As soon as I tasted it, I knew I was in for a treat and prayed the Aji de Gallina would be just as good. It was! Aji de Gallina is a shredded chicken dish made with Peruvian Aji amarillos, nuts, Parmesan cheese. Add in all the delicious spices Peru is known for and you have a wonderful, homey, delicious dish. I will be coming back tonight for dinner. Can't decide if I want the Seco de Res or the Lomo Saltado. Both staple dishes in Peru. Part 2 - so...I was too tired to go back for dinner. BUT, I did order in. I got the Papa à la Huancaina (so delicious, it tasted like I make at home). It is a creamy, Aji Amarillo cheese sauce over yellow potatoes. I would have liked it a little spicier, but I understand having to cater to the general public, so I'll let that slide. But the flavor was as good as you could get. I also opted to order the Seco since I thought it would travel better than the Lomo Saltado. The rice was perfect. Not soggy or spongy. Just right. Flavored with a little salt and garlic. You could eat it by itself. The Seco meat was tender. I didn't even use a knife to cut it. In fact, it pulled apart easily with a plastic fork. I would have liked a little more of the cilantro sauce to soak up in my rice. The flavors were right on, but I love cilantro...so. It even came with a Salsa Criolla (lightly pickled red onion), which is authentic and served with many Peruvian dishes. I ordered additional salsa amarillo just to taste. It's a sauce made with aji amarillo and black mint. I know it sounds weird but it's actually so tasty and fresh. My only disappointment were the beans not that they weren't good and flavorful, but they were pinto beans. I was really expecting mayacoba beans (similar to a white canary bean). Sorry, I ate it before thinking about taking pictures. All in all, I would rate this highly for those wanting to try authentic Peruvian food. My next visit to Durham I'll be trying the Ceviche and Lomo Saltado.

Food is absolutely delicious!! Customer service was outstanding and the restaurant is clean. I love…read morePeruvian food!! It's authentic compared to Peru!!

Food is a solid 4 star, especially when considering the price. Service was 2 star but I chose to…read morestill aware 4 star for the food. This is located in a hospital cafeteria after all. I ordered the SHREDDED BEEF AREPA which also comes with plantains, cheese and beans inside. I chose garlic sauce and it was superb on the arepa! Very delicious and I suspect the arepa samdwiches are gluten free for those intolerant, but I didn't ask. The TORTILLA CHIPS that come with the meal are good, and suspect they make them in-house. The SERVICE was horrible. Guy behind counter told me the soda machine only had diet soda, which was what I wanted anyway. Out of curiosity I asked if it was hospital policy to exclude sugar soda or if the machine was just out of sugar syrups. He responded "don't know" in a "don't care" attitude. I went to fill my cup and the machine didn't serve ice either! This place could really help people in the hospital by smiling and showing they care about the customer. Most eating here in the hospital cafeteria are carrying the weight of poor health on their shoulders, whether their own or a loved one. It's a hospital cafeteria so its a place to sit down, and could be a good break from sitting in a loved ones patient room. It's not a restaurant that one would come to if not in the hospital.

It's harder to find arepas than it should be. There's just something about grilling corn that makes…read moreit irresistable. What's notable about this local chain is its extensive options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners. The default arepa apparently has some dairy and gluten in it, but options for getting one to suit a vegan or gluten-free diet are there. The filling options for an arepa are customizable and numerous, with a range of flavors and nutritional profiles. My takeout order was ready speedily. Oddly, they gave me an extra arepa, which was unlabeled except for saying that it was a gift. It didn't seem to be vegetarian, so I didn't eat it. I appreciate the sentiment, but they might want to think about at least making it clearer what's going on.

Stopped in after booking a hotel near by while visiting town. I tried the ropa vieja. Sooooo good…read more Wish I was hungrier than I was at the time. It was perfectly cooked. Loved my sweet plantains too which had a good grill to them. Only things that I wasn't impressed with the yellow rice. Wouldn't recommend that or the red beans. The server was friendly enough. The bartender/ maybe manager was friendly offered us to stick around for music later in the evening. He also explained the menu choices a lot more than the server actually had. Overall everyone was happy with their selections. The papas relleno needed a sauce or flavor. But nicely cooked. My dad got a flank steak that was nicely braised when I tried it.

We came here on a Wednesday night for dinner. They start by providing complimentary bread. It was…read morereally good. It was nice and buttered and toasted perfectly. We started with the empanadas, which were excellent. We had one beef and one chicken. The beef was nicely seasoned and had potato's on the inside as well. For our main entrees we had the bistec de pollo with yellow rice and plantains. We also had the lechón asado with moros and plantains. The moros is the Cuban version of dirty rice and it was very delicious. The plantains were golden, soft and prepared so good. The chicken and pork were tender and good. The servers were really nice as well. Great experience.

The empanadas are really good. The meal deals are better tasting, cheaper, and more food than if…read moreyou were to go to fast food. I definitely appreciate when restaurants offer good prices. Service was friendly. I'll definitely go again

good customer service and very nice people, food was great and very fresh home style, the nice is…read morealways clean and friendly environmen.