Delicious authentic food. Relaxed ambiance…read more Good service. No complaints. Large portions, too!

"Delicious Honduran food just south of I-85 on Guess Rd in Durham"…read more Came here on a Saturday evening a little after 6pm-- this is the building that used to be "Pad Thai" a few years ago. There's parking out front, but not a ton, and a bit more along the side. Inside, there's a counter by the door with a register and mints (and probably where one would pickup takeout), but you wait to get seated. The place was bright with interesting Central American paintings and lively music. A few tables were taken but it was hardly what I'd call "busy". I ordered the Tajada con carne molida (fried plantains with ground beef) off the "Honduran menu". My dining partner had a creamy chicken mofongo. We also had Jarritos sodas-- I got the pineapple and she had the tamarind. One awkwardness was that the menu didn't have any prices, but I assumed (correctly) that nothing would be crazy expensive that we ordered (though weirdly the tamarind and pineapple Jarritos were different prices). Service was good-- although English was a second language, our server made do, accurately took our order, and was attentive. As other reviewers noted, this is not a speedy place-- I think it was at or maybe over 20 minutes to get our food, but that was fine. Both dishes were really good. The creamy sauce on the mofongo was to-die-for... so yummy. And I enjoyed my plantain/ beef dish-- my dining partner said it was somewhat analogous to "nachos" in a funny way, and she's not wrong. The plantains were pretty stiff-- almost like plantain chips, but still yummy, and the beef and accompaniments were excellent (see photo). The quantity was HUGE-- both of us had enough easily for a second meal. Price wasn't bad-- with the drinks and tax and tip, it was slightly over $50 total. Overall, I'm very happy we tried this place, and I have every intention of coming back.

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!

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.

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.

The level of hospitality was unmatched. They truly put an emphasis on creating a warm and…read morecomfortable environment for everyone. I was especially impressed by the dedicated server who attended to all guests--offering guidance and thoughtfully explaining the menu, which made the experience feel both personal and welcoming. The food tasted incredibly fresh, with meats grilled to perfection and everything seasoned just right. The homemade sauces were a standout, and the drink options felt authentic and well-curated. Look for the yellow tables and umbrellas--it's part of the charm! Plus, parking is free, which is always a bonus.

Pros: fresh ingredients, authentic flavor, plentiful portions,…read more Cons: wait time It's a small food truck, but the food coming out of it is great. They offer traditional arepas, but you can also get a burger or a bowl, if that's your preference. They greet you with a smile and eagerly take your order. If it's cold or hot outside, there's an inside area with seating for eating or waiting. There's also seating outside. The shredded beef tastes best; I found the strips of beef to be a bit tough. They are generous with the cheese and plantains, and it will fill you up. Three chimichurri is pureed, which was not my favorite. I like it chunky. Overall I was happy with the quality and flavor of the food

I decided to visit this place for lunch on a Sunday, i was craving some pupusas, this place was…read morepacked so i was expecting a good food. I had the 3 pupusas meal (10 dollar value and they are good size) and chose to do three different ones, zucchini with cheese was pretty good, you can't go wrong with the cheese one, the chicharron (pork skin) one wasn't that good, i think overall all of them needed a little bit of more seasoning. The mango agua fresca tasted more like water than mango, but the orchata was very good. I would have given them a 4 star but because of the agua and the seasoning I'm doing 3 stars, I do recommend the place and I would come back for sure. As always this is my honest and personal opinion.

Delicious pupusas. You can't go wrong with any of them. My favorites are: cheese, squash and…read morecheese with beans. All are made to order and piping hot with a side of cool slaw. Chefs kiss!

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!

When I say this is one of my favorite food spots in the Triangle, I say that with genuine honesty…read more The Duke Cafeteria area has so many hidden gems and this may be the crown jewel. The portions are huge, the food is so rich in flavor, delicious tastes, and for a decent price. Chipotle could never match what Sazón offers. Just absolutely mouth watering goodness. Highly highly recommend.

I'm not telling a lie when I say their aioli sauces are the best I've had anywhere in my life.read more