While visiting family in North Carolina, we were craving good Spanish food and went hunting for…read morePuerto Rican cuisine. Tucked away in a strip mall, this spot is the definition of a hidden gem. Honestly, if I hadn't specifically searched for Puerto Rican restaurants, I probably would've driven right past it without ever knowing the flavor explosion hiding inside. The restaurant itself is quaint, simple, and unassuming... but then the food arrives and suddenly you understand why people keep coming back. EVERYTHING we ordered was absolutely outstanding. We were a party of 9, which can sometimes be a challenge, but our waiter handled it like a pro. He was attentive, friendly, patient, and never missed a beat. I ordered the mofongo with carne frita and whew... that first bite almost made me emotional. The mofongo was packed with flavor and the carne frita was perfectly seasoned and crispy. You can tell the food is made with love. I also ordered a jugo de parcha. At first it was pretty tart since they use the actual pulp, but they immediately offered to remake it and added a little liquid sugar for balance. After that? Absolute perfection. Great food, amazing service, and authentic flavors that hit the soul. Don't let the location fool you -- this place is worth finding.

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.

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!

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!

The guys were running this truck were super friendly and appreciative of our business. I had a…read morephilly cheese empanada and it was phenomenal. They were parked at Zinc House which is a beautiful place. I won't pass them by when next we meet.

In a sea of food trucks, an Empanada truck makes a lot of sense in that the food can be served…read morequickly, vs. some of the other trucks which can take 20-30 minutes for food. I had Mike Nice Empanadas on 3 occasions. I had their Anaheim Breakfast Empanada which was filled with lots of egg with some tomatoes and onions. It was good but could have used more flavor. Their Vegan Chorizo was just ok... I've had WAY better vegan chorizo with a ton more flavor and moisticity (is that a word?). These were good, but could have used eggs or something else. And their lunch chicken and cheese empanada was so cluckin' good. It was my favorite of the 3 I had. If you like empanadas with virtually no big pockets of air in them, then this food truck may fit the bill. If you like empty airy empanadas, then skip this place.

Food is delicious flavorful and tasty the service is great and drinks are delicious I recommend…read morethis spot check it out a hidden gem

Amazing Service,&food is Delicious!! They have the Best food in town!!...there place to eat is very…read morecozy

Very good size portions of good tasting food. There were so many menu options it was slightly…read moreoverwhelming but very glad we came to try this place. There were not many people but still liked the vibe because of the good music. I think it would be a great place for a night out. Also enjoyed the service. The waitress seemed new and had to ask a lot of questions but I prefer that over someone guessing.

Generous portions, large variety of food and nice presentation. Flavor is not very consistent- some…read moredays the food tastes fresh, others it does not. Service is ok- everyone looks like they do not want to be there.

My Afro-Latina heart was so happy…read more I've been searching for really good Latin food since moving to North Carolina, and Boricua Soul absolutely delivered. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was on point. They were playing great music that made the whole place feel lively and welcoming, and I loved that you can choose to eat inside or enjoy the outdoor patio. My husband and I both ordered the Boricua Soul Bowl. He got the chicken, and I got the pernil. The pernil was incredible it was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The bowl came with arroz con gandules, collard greens, mac and cheese, and I chose the tostones. I had honestly given up on finding good tostones that I didn't have to make myself, but these were exactly what I'd been craving. Crispy, perfectly cooked, and absolutely delicious with the Guava Lava sauce. Since, I couldn't pass them up, we also ordered a side of maduros, and they were perfectly caramelized and sweet. The empanadas easily made my top five. Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and gone way too quickly. Also don't skip the watermelon lemonade, it was so refreshing and paired perfectly with everything we ordered. We'll definitely be back. There are still so many things on the menu I want to try, but I already know I'll be ordering the Boricua Soul Bowl. One tip for first-time visitors: if you're sitting inside and trying to get back outside , the exit is the same door you originally came in through on the far glass door. There is a sign, but we watched three different people accidentally try every other part of the glass first, so hopefully this saves someone a little confusion.

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.

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!