What I recommend: The Arborio soup and the herb and pesto sandwich…read more I went to Toast for brunch to meet a friend and had an amazing experience. The space inside is a little small, but it feels cozy, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. They do have outdoor seating, but in the winter, sitting inside is definitely the better choice. I had the herb and pesto sandwich, which was fantastic, but the standout was the Arborio soup. It had mushrooms and a rich, risotto-like flavor that made it one of the best soups I've had. The prices were reasonable, the service was great, and I can see this becoming one of my regular spots. If you're in the mood for a cozy soup and sandwich combo, Toast is the place to go.

I've been to Toast a handful of times and their paninis are excellent. I like this grilled…read moreportobello one with arugula and fontina a lot. The environment inside is cozy but does get crowded during lunch hours. Toast also has rotating soups of the day, and my colleagues often rave about them being excellent. I'll be back to try a soup!

We came with a group of three on a Thursday night around 7pm. We accidentally walked into M Sushi…read morefirst (right around the corner), but they sent us on to the right place. There's not a ton of seating, but we got a table quickly. The service was quick, and even though the place was small, it felt more cozy than cramped. I liked having the menu on the wall! They had two vegan options, and my partner & I both got the Biang Biang noodles. It was good, and perhaps even better the next day (the serving was big enough that I couldn't finish it). My sister got the Jjajiang Mian & absolutely loved it. This was a very positive experience, but not mindblowing--I think that the hype around the "M" restaurants perhaps raised my expectations a bit too much. It's also possible that their non-vegan options are stronger than their vegan options. Overall, though, very yummy, the prices are very reasonable for Durham ($16 for the Biang Biang noodles), and I would come back & try the veggie curry if given the chance.

I came to M Kokko after trying M Sushi their two vegan dishes. I went on a Thursday evening and was…read moreseated immediately as a party of two. I was disappointed however when they told me they are currently out of the vegan udon curry dish, which was 1/2 items I could eat. Nevertheless, I ordered the other dish, Biang Biang Noodles. The store was not full, there were two servers and at least 3 tables that were empty but the wait time to get my single dish or noodles took over 30 minutes - way longer than expected. While the noodles were well cooked and packed with flavor, I felt that the dish was far too oily and without much tofu/protein. Perhaps the other meals are less oily and more protein packed, but for being the only vegan option available that day, unfortunately this is all I have to offer at this time.

Met my bestie here for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. Parked on the street because I didn't…read morerealize that they have a dedicated parking lot but it was free so I was unbothered by it. As you enter there is a sign that tells you to go look at the menu board, pick out your drink, and go back to the counter to order. I grabbed a diet coke, and ordered a Common Cobb. I was a bit surprise when my total came to $18, as my salad was only $14 but I guess I should have paid attention that my bottle of soda was over $3. How much are the fountain drinks, I wonder? I found us a table inside since it was a bit hot that day (there is also plenty of seating outside AND inside if you go downstairs). The table and floor were messy but someone quickly came to clean it for me. They called our names over the loudspeaker and my best friend went to go get our food. She got the MotherClucker. Our food was REALLY good. If you like Cobb salad, you will definitely like this one. The chicken was pan seared perfectly, the vinaigrette was perfectly tangy and the bleu cheese was especially excellent. My friend's chicken sandwich has SO MUCH chicken salad on it. Impressive. There was so many neat items to see in the place. The murals were great, there were some cute retail spaces, a coffee bar up front, a bar downstairs, and ice cream outside! Unfortunately my bestie and I had too much to talk about so we didn't check it out as much as I otherwise wood. I would definitely try this place again!

I liked this place! We parked on the street nearby and went for lunch. There was a lot of seating,…read moreoutside, inside and downstairs. The place was packed on a Monday at lunch (but it was Memorial Day). You check out the menu, then get your chips and drink and pay at the register, then they call your name at the counter when your food is ready. They have a great assortment of drinks- soft drinks, sparkling water, ollipop, kombucha, also alcoholic drinks downstairs. They have a separate coffee bar and ice cream window, as well. We got sandwiches and fries. The fries were nice and hot, but needed salt- I'd probably skip them and go for chips in the future. The sandwiches were nice and not too expensive for 2025 lol. I had to add some condiments to mine, but that's definitely better than having them use too many condiments and not be able to eat your sandwich. My husband enjoyed his sandwich too (and added more condiments). The ambiance is really cool. If you sit upstairs you have a great view of the whole place and you can people-watch. The cashier was very nice and explained to us how everything worked. There was also someone who came around to check on us after we'd gotten our food, so that was nice to feel like staff/management care that you're having a good experience. Would definitely go back!

It was one of those hectic weekends where the clock struck 10 p.m. and I realized I still hadn't…read morehad dinner. Fortunately, Nan Xiang Express in Durham was still open. The pork soup dumplings were outstanding--the dough was absolutely perfect. They paired beautifully with the chili oil, vinaigrette, and soy sauce provided at the table. The sweet and sour soup also deserves an honorable mention. Beyond the food, it's a beautiful space; the interior would be a fantastic spot to catch a World Cup game!

I really enjoyed my lunch at Nan Xiang Express! This is a fun, fast casual, yet upscale feeling…read morechain specializing in Shanghai-style Chinese foods like soup dumplings, noodles, and drinks. Heads up, the parking lot is kind of small. However, it's not too far from Duke's campus. You can order by kiosk, and sit wherever you'd like and the food came out quickly. The soup noodles were really good! They were well-sized and very flavorful. I also ordered the noodles, which were a decent portion, but didn't really stand out to me as anything special.I think the best part of Nan Xiang was the drinks. I loved the mango pomelo sago. The sago was perfectly tender and the drink wasn't too sweet. Honestly, there were so many drink options, and it was so hard to pick just one. Overall, I liked Nan Xiang express for a quick and convenient option.

I honestly don't need to review this food. It always speaks for itself…read more Mazemen with extra broth, chili butter and meatballs... sake or Kirin to wash it down. Give their Izakaya a chance sometime. A little pricey, but worth it!

Dashi has been on my list forever, and it did not disappoint. I actually went right after coming…read moreback from Japan because I was missing the food and vibes, and this place really delivered. The ambience is beautiful and cozy, and the customer service was so warm and attentive. We sat upstairs in the izakaya during happy hour (Tuesday). The standout for me was the crispy tofu bao bun. The sauce in it was SO good, I honestly wish I had ordered more, especially since it was only $4. We also tried oysters for the first time (they were around $1.50-$1.99 during happy hour), and they were surprisingly delicious. We tried a few grilled skewers, shrimp, eggplant, and tofu, which were good, but not my absolute favorites of the night. The best was the egg sando. It might sound simple, but it was incredible, honestly tasted just like the ones I had in Japan, if not better. And the fries?? Perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. My new favorite fries in Durham.

Delicious Korean food!! No frills ambiance with courteous and attentive staff. The chili crisp…read morefries were to-die for and so were the glass noodles. They have a great drink menu too, the cocktails were wonderful. Would absolutely go back.

Located in downtown Durham, this is a small restaurant with bar seating and communal tables. The…read morefood is Korean/Japanese/Malaysian inspired. Service was attentive and willing to explain different dishes. My favorite was probably the Nasi Goreng; I loved the crispy shrimp on top. The gai lan was also very good, but the fire noodles were pretty mid. I felt like it was an Asian inspired spaghetti with ground chicken.

We used to love Roses. But we have now banned it from our rotation…read more Food is still great but incredibly slow service - both dine in and take out - multiple times we've waited 20+ min beyond the estimated ready time for take out and 30 min after ordering for our food. I understand everyone is understaffed but just adjust your expected ready time online to set expectations. We've also had several unfriendly servers who make you feel like you're imposing on them / it's your fault when they bring out wrong food. Mr and Mrs Meddis - please improve your operations, it's a bummer to no longer visit your establishment.

This is my new favorite spot in Durham! Rose's Noodles, Dumplings & Sweets is hands-down one of my…read morefavorite places to eat in the area. The food is creative, comforting, and full of bold flavors -- you can really taste the care that goes into every dish. The dumplings are delicate and perfectly seasoned, the handmade noodles have great texture, and the desserts are absolutely incredible (don't skip them!). I came here for the first time and ordered a steamed meat bun, the winter sweet potato salad, the House Iced Jasmine Tea and for dessert I got the citrus upside down cake. The food and dessert were fantastic, but the jasmine tea was not my favorite, but that does not mean it was bad. It was just not my favorite flavor. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere feels warm and inviting, and everything is clearly made with love. Whether you're out for a casual dinner or a special night with friends, you can't go wrong with Rose's. By the way, the restroom is beautiful and clean. The only small issue is parking. There is no street parking, but there is a public paid parking lot about a block from it. Overall, highly recommend!

Reasonably priced, delicious, and generously proportioned! Just about everything on the menu can be…read moremade vegan on request, and I've never had a dish here I didn't enjoy. Of the many restaurants downtown, I especially appreciate Thai At Main Street's flexibility around serving large groups on relatively short notice. We came here on a Friday night (always busy in Durham). We called half an hour in advance for a group of 8 people, and by the time we arrived they had a table ready for us. The inside isn't large, but even though all of the tables were full, the volume was very reasonable. At our table of eight, we had no trouble hearing one another and conversed as a group. Service was prompt (even though the place was packed), and the food came out within 15-20 minutes. I got the Drunken Noodles, which I've had here before & always enjoy. My partner got the Pad See Ew, which was also phenomenal. Two in our party got the pineapple fried rice, which was a big hit (even with my slightly picky younger sister!). Overall, I recommend, especially for short-notice dinners, large groups, or anyone just craving some fresh, flat rice noodles (i can never get enough of those).

I would say that the red curry was too watery (as opposed to thick and creamy), and the bell…read morepeppers were cut too large. Like, when you're stuffing half a bell pepper in your mouth, is just not very attractive. My daughter did enjoy her Khao Soi, and the presentation was very nice. Our server was rude. She was impatient in taking our order, and other than that, only stopped at our table one other time for about half a second to ask if everything was okay, before she rushed off without waiting for an answer.