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kokí

4.4 (185 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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KOKÍ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Good for groups

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Pulled chicken bowls
Andrea A.

Found Koki on TGTG and decided to try it out! For ~$6, I got two bowls filled with pulled chicken, black 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!

Giant mural wall
Y C.

Two Puerto Ricans walk into this restaurant to see if it's legit Puerto Rican food and I am sooo happy to report, IT IS!! We walked in to salsa playing in the background and a huge wall with this beautiful mural of the flag and the Taino coqui. I noticed in the glass refrigerator on the side they had Malta and Kola Champgane. YES! Winning! The refrigerator was broken, but we got a cup with ice and voila. Our first time here so we picked up the menu and sat down to take a look at what we wanted to order. You do have to order and pay at the register. On the menu I noticed some Cuban dishes as well. We both decided to try the 'Mofongo'. This is how you truly know. She ordered the one with pernil. I ordered the one with shrimp, because we had to savor both. I asked to see if they can make it with the tri-fongo instead and for a bit of an up charge they were able to do it. My friend asked for the bi-fongo and again for a bit of an up charge they were able to do it. So worth it. It was DELICIOUS!!!! Every bit of it and I'm so happy. This will be my go to Puerto Rican place from now on. Now, parking in the area, is not fun. If you are lucky enough there are some paid parking on the street. I was not so lucky and had to pay for parking in a lot within walking distance. Not too far at all. Just happy there was parking. Keep this in consideration and come and taste some yummy food. I will definitely be back.

Cuban sandwich
Jeff F.

Really enjoyed the Cuban sandwich! I also ordered one of the pastries, wouldn't do that again, it barely had any filling. Other than that it was an enjoyable meal!

Pair of empanadas
Rosa L.

Pluses: -The two empanadas I tried were delicious (Abuela's recipe and the Philly cheesesteak one). -Crispy pork belly in the RDU to San Juan was dusted with just the right amount of seasoning and not greasy (though pretty fatty and thus heavy; probably wouldn't order this again as my main meal, but would happily steal a piece or two off someone else's plate). -Steak tips were flavorful and cooked nicely. Maduros and sweet potato tots also delicious. -Generously portioned plates in general, including a huge pile of French fries as a "side" for the kids menu. We took home lots of leftovers -Fun music (but not too loud) and colorful vibe Minuses: -In-store menu doesn't list any prices. -Menu also feels overwhelming. I wish they'd add photos and not try to cram everything on one side of a piece of paper. -Found not one but two hairs in our food I'd eat here again in hopes that the hair thing was just a one-off oops. The food is super tasty! For folks with kids, they have one high chair. It seems like they do more carry-out than dine-in business, so one may be plenty.

ropa veje
Mary T.

This is the best mainland Puerto Rican food you will find outside Florida (insert heart emoji). I ate at the Durhan l9cation but there is a second one in Morrisville. Its a casual location but intimate enough for a date. Its very clean as well. Yes, three quarters of the menu is fried but if you love empanadas then you know baked wont cut it. Everything was bursting with flavor and nothinv was spicy. My favotite item, and literally EVERYTHING was delicious, was the fried cheese. Its next level goodness a mozerrella stick could only hope to attain. The maple sauce is mind blowing and compliments it very well. Beef and plaintain empanadas wete flavorful. The only item that was an 8/10 vs a 10/10 was the pork belly as it was hard and chewy. I highly reccomend this resturant and will frequent again.

Shanelle Y.

The yucca fries and chicken empanadas were delicious!! The workers were also very friendly and the food came out pretty quick. I definitely want to come back and try their other menu items out soon!

Luz V.

Casual spot, love the artwork inside but the ambiance was really quiet, traditional Puerto Rican music would elevate the space. I wonder if it was just the timing. I tried the mofongo and slow roasted pull pork as well as the Spanglish Cuban. It's a twist to the original Cuban media noche when it comes to flavor. I have a tiny pet peeve, the food wasn't as hot which gave me the impression it may have been premade hours in advance and not warmed up enough before serving it. There was a missed opportunity with the MK sauce, being that's a simple mix it was mainly mayo. I'm definitely coming back to try other things on the menu because I have a feeling the time of day plays a role.

Rdu to Sju - White rice, pink beans, pork belly confit, maduros, fresh sliced avocado, guava maple sauce
Sergio M.

We came here for my Birthday Dinner before a show at the Carolina Theater. Lemme tell you. Come here now. It was delicious. The restaurant has a lot of charm. Wasn't busy at all. You order from a touch screen at the counter. Food came out quick. I'm talking 10 minutes or less. ( at least it felt like it) wait staff was friendly. The empanadas were packed full of flavor. The Queso Frito was fried to perfection. Old Havana Steamed white rice, pink beans, ropa vieja, maduros, fresh sliced avocado The ropa vieja was so flavorful and tender. Best I've had in a while, The RDU to SJU White rice, pink beans, pork belly confit, maduros, fresh sliced avocado, guava maple sauce So delicious. We shared plates so we took a bunch home, huge portions. Can't wait for the leftovers! Seriously can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Come here now. Give them your business if your want some delicious Puerto Rican food

Window seating
Abigail S.

Arlene was the best! Great customer service, sweet and kind. Right away she knew it was our first time in. Being from out of state, it's hard to find a good place to eat. She took some time to tell us what items were the most popular and gave some great suggestions. The interior is cozy and inviting. The food was amazing! Our food came out quick and it was better than I expected. If you're looking for a quick stop with yummy food and great atmosphere, this is it. Pork u pine empanada was top tier 18 wheeler was delish.

Supposedly mofongo. This was made with sweet plantains vice green plantains. It was a sweet mofongo? Never seen that before.
Miguel R.

.. This is the Chipotle version of supposedly "Puerto Rican" cuisine. Very rarely have I gone to a restaurant with such high expectations, only to experience such terrible disappointment. I would never go here again. As a proud member of the Puerto Rican delegation, we do not claim this restaurant as a reflection of our culture, our cuisine or our people. I don't know what this food is, but it is the farthest thing from comida criolla.

Mallorcas!
Anthony N.

Oh yeah! These guys get it right! Good to see some honest-to-goodness Puerto Rican food out in the community! This place does not disappoint. I got the seared ahi (Ahí Está) bowl and it was delicious! The mango salsa, rice, beans and tostones were all on point. The icing on the cake, which I got super-excited about, was that they have mallorcas! They're basically Spanish brioche rolls that typically get dusted with powdered sugar and sliced in half to use for breakfast sandos. They're a pain to make at home, so it's nice to have them made for me! Bonus points for the sofrito they serve with yuca! It takes almost exactly like the sofrito I make at home, so it proves to me this place is the real deal!

We love the food and the flavors. We will definitely be back again. Our friends loved it as well.

Inside
Melissa Z.

I came here after seeing the queso frito (fried cheese) posted all over NC food pages and it did not disappoint! For starters, the place is so cute inside with plenty of different kinds of seating and even booths along the wall with pillows and cushions. Parking is along the street and you have to pay for it, it's around $1.50 an hour which isn't bad. The staff was very friendly too. The quesito was sooooo good that I got another one to go after eating the first one. Unlike most pastries that just give a little bit of filling and mostly crust, this whole pastry was filled with cream cheese and warm and delicious. I got my side of queso frito and the portion was big for just a side. It was amazing and came with a sweet dipping sauce that went surprisingly well with it. Just the inside of this place and these two items were enough to sell me on this place so I will definitely be back to try some empanadas and bigger plates and update this review!

Pick two: spanglish cuban and abuela's chicken empanada

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Their service sucked and their ropa vieja tasted like old clothes watered down. It was a horrible experience for sure.

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Food and service was delicious. Was afraid there wouldn't be enough seating for a party of7 but to my surprise we all fit.

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Amazing decor and even better food! Perfectly cooked Yucca fries and extremely juicy meats. Will definitely be coming again!

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

One of the better Cuban sandwiches I've had! The tostones were also nice with a great dipping sauce.

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

delicious! food was great and service was very quick! i would go back!i got the pork belly and it was soooo good

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4 years ago

Over priced food and drinks gave a 3 star because their aren't many Puerto Rican restaurant in NC

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

Food is amazing I love the dirty dancing plate and the empanadas are on point love love love this place

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Cubanos were good. So was the queso frito. Maybe felt a little overpriced but was good overall. Maybe go on a day when they have specials.

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

Incredible food, great staff, surprisingly excellent vegan options.

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Page 4 of 5

kokí Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - kokí

Can you eat inside or is it only outdoors due to it being a Food Truck?

This page is for our brick-and-mortar Downtown Durham restaurant location. We only have indoor dining at this location, at the moment. Thanks!

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Spanglish - Jack fruit Cuban sandwich

Spanglish

4.1(27 reviews)
21.4 mi
$$

Was hanging out in Durham and decided to check out this spot. I got the vegetarian Cuban sandwich…read morewhich I have not seen at many other places and the yuca fries. The sandwich itself was okay. Was very salty and the flavor seemed off slightly but overall decent. The yuca fries were a good choice with the dipping sauce that comes with it. The space inside is spacious with plenty of seats when we went. The staff is friendly and helpful with any questions you may have. You can also order online to go. For parking, you can park on the street or deck parking. Prices were slightly higher than expected but appropriate for downtown Durham. Overall, a cool restaurant with a variety of options. Unsure if I will come back but recommend trying it if you are in the area.

Cool way to celebrate a birthday.... Have a food truck cater the party! The Spanglish crew served…read moreup some delicious Latin cuisine. Started with the pernil mallorca melt... mouthwatering pork roast, slow-cooked & fork tender, on sweet-ish mallorca bread with melted cheese and a spoonful or two of the pork juices. Excellent. Next, a Cuban sandwich. The same pork roast, this time with as slice of ham, Swiss cheese and sliced pickles, slathered with mustard on pressed mallorca bread. A great rendition of a Tampa-style Cuban but missing that Cuban bread. Also tried a trio of empanadas. The beef is a hearty mix of chunky beef, well spiced, juicy and tender. The chicken is chunks of white meat, with slivers of carrots and other vegetables. A little more bland than the beef, but still flavorful, moist and tender. Each was ensconsed in a traditional half moon pastry and fried deep, golden brown. Not at all greasy, these were crunchy, savory and delicious. Honorable mention to the s'mores empanada. The same half moon pastry, stuffed with chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker, then deep fried. WAY better than your standard cookout s'mores; these were decadent and sweet. The perfect dessert to top off the meal. Be on the lookout for this food truck. Really good food - fresh and delicious.

Photos
Spanglish - Menu

Menu

Spanglish - Yuca fries

Yuca fries

Spanglish - Cuban Sandwich & maduros

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Cuban Sandwich & maduros

Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Pollo a La Brasa / Crispy Yuca Frites / Maduro

Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

4.3(691 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

This place was amazing. We tried both the brisket and chicken sandwich, and they did not…read moredisappoint. We also shared a potato empanada that was recommended by another customer, which was also fantastic. The yuca fries and plantains were delicious. You also get a large amount of food for the price, definitely left us feeling satiated. Staff was very friendly, we will be back!

Photos
Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - The main area

The main area

Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Patacón

Patacón

Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Sangria

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Sangria

The Rican Lab - Plantains

The Rican Lab

4.3(7 reviews)
28.7 mi

We attended the holiday festival and market in angier and they had approx 10 food trucks of…read moredifferent varieties. We decided on the Rican lab as the food smelled really good. We had to wait around 15min but the food was pretty good. We wish there was a little more seasoning to add flavor but overall it was good food and worth the price. The amount of food was good as well.

We took a stroll through the International Food Truck event in downtown Raleigh with one mission in…read moremind: find some unforgettable empanadas. Ever since trying some amazing ones in California and Florida, we've been on the lookout for something that hits that same note--and we may have found a solid contender. Out of the many food trucks selling empanadas, The Rican Lab stood out. Their empanadas didn't disappoint. The crust was just right--crispy, not greasy, and not overly doughy. I didn't get any of that lingering cooking oil taste, which is a huge plus. I went with the beef empanada, while my husband tried the buffalo chicken. The beef had good flavor, but it could have used a binding agent--maybe cheese or sauce--to hold everything together. It felt a bit loose, so I imagine the beef and cheese version would have had better structure. I also think using shredded or chunked beef might work better than ground beef for a more satisfying texture. The buffalo chicken empanada was the real winner--well-seasoned with just the right kick. Neither empanada was dry or overly saucy, but both could benefit from a solid dipping sauce to round them out. We also grabbed a cherry lemonade, which was wonderfully refreshing. It hit a perfect balance--not too sour, not too sweet, and just tart enough. Bonus points for the generous serving size--it definitely felt worth the price. Beyond the food, the event itself was an amazing experience. There were food trucks representing a variety of cultures--Laotian, Filipino, Greek, and more. The diversity of choices was exciting. On top of that, local performers added to the festive atmosphere with live music and dancing. All in all, the Raleigh' Annual International Food Truck Festival is a must-visit. If you're on the hunt for good eats and good vibes, this is the place to be. We're already looking forward to our next visit--and the next round of empanadas.

Photos
The Rican Lab
The Rican Lab
The Rican Lab - The Rican Lab Food Truck

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The Rican Lab Food Truck

Angies Jamaican Grill - This is a small plate of curry chicken. Great portions

Angies Jamaican Grill

4.6(85 reviews)
3.5 mi
$$

The food here is soooooo good. I got a large portion of the brown stew chicken with rice & peas and…read moremac & cheese. $20 for the chicken with 2 sides, and a $3 upcharge for the mac & cheese. The chicken is dark meat served on the bone - and by on the bone, I mean falling off the bone, it's so tender and moist. There are also some carrots and potato bits in the gravy, and I would happily eat a whole bowl of just those. The rice and peas (beans) were perfectly cooked. When I ordered through the Toast tab screens they have set up, it gave the option of indicating whether and how much gravy you'd like on the rice. I did the standard amount, which I think is just right, as the rice balances out the saltiness of the gravy. The mac & cheese was also really good - creamy, with some chewy baked cheese crust, and a hint of tanginess. The large portion was a ton of food. I shared my plate with my toddler, who loved the chicken, and it would be enough for at least one more meal. I also got a chicken patty, which had a curried chicken filling that brought a bit of heat. Too spicy for little kids, but not so spicy that I was hurting from eating it. We ate in the restaurant, which is clean with several tables. It's counter service, and it seems like they pack everything as if it's to go, even if you dine in. For folks with kids, they do have a single high chair. I don't remember seeing a changing table in the ladies room.

My son and I were in the mood for Jamaican food and we stumbled across this wonderful spot, in an…read moreunassuming strip center. Let me tell you, nothing about this place was unassuming or basic... IT WAS INCREDIBLE. From the service (warm , helpful & friendly) to the perfectly cooked food. We were impressed! Best curried goat I've ever eaten and the jerk chicken is done as it should be! Whether you get the rice and peas or the yellow rice, you can't go wrong bc both were fantastic and full of flavor. The collard greens had SO MUCH FLAVOR, I could eat a big bowl by itself! We can't wait to come back and get the oxtails and some other menu items, I think we will be very happy with anything they cook here!

Photos
Angies Jamaican Grill
Angies Jamaican Grill - Brown Stew Chicken

Brown Stew Chicken

Angies Jamaican Grill

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kokí - puertorican - Updated May 2026

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