Do you like adventurous food? A little spice in your food? Sublime flavor? I do and I adore KoKyu in all its forms, going all the way back when I was battling it out to be the Mayor of the KoKyu truck in front of Motorco. This devoted Birdie is incredibly happy that KoKyu survived (and maybe even thrived?) during the pandemic. This food always brings a smile to my face and has delighted everyone I've had the pleasure of dining with there. read more

Picked up curbside takeout and was not disappointed. The brisket nachos are outstanding. I also had the Pyongyang hot chicken sandwich which was very good as well. Looking forward to trying more things there soon. read more

This restaurant had amazing food!! I was very impressed with the Asian fusion flavors. My friends and I ordered the burnt end nachos, bibimbap, the OG chicken sandwich, and the honey gochujang chicken sandwich. The portion sizes are large, especially the nachos which came with lots of burnt ends to share between three. The nachos also came with a ghost cheese sauce on the side was was delicious. I was so impressed with the chicken sandwiches because they were brined in kimchi liquid and it was amazing! Not spicy and a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and salty. The honey gochujang was good too with a good Balance of honey and gochujang. The server was really nice and attentive to our needs. My only complaint is that they only accommodated for outdoor seating because they are undergoing expansion renovations. We had to deal with A LOT of flies which was annoying, but we managed. It wasn't enough to bring down more than one star because I was so impressed with everything else. read more

KoKyu - Bibimbap, O.G. Chicken Sandwich (Original Grandmother), burnt end nachos, Honey Gochujang - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went there today for the 1st time and loved it! The restaurant is being renovated so we sat outside. It was our waitresses 2nd day at work but she was excellent. Melvin helped her and it was a pleasure chatting with him. He explained the reno to us and we look forward to coming back and enjoying the new outdoor space. Loved the street corn dip, chopped salad and fish tacos! read more

Everything is too damn good, perfect service and a great owner. The food is always on point and the environment is great.

My husband and I had been wanting to try this spot for lunch for a while and finally made it happen a few weekends ago! After seeing lots of reviews, we ordered the Baht Mi and the KO.F.C. To share. Noting these sandwiches seemed pretty big, we decided to just go with the side options provided and chose the pickled carrots and spicy kimchi's daikon. The sandwiches were good - both had unique flavors with the Baht Mi on the mild spicy end and the other having more of a slaw type base. The eating was messy with both, so be prepared to have juice all over your hands when eating these. We found the sides to be ehhhh. Next time we'd probably forgo these for the Ko'Jangles fries that many reviews said were amazing. All in all, a good experience! Interesting location, but convenient for us noting we live in the area! read more

KoKyu - Baht Mi - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Absolutely fantastic!!!! Fresh ingredients & the flavors... *chefs kiss*!! The burnt end nachos were amazing. The beef was so tender. read more

One of our favorite restaurant for meals & drinks! The bowls (all) and tacos are fantastic! And remember to try their beer selection with your meal. I recently discovered their chicken sandwiches and not sure how I missed them before. You MUST try them all! Oh, did I mention their fries? Delicious! On my recent visit, I felt the quality was not up to their usual standards and mentioned it to management. They responded promptly & positively. KoKyu has not only fantastic food, but excellent customer service! It's a dining pleasure! read more

I decided to try Kokyu's chicken sandwich and I am so glad I did. This chicken sandwich was probably the best fried chicken sandwich have had. The dark meat fried chicken was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. The slaw and the Takuan pickles were really good and complemented the fried chicken well. read more

KoKyu - The O.G. Chicken Sandwich (Original Grandmother) - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Awesome food and Covid conscious! Absolutely a gem of a restaurant in the midst of a lot of chains.

We have the general tso-like chicken bowl and it was it for excellent. The tender chicken had a crispy exterior that was not over Fried. It was the best that I have ever eaten. The portion was generous even though The cost for two people including the 20% gratuity but no drinks was 33 dollars. Which was a little pricey But worth it. I took 1 star bc it was confusing to place an order which. Caused a delay and a long wait.? The place was super busy. All orders are encouraged to be online and seating is outside only and limited. I recommend ordering in advance and either eating there or at home. Don't forget to use the Yelp 15% off coupon. You have to ask for it. read more

Every single time we go, every single thing we try, we leave raving about how delicious everything is. The vegan/vegetarian options for me are amazing, and the meat eater options for my family are amazing. Can't go wrong here. read more

We couldn't have been happier. My fiancé and I split the Baht Mi and loved every second of it. The service was killer and everyone was extremely nice. I'm still dreaming of the frozen mango lemonade. read more

Great food here! I went to the soft opening and then again a couple nights later for opening night and the food was AMAZING! I enjoyed everything I had, from the short rib sliders and street corn to the fish tacos and unreal chicken sliders - and you HAVE TO get some duck tots! I could eat those all day long!!! I almost forgot dessert - their "ice cream" sandwich is delicious! read more

KoKyu - Duck tots and unreal chicken sliders so delicious!!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My friend brought me to Kokyu for dinner one day recently. I was surprised at the location! It's next to one of Duke's newest outpatient clinics by Southpoint Mall in a business plaza I have never visited before. I'd heard many great things about Kokyu from the food truck to its new storefronts. This space was casual and comfortable. I liked the decor and the vibes of the place-- easy to imagine hanging here with friends to socialize or with a single friend just to catch up. After deliberation and plenty of input from the cashier, I ended up getting the burnt end nachos. They were huge and delicious! The flavors were balanced, though the spice was real. The green salsa was spicier than expected, so be careful! You can absolutely ask for it on the side. The duck fat tots were nicely fried with a crisp texture. I've also heard fantastic things about the short rib quesadilla, so I need to get that next time! read more

4.5 * 's - everything was good - I got a spicy shrimp bowl that I liked. It just doesn't have the awesome grungy vibe of the Kokyu sandwich place down the road. read more

Just went there for the first time today with a friend. We were told that we can only sit outside due to renovations inside the restaurant. I ordered the fish tacos, she ordered the tofu bowl and also the sweet potato fries as an appetizer. We placed the order on the phone and the food was brought to us in a To Go bag. The sweet potato fries have a very interesting spice on them, which I couldn't identify but they were SO good! The fish tacos were AMAZING as well and my friend loved her tofu bowl. Everything was super fresh! Will definitely go back and I am hoping that next time we will be able to sit inside since it was pretty chilly. read more

Wow, what a breath of fresh air in the casual dining scene in south Durham. They serve Korean/Latin fusion (my term) fare in a casual, order-at-the-counter setting. Every dish is something both familiar and new at the same time. For example I had vegan tacos with cabbage and peppers. My companion had fish tacos with kimchee. I encourage you to look at the online menu--there's sure to be something for you. They also have 12 beers on tap, and although overrun with IPAs (welcome to Durham), there are other selections as well. The ordering/paying process is confusing at first, but makes total sense once you figure it out. The service could not be more friendly and accommodating. While my buddy and I are much older than the usual demographic at KoKyu, we never felt rushed and people were *so* friendly. (They even laughed at my buddy's jokes, which is way beyond the call of duty.) I encourage you to try it at least once, you'll be back, as will we. read more

Ma'Dang - Chicken bacon franch, the best chicken sandwich I've eaten in my 38 years! I started driving out of my way when I go to things so I can have this sandwich. Italife alerting read more

KoKyu - Ma'Dang Chicken Bacon Franch - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I love the concept of Kokyu's Asian fusion burgers, sandwiches, and bowls but I think a few more tweaks to their recipe would take this concept from good to great. I appreciate the portions and quality ingredients in the food at Kokyu. The OG chicken sandwich's chicken meat appeared to be dark meat. The Kimchi daikon was refreshing and the Takuan pickles added a strong tart taste to the burger. While I liked both ingredients, I think having less of them on the sandwich will help tone down the tart flavor which almost overpowers the chicken. I was disappointed to hear that Kokyu does not allow for customers to pick the temperature your burger patty is cooked to so all burgers are served well done. The pimiento burger was a huge burger and the bacon was crispy and thick. The burgers and sandwiches at Kokyu all have big bold flavors, though I think the pickled and tart flavors could be toned down a bit to let the proteins be the star. I do have one complaint though, $7.50 is crazy expensive to charge for fries at a casual restaurant. read more

KoKyu - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Kokyu is always so tasty and perfect, worth moving to Durham so you can eat here often. They are flavor geniuses. Everything we've ordered from them is delicious. It's impossible to choose a favorite dish. read more

I want to eat here every day, but I think my heart might explode. The nachos and tacos were great. The salad was even excellent and a welcome way to cut the richness of everything else. read more

Food is delicious! Heynow The best service. chicken Karaage Bowl I will return. The atmosphere is nice read more

Hands down the best customer service experience I have had. Every member of the staff was friendly, hustling, and helpful! The food was also excellent, the fish tacos, short rib quesadillas, and bulgogi bowl - no complaints from anyone at our table. Service was very quick and the prices were on par for what ya get. Definitely a new go-to spot when I go shopping at Southpoint! read more

Loved it! Had no idea it was there. Stopped in after a movie and we enjoyed everything. The bowls were a perfect size and flavorful. We munched up the duck fat tater tots and the Sauce with them yum! Definitely would head back. Wish we had one closer - broad street/ ninth street / downtown. We'd be there ALL the time. Prices were reasonable and we enjoyed trying the different beers too. read more

Excellent food and good beer selection. Everything was very fresh and extremely flavorful. Huge portions

Great food great waitress and good prices so I don't know what else you would want in a restaurant. Picked this place because we love Korean food and it has good reviews and we were not disappointed. The beer battered fries are great and my beef entree was as good as any Korean I've ever had. My wife got the chicken and loved it. Our server was super nice and helpful and gave us a beer sampler and offered us free milkshakes because they had made too much mix and it was the end of the day. There is a definite return trip to this restaurant to try other foods. read more

Wow a hidden gem..... literally its tucked away of hwy 54. When u enter u are greeted with southern hospitality. Order at the country whether dine or or take out. Try a beer or custom wine. Menu is packed full of Flavor. There will be a Party going on in y ou ur mouth. Tacos, sandwiches, bowls, lots to chose from. I've been here 2 days in a row. Hmmmmm I think I need rehab LOL. Everything is made fresh and to order so be patient or call in your order. read more

KoKyu - Chicken slider with duck fat tots - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Ordered the fish tacos and the short rib baht mi and both were excellent! The service was fast and since it was a nice day, the outdoor seating wasn't an issue. We will be back! read more

Calamari tacos ($10) - 4.5 stars Some of the best calamari I've had! Perfectly seasoned and fried with a light crisp batter served on the prettiest pieces of fresh lettuce. The taco shells were made from flour and were crisp - they resembled some sort of lavash bread or toasted thin pita bread. I prefer soft taco shells, especially corn ones. Unfortunately two tacos are unlikely to fill most people. Short rib quesadilla ($15) - 3.5 stars The blue cheese in the sauce was too pungent for me and didn't quite suit this dish. The short rib was overcooked and too tough. Not my favourite but it was still pretty decent. Can't wait to try the other dishes. read more

We went for dinner tonight and the experience was awesome. If you do takeout that'd probably be best unless the weather is okay for sitting outside like we did as they don't currently have indoor seating. The staff were super responsive and friendly which more than made up for the modern cautious set up (which I can appreciate). It started to get busy but our food arrived quickly and it looked like others were getting theirs promptly, too. There are a few different menus that you have access to here (a burger menu, bánh mì, chicken stuffs, craft beers, sodas) which makes it sort of like a mini-food hall. I had sweet fries and a friend chicken salad with lettuce cucumbers, pickled onions, radish, carrots, and some sort of kimchi vinaigrette. My partner got a pork belly bánh mì. They let him substitute the sauce and he really liked it. Not inexpensive, but not crazy either in this economy unless you never stray from Chick-fil-A, which, here in NC were trying to recruit volunteers to run the drive-through and receive food instead of pay - you're in for a treat here at KoKyu. read more

This place is tucked away in a corporate block, and I bet people love splurging on lunch meetings here. I can't speak for their whole menu, but I dig their calamari tacos (their special menu on the counter). The amount of calamari was slightly smaller than an appetizer dish stuffed into butter lettuce and tortilla tacos. The little kick of pepper on top of the taco was key. Other notes, it's pretty dope that they have multiple beers on tap for self-serve. Whole-restaurant-quality-wise bathroom was pretty clean, menus could use be combined and fine tuned in terms of design and ease of read. This isn't your fine dining type of place, more of a casual stop by for good, and a smidge pricey, eats. read more

KoKyu - Calamari tacos - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I got to try to lovely spot today, very appealing concept with great food, nice outdoor seating and amazing staff! I will admit it will take you some time to go through the menu, but there is something for everyone. We were a group of three and that was great as it gave us the opportunity to share. We had the Yatai street corn and that is a must try item, truly delicious! Followed by the Tofu & Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps (absolute YUM!) and ended with the KO FAUX BANH with a side of sweet potato salad. Great combo filled with lots of flavor and heat. Overall, a great experience. I will surely be visiting again soon and would surely recommend it. read more

Located in the Southpoint Professional Center, their menu features many of their classics from the food truck such as the duck fat tots, in addition to many of their new menu items along with a self-serve beer wall. We were wowed by the amazing taste and flavor of the menu items that they offer! From their short rib sliders, duck fat tacos, chicken sliders, mexican corn, short rib quesadillia, duck quesadillia, kimchi quesadillia, aranchi, a vegetarian lettuce wrap and more, they have a menu from everyone, even if you are vegan/vegetarian. Located near the Southpoint mall so it makes for a great place to stop by and eat after a day of shopping. read more

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I absolutely love this place. I cannot recommend it more. The food is always incredible. Service is unrivaled. If you haven't been, you must go read more

100% awesome friggin food! Went on my lunch break with my wife and we got the bolgogi bowl special, duck fat tater tots, and the short rib quesadilla... It was way too much food... We ate it all anyway... It's the kind of place you do that at and don't feel bad because you know you'd do it again. I'll be back. read more

Burnt end nachos and roasted pork belly bowl. Brisket was big pieces,moist, and flavourful. The bowl just as good. Cheese sauce mmm. read more

KoKyu - burnt end nachos and the roasted pork belly bowl.The brisket was giant chunks that were flavourful. The cheese sauce was addictive. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I would trade my real grandmother for their original grandmother chicken sandwich. JK. But the food is that good!! We ordered the burnt ends nachos and the OG chicken. Must order! 10/10 would back again to try other items on the menu. read more

I live their new place! It has way more seating with self pour taps, and an expanded menu. Their food is so fresh and the combinations are incredibly tasty. Too boot, the service is so friendly. It's like they are happy to be there! read more

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After just one visit, I can easily see this is going to be one of my new fav local places. Great beer selection with a pour your own set up where you pay by the ounce. The food is AWESOME - the owner is creative and uses local fresh ingredients for everything. Looking forward to trying all the regular menu items, and seeing what specials are offered next. read more

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