This is probably my favorite restaurant in all of Durham, shhh don't tell too many people. I try to tell myself that I'm going to get some different every time I go but I go back to ole faithful the KOFC Sandwich the taste the slaw and chicken is just always cooked to perfection. The thing that sets KoKyu apart from everywhere else is they are not afraid to try new menu items that stand out. I got a Apple cider slushy delicious from Henderson Nc. I've tried a many of things from them like the kojangles fried they are just amazing. The seaweed salad is fresh always and I love that as my side every time I go! i recommend this place to everybody and always take guest here! Their beer menu is also unmatched they always have items I've never seen or heard of they have something for you! read more

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OMG GO HERE! This is me and my partner's second time here and it just gets better and better. It's a little pricey but it's worth every penny! Last time we got like there hoggies and their bread will never disappoint. But let's talk about what we got this time! My partner got the burger and omg he couldn't even talk to me. He even admitted afterwards that he didn't hear a word I said because the food was so flipping good. (He's picky and gave it a 10/10. He did not think he was gonna like this place) I got the bowl and when I tell you that it's good! You can tell that the pickles are freshly pickled and the rice was cooked to perfection. But the best part of this whole dish, had to be the Japanese fried chicken. When I say mouthwatering; I mean MOUTHWATERING! The perfect amount of crunch. Also the services, yes yes and YES. They are so flipping nice and check up on you regularly. The only thing about this place is that you have to eat outside but to be honest with you I don't mind at all. The umbrella are so big you don't even care. GOING HERE IS A MUST IF YOU ARE A FOODIE! read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Karaage Bowl Add egg - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Excellent food, great service, good ambience. It stays busy and isn't fancy. The variety of foods; meats and vegetarian and vegan all are homemade. Something for everyone. We generally go at mid day for soups and sandwiches. Never been later in the day. Nice selection of soft drinks. Can't remember if they serve beer read more

My Karaage Bowl was delicious. My husband liked the way his tasted but it made him really sick after. Scary sick. Customer service was good. The waitress even wiped down the outdoor table and chairs because they were wet from the rain. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Spicy pork bulgogi rice bowl on top Karaage Bowl on bottom - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

With a Korean market right across, KoKyu Na'Mean is in a small plaza that serves some unique bahn mi. The Pyongyang Hot Chicken was very saucy and definitely had a kick to it in terms of spice. The flavor is very consistent so it gets a bit tiring to continue eating it. The Viet Satay and Baht Mi on the other hand were so rich in flavor and kept me wanting more throughout. I would definitely recommend those sandwiches to new customers! Regarding the sides, I would not recommend the pickled zucchini unless you want something very sour. I was looking more for a subtle vinegar taste but did not find that in this side dish. Overall, KoKyu Na'Mean is worth trying out if you want to spend a little more money than typical bahn mi you would find at Vietnamese restaurants. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped in here randomly with some friends when looking for some food on the way home and was blown away by the service and food here, and the drinks. The food selection is fantastic (get the bhat mi) as well as the drink selection. and the customer service is superb, we felt super welcomed by all the beautiful people working there. Will be back many times and be telling everyone about this place! read more

We loved them as a truck, then a sandwich shop, and even more now that they are nested together in the same spot. With the easy takeout format we can fly by and then perch ourselves wherever we want to peck away at their always awesome dishes! Even my little chickadees love the kids meals!! I figured it was about time that I came to crow about this gem of a food spot. This place is the tits!! read more

I"m sad to report that this location is temporarily closed (August 2020). However, they might consolidate with sister restaurant Kokyu or find another location. Their specialty is creative banh mi sandwiches -- not the most traditional, but with a modern spin. I hope they pop up somewhere else in Durham. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Family meal: banh mi, pizza, pad thai, seaweed salad & chips - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Tasty sandwich and pretty competitive fries. The set-up is a little confusing for someone in my age bracket because you're ordering from across multiple restaurants. And it's only through an app. I get it - probably convenient and the youths likely find it second nature. But I was all like "I'm here for the chicken sandwich - why are you showing my burgers?" That said - the food was good! A little tucked away so slightly hard to find. And outdoor seating only. read more

Hands down THE best place around. I loved their old start-up place and I'm so happy they took over this new spot. The food is fabulous--- yeah... just plain old sammies... but OMG you have to try the Banh Mi. Your world will change. The owner, Flip, is a superior guy and the rest of staff are considerate and hard working. read more

Soooo good! Creative flavors and takes on traditional food! The crunch salad is amazing! The short rib and pork belly bahn mi are fantastic! I also really enjoyed the burger read more

Everything is delicious. I would drive across down for the sandwiches especially. The online ordering is super efficient. They say 10 minutes and they mean it! read more

The food here is hard to beat. Our particular favorites are the bahn mi sandwiches--the bread is fantastic! But I love love love the furiyaki fries. I get them every time, no matter my entree. Addictively good! Only caveat is that there is only outdoor seating, so consider pick up if the weather is a concern. read more

This place is awesome. I love the different sandwiches they have and all have been very good. The only down side was having to sit outside on a 50 degree windy day to eat. read more

I'm not that great when it comes to letting others take control of situations. If I'm in a new city, I'll typically want some say over where I order meals. But, in this particular case, following others without push back translated into a top-tier meal experience. KoKyu Na'Mean is a Korean barbecue hotspot in a drab strip mall. It's entirely unassuming and the location is pretty random. Inside is small, basic, and clean, with a handful of tables. You order at the counter and the friendly staff brings the food to your table. They also check in to see how the meal is going, which is really nice! I easily selected 'The Crust' sandwich from their extensive list: 12-hour Italian Beef, Provolone, Giardiniera, served w/ Au Jus for $12. I passed on the pickled vegetables and added garlic mayo instead. All sandwiches come with one side, so I selected the classic potato salad. When the sandwich arrived, it was a true work of art. You could tell how much love was put into all the ingredients. The beef was so moist and flavorful...and the garlic mayo took it to another level. That thing put beef sandwiches everywhere to shame. The potato salad was also really tasty, but my focus was on finishing as much of the sandwich as my stomach would allow. They also offer frozen lemonades. I selected the one with plum. It was a nice add on. One big personal positive is that this delectable eatery is a short drive away from Barrel Culture Brewing. The location may be a little weird overall, but it would be perfect for future sour beer trips to the Durham area! read more

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I have only ordered for pick up, so I cannot comment on the service nor the ambience. However, the food does not disappoint. I would definitely continue ordering. read more

Innovative, fun, flavorful and healthy dishes that can't be found elsewhere. I love that they come with sides and the the ingredients are so fresh and plentiful. The icing on the cake is outdoor seating, so tastefully and thoughtfully done, given that it's in a boring old strip mall. Service is excellent too. Hope to see more locations in the area. read more

A bit of a quirky place; but quite the gem to find. There is no indoor seating. You use a QR code to order. And the array of different foods is interesting. The service was quick and easy. I had the best Banh Mi sandwich ever. The bread was light and crispy. I got mine with chicken. The marinated veggies were crisp and tangy. Great find! read more

Found this place thanks to Yelp! I did a run in the area and wasn't hungry and had a craving for Vietnamese food. I drove there to find out you need to place the order online as they were not open for walk in orders (CoVid). After some review of the menu I ordered a couple bahn mi type sammiches and a bowl. Way more food than I could eat in one sitting but I needed stuff for the weekend and everything sounded really good, I was starving, and I couldn't decide. Got it home and, I must say, it was delicious. All of it. They really make a fantastic bahn mi and I'd rate them 5 stars but they don't do pho and even that day they didn't have the move broth so I was a bit disappointed. I can't comment on the inside or really the staff aside from the nice guy who brought my food out. Prices were fair for the quality and amount of food. I'd definitely eat here again but it's a bit of a drive so maybe not soon. read more

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Yes! This is a must visit restaurant! Definitely in my top 5 after my recent visit. I decided to check out this restaurant during the Yelp 919 deals. I was headed home from an appointment and wasn't super hungry so I just ordered the fish tacos. The restaurant is closed to patrons on the inside so you have to order from the qrcode outside. There is a staff member outside assisting with orders as well. I mentioned that it was my first time and I was planning to try the tacos. They let me know my order would be out quickly. About 3 minutes later, someone comes to my car with a beverage and fries (which I didn't order). The manager brought me complimentary food when she heard it was my first time. Talk about great service! The frozen punch was amazing! Very fruity and delicious. And the steak fries was nicely seasoned. The sauce on the side was a great compliment and not too spicy. And the tacos... yes! Fried cod loaded with cilantro, pickled cabbage, lime, and cheese. Simple yet so delicious. The menu is fusion based so there's something for everyone. I def plan to visit soon and check out some of their other menu items. read more

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Very healthy options ! But the seating was inconvenient when it's a rainy day! Also bathroom is way too hard to find (not in the restaurant) read more

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Love the Ko FC and look forward to going back. Staff is always pleasant. Wish we went back to some sort of inside seating but outside on a pretty day read more

They moved to a new location, there is outside seating but they are not doing inside seating yet! Coming to food I had the vegetarian ko faux banh mi and it was really good with perfect amount of crunch from the veggie juliennes and the softness from the soybean patty. We also had the root vegetable chaat and that was really yum as well! A must try! read more

Had to try the lap cheong, egg, and black eyed pea bowl - no question about it. My favorite kind of banh mi is lap xuong and egg, so I figured having basically that except in a bowl of rice and peas wouldn't do me wrong. I have a message for KoKyu: lap cheong is already sweet. It's a sweet sausage. Please don't also put sweet sauce on it. That puts it into dessert territory and I don't want dessert on my black eyed peas, festooned with bok choy. Please. It's supposed to be 'basil chili bean sauce', and none of those flavors need to be sweet. If it was just more basilly and beany and less sugary, it would have been perfect. In fact, when I ate my leftovers later, I added chili crisp, which is mainly fermented beans and chili oil. I will probably be back, because their menu is super creative, and creativity should be rewarded, and when you take risks, you get hits and misses. Hopefully next time is a hit. read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said?!? This place is legit. It was my first time and the wonderful blonde at the counter walked us through the menu. And I'm not talking a quick, rude, summary but one that included asking us questions about diet and taste. We asked several questions and were given thoughtful answers. We opted for a specialty sandwich "Smoked Gogi" and a bowl "Ssam Bowl" to share. We got it home and it was amazing. Sandwich was flavorful and unique, tons of meat! The bowl has cold noodles, which I was nervous about, but ended up being tasty. The spice was real and delicious. Basically, we will bee back. The suggestion was to try the specials since everything else will always be there. Great Idea ! read more

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I am so glad I gave this place a second chance. The food was great quality and full of flavor. Went with a friend and we both enjoyed sitting outside and had great service and delicious food. Will definitely tell our families and friends about this place. I had a sesame chicken bowl and my friend had the short rib sandwich. There was so much high quality food. Their website is a bit confusing at first but if you call their phone number the employees are very helpful. So glad we went back. We now have a great local place we will be going to for lunch/dinner. read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - A bowl of disappointing chicken/noodles - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Two of us came and ordered the Belly Banh Mi with sweet potato salad and Baht Mi with the wasabi cucumbers. Belly Banh Mi (Pork Belly): The first noticeable thing was how awesome the bread was. It was perfectly toasted on the outside, but nice and soft on the inside so it didn't hurt your mouth. The flavor on the bread was subtle, but it boosted other flavors in the sandwich. The pork belly was also really good. It was fried to a good crisp on the outside. The other flavors of the sandwich complemented these two main points with sweetness and acidity. Texture was nice too from the carrots and radish. The sauce (similar to eel sauce) was a good touch as well. Sweet Potato Salad: If you don't like cilantro, ask for it without, because the side comes layered with it. I, on the other hand, love cilantro, so this side dish was perfect for me. The sweet potato salad had some Indian spices (maybe garam masala?). Very unique flavor, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. (5/5)! Baht Mi (Short Rib): I wasn't a huge fan of the meat in this. I think it was braised and there was a lack of a savory/salty flavor. Everything was sweet in this. Wasabi Cucumber: Not quite what I expected. Lacked wasabi flavor and the cucumbers didn't provide a 'cool' taste. Customer Service: When I ordered, a seaweed salad came out instead of the sweet potato salad. The person working the front quickly gave me the sweet potato side without asking for the seaweed salad back, no questions asked. This was very nice of them :) Overall: The seating is a little cramped, but there is seating outside! Try to dodge busy prime time hours or order the banh mi's to go. The belly banh mi was really good, but the baht mi wasn't quite up to par. These banh mis are definitely a fusion food so don't expect your standard with Vietnamese mayo, pate, etc, but come with an open mind for their creations! And definitely get the sweet potato salad side! If I'm in the area I'd come back and try another spin on the banh mi. To the owners: Is it possible to bring back the duckfat tots you guys had on your food truck? :D read more

KoKyu Na'Mean - Pork belly banh mi. This was big and very filling for lunch. - Sandwiches Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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KoKyu is my favorite restaurant in Durham. Seriously. Each and every meal gives me goose bumps. Normally my wife and I can't agree on what we want for dinner, but with the super diverse menu, she's never flying the coop, and I can kill two birds with one stone-- Milanesa for me (not kidding, best sandwich I've EVER tasted) and shrimp tacos for her! I swear she's happy as a lark anytime I walk through the door looking proud as a peacock with that bag in my hand. Do not roost on the Kojangles Fries by the way, great option as a late night snack for you night owls! But keep your eagle eye on the sauce, because your wife might finish it off before you get a chance! I truly love the food here and always feel like the staff is keeping me under their wings. You've got to try it out, it's the little golden egg of South Durham! read more

I've been going to Kokyu/NaMean since they were in their old location, before they flew north to this new spot. (At least I think it's north? I'm bad with cardinal directions.) Anyway, there's not a single thing on the menu that isn't delicious, which is the only down side. There's this gaggle of choices, from their burnt end nachos (that ghost pepper sauce is like heron, it's so addicting.) to their fish tacos, each dish is just as good as the last. I'm not a huge beer fan, but they always have options to wet my beak. Anyway, it's always a hoot to sit outside on a nice afternoon and order their mikshake of the week. I always leave with a stuffed gull.. et. read more

I've been on the KoKyu Na'Mean bandwagon for a long time, way before they were named the best place to eat in the Triangle by Yelp. They used to be behind Big C Waffles but have now relocated to the Southpoint area and expanded their menu. Seriously, they have everything now and I took a friend there recently and it took him 15 minutes to peruse the menu. It's Asian fusion so a bunch of Asian inspired dishes with an American twist. Due to COVID, only outdoor seating is available right now and there's a QR code on each table for people to place orders. You can also order online as well for curbside pickup. Some favorites - fish tacos, baht mi sandwich, Korean fried chicken sandwich, frozen horchata read more

I've been coming here since they were just a food truck. The escabeche is amazing the pork belly banh mi is amazing, and I really love the option to buy the kitchen a beer. I come to Nc twice a year for work-- I can justify a different place but I'd rather support this one with my full chest. read more

The only seating is outdoors so it is hot in the summer and cool in the winter. When you takeout, the servers come out immediately to your car to ask for your name and order. The food however is very Americanized and has very strong flavors not found in Asian cuisine. Very saucy and too salty for me. I have had the Galbi Beef Short Rib Bowl (pricey) and Belly Bahn (pricey). read more

Food and service were Excellent! Tons of flavor in the food! Definitely coming back! Every weekend my husband and I have been trying different 4 to 5 star restaurants but none of the ratings in our opinion reflected the taste. This one on the other hand absolutely deserves 5 stars! We will definitely recommend this restaurant and will be coming back! read more

Follow your nose! It knows Kokyu is the best. This is, by far, my favorite roosterant of all time. The sandwiches are delicious and emu-nique, you'll want to try owl of them. My wife loves to get a b'owl, but I always get the burger. They're so big and juicy, you'd think they were goosed (it's an old circus term). I know there's a lot of jokes and references in here, but Kokyu is so good and the staff is so awesome. Their take-out kept me alive from boring food during the pandemic. You'll have no egrets from eating at Kokyu! read more

Sooooooooo. What a great place! I had the kalbi last time. I married a man who grew up in Korea (we even had wedding ducks at the wedding. Did you know ducks mate for life?) ANYWHOO. The kalbi was delicious. AND please get a milkshake. They are yummy layered with more yummy. Go. Try it! read more

Took my friend to grab some dank sandwiches from this awesome place! We ordered from the daily sandwiches posted to the right of the cash register. I got the Nuoc Cham Banh Mi, which is a crispy pork cutlet, sriracha butter, lettuce, Chiles, pickled veggies, Nuoc Cham and fresh mint. Impression: great, crispy bread. The cutlet was crispy, but didn't have any flavor until combined with the Nuoc Cham and pickled veggies which made for a great succession of flavors. The mint was a nice touch Note: while the Nouc Cham is typically a watery sauce, it made the bread increasingly soggy and the sandwich fell apart. Maybe place on the side for those who wants to put it on the sandwich as they go? To those who don't know: Nuoc Cham is a Vietnamese term for dipping sauce that is literally a combination of all tastes: sweet, sour, salty, savoury, and/or spicy. The other sandwich ordered was the Pimento Pollo, a sandwich with pimento cheese and Korean fried chicken, with iceberg lettuce, pickled hot cherry peppers and their own vinaigrette. Let. Me. Tell you. This sandwich was THE BOMB. Who knew KFC was good with cheese like that? Well... this biz did. Sides: potato salad and their garbanzo salad was pretty damn good. Bottom line: although both sandwiches are great, the Pimento Pollo triumphs the Nuoc Cham Banh Mi for its better flavor combination. This should honestly be on the menu! read more

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Love the creative menu items especially the specials! My only critique is that some of the dishes are too big e.g. the burgers and chicken sandwiches and the bowls have too much rice. They could decrease the size of their entrees and actually charge more per unit cost (but less overall) and most customers would be happy. read more

Popped in for a take out sandwich and chose the Belly Banh. What is this magic? On a proper crunchy baguette, tender pork belly, carrots, cilantro, some sliced jalapenos and more that I am probably missing, it was perfect. Absolutely excellent sandwich. Yum! For some strange reason, I chose the classic potato salad as my side. That was a mistake. Get something else as it's fine potato salad but unremarkable. They have better options. Service was great and the sandwich did take a few minutes to be assembled. That's a good thing because it means it's made to order. read more

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I *finally* made it back after over a year and it's just as good as I remembered it to be! This time, I opted for the Pyongyang Hot Chicken instead of the pork belly because it came highly recommended and it was delicious. I don't know if I would call it hot chicken but it was really good! It's filled to the brim with chicken and toppings and you will need a fork to eat it. I also have a weird thing about not being able to eat sandwiches on hard breads but I'm happy to report this bread was soft, lol. read more

Outstanding food, service, and options at KoKyu. I have been a handful of times now and always a positive experience. The craft beer menu is incredible and I love the different food options! read more