Kooben Cafe Mexican
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Love Kooben. The closest thing I have gotten to authentic Mexican food outside of Mexico. I love that they have a healthy options made with fresh ingredients but still staying true to the cuisine. They have a nice selection of crafted drinks from coffees, matcha and cocktails. The Coco Matcha and Espresso Martini are by far my favorite. The martini is made with their house espresso, which is fantastic. There is an awesome outdoor area as well. Feels like you are in a true Mexican cafe. They are starting to host a lot of events so I recommend following their IG page. Don't miss out on Kooben!
You really can't go wrong here whether you're dropping in for brunch, lunch, or dinner--the menu options for every meal are fantastic. Right off the bat, the service stands out with a warm welcome and a free tasting of their house-infused herbal coffee. It's an unexpected flavor profile, but so good! I came here for a post-flower-picking brunch with friends and tried the dulce de leche pancakes. They are delicious and served in a massive portion, though fair warning: they're quite rich, so you might want to split them if you don't have a huge sweet tooth. To top it off, the vibe is adorable with greenery everywhere and a wonderful new patio space.
Our food was almost certainly sitting under a heat lamp for 45 minutes. Three or four tables of larger groups (ours was only three) sat down and served their food WAY before ours. We had to flag down one of our servers to ask where our food was. About five minutes later, we received our food and the other tables were done eating. Unfortunately, this affected the taste of our food. It was warm just enough to eat. Since our food was left sitting out, the sauces were dry and the taste of other ingredients were absent. I'll spare more details, but none of us said a word when we finished. I understand it was a very crowded and small interior space (which is attractive), but this doesn't explain the most essential part of our experience. I enjoyed the free coffee they gave us. If only the same experience persisted. I'm hoping I can muster the courage to eat here a couple more times to see if this is the standard or if it's a one time fluke.
I will start with the positives. The space itself is nice, with a neutral, modern decor. They have both indoor and outdoor space, which is nice. We were seated almost immediately - it was the last and only available table. The menu has a nice variety of items, which are different than your average Mexican restaurant you find in the Charleston area. They also brough little samples of their house coffee, which was very good. Now, onto the rest of the experience.... Our server was nice enough, got our drink orders, but we weren't ready to order food yet. Quite some time passed and she returned to take our food orders. 2 of us ordered water, 1 ordered Coke. It took probably 25+ minutes for the Coke to make it to the table. An hour or so after being seated, multiple tables came in during this time, several of which had already been served and were halfway through their meal. We were able to flag down our server and point out that we never received our meals. She said she'd be back. A few minutes later, she came out with our food. You could clearly tell that it wasn't fresh and had been sitting for who knows how long under a heat lamp. Nothing was hot and things were tougher to cut/chew because they were starting to get a little stale. The food itself wasn't that great and one can only wonder if it would have tasted better had it not been sitting there for 20-30 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I am typically very patient and reasonable when it comes to things taking time, restaurants being busy, etc. I had heard good things about the food and coffee here, but based on this experience, I will not be coming back to find out. I was very disappointed in this experience. We were moments away from walking out and finding somewhere else for lunch.
I still love coming to Kooben. The service is always great, the vibes are lovely and the coffee and food is always so good! In my most recent trip I ordered the TAMAL MONTADO and it was delicious! My hubby ordered the Yucatán omelette and ate his plate clean! Even if you don't like marzipan, you must get the Mazalatte. It's just amazing! You can't go wrong here!
Amazing. Everything we had was super tasty. Great ambiance. Little bit out of the way but that makes it fun.
The aesthetic of the restaurant is perfectly aligned with the fusion of coffee and Hispanic food. Very cute and clean. The food was flavorful and well priced. My only complaint is that my food arrived a little less than warm. The server was professional.
What a great experience! Took the kids here today. There was a bit of a wait and they were clearly super busy but service was still friendly and lots of check-ins from our server. I had the classic chilaquiles, dark horchata, and split a flan with my daughter. She had enchiladas, my son had a kids quesadilla. He didn't care much for it, but that's because this is an upscale, authentic Mexican place that isn't just going to throw a tortilla with some gooey cheese on it on the grill for a minute. My daughter loved her enchiladas and somehow ate the all and was so full she didn't bother eating another thing all day. The flames astounding, the horchata tasted amazing, and the chilaquiles were fantastic. And prices were extremely fair too! It was loud inside between the packed house and a DJ. Very chic place and a good time, felt more like a club than a cafe in some ways. Just mind bending food here. J.Ja
The suburban shopping mall isn't exactly the best location Charleston has to offer, but I came to this one in search of an interesting brunch. They have some Mexican options that aren't easy to find in this area. I was offered a small complimentary coffee upon sitting down, but in addition I ordered a chocolate and corn beverage that is the peak of Americana. It was quite rich and an interesting flavor. I'd come in with the idea that it would be vegetarian-friendly and the menu was okay but not great. Many of the salads and things were not amenable to my needs, but I did find some cactus tostadas that were a nice way to start the day. I wanted some more bean-based options. But it was an interesting and new experience and perhaps the menu will grow.
Heard about this place from a coworker and had to check it out. It did not disappoint! We had the guacamole to start which was great and then I did the verde chilaquiles which was also awesome. I tried the horchata as well and had a sip of my partners dark horchata. I couldn't say which was better, they were both great. While the service was a little slow, they were busy so it's understandable. Overall we had a great experience and will be back! Definitely a trendy little spot. Nothing else like it in Charleston!
Walk into this stunning space with high ceilings, beautiful basket lighting and tropical plants. The service is excellent and large portions for values. Today they greeted customers with a welcome cafe and handed out roses to prep for the Valentine's Day special events. This was our 4th time visiting and will keep coming back! My favorites so far have been the Chile Relleno, Kooben Burrito, Chilaquiles, and Pozole Verde.
The ambiance was beautiful, and the menu was very intriguing--there were a lot of things I wanted to try. They also had breakfast options, which was exciting--I haven't had a decent Mexican breakfast since I left Houston, years ago. But I didn't enjoy the fusion version of huevos y papas (it was a burrito). The waitress was not receptive either to questions or compliments. And I felt... weirdly scrutinized and unwelcome as a POC who was non-Latino. Like, "what are you doing here?" Maybe it was a Hanahan thing?--Hanahan being historically a "white flight" community. Maybe they would have been cool if I spoke Spanish? But I didn't feel welcome and, while I will recommend it to my Puerto Rican and Dominican friends, who are always looking for a taste of home..., I won't be going back.
3 months ago
We stumbled upon this place after attending a local church. We didn't realize how big it was since it was attached to a Mexican bakery in supermarket. The first time we sat outside in their newly renovated outdoor patio, which was so nice and beautiful. Our server greeted us with some sweetened espresso and cinnamon, which was a nice treat. The empanadas here are insane and you must get this. This was probably the best empanada I've had at a restaurant. The second time we returned, we dined inside. The service was a bit slower this time and it took longer for us to get our food. We ordered some of their specialty coffees, which came in these cute mugs and glasses. This time we tried their Arepas de plantano that came with cheese and a mole sauce. This was also very good, especially with the sauce. We ordered the giant huevos rancheros platter to share and it truly did take up almost the entire table lol. They put all the toppings in separate dishes so you could build your own essentially. This was a lot of food and we had plenty leftover. This could've fed 4-5 people! The only disappointing thing about this was that we didn't get any steak as shown on the menu and just chicken. When we mentioned it the server who was very nice but didn't speak much English said she told us but I was completely unaware. Everything still tasted good but we did wish there was some steak along with the chicken. The French toast dish was decadent and sweet, but the bread itself was moist and crispy on the edges. There was a small discrepancy at the end with our bill because the price of the platter didn't match what was on the receipt. They were unable to adjust it but gave us a gift card for the balance. Overall we still had a good time and would definitely come back. It was much more of a unique brunch experience that I've had in Charleston so far. read more
5 months ago
It's wild how every section of the menu I wanted to try something from it! Kooben Cafe has been on my radar for a while simply from the pictures of coffee drinks and colorful dishes plus lots of beans which I like. I was torn between my usual tamales or empanadas but ended up going with the empanadas full of pork wrapped in flaky pastry goodness. I saw they had agua frescas so had to get in on their jamaica // hibiscus flavor. My friend got the tamales and the pork was super juicy. Staff is smiling, friendly, and happy to see you there. It's a good spot to catch up with friends and family without feeling rushed. Great hospitality and we loved the complimentary coffee shot that had a sweetness to it. We will be back to slowly go through that menu! Parking is also a'plenty at the piggly wiggly shopping center. read more
Love Kooben. The closest thing I have gotten to authentic Mexican food outside of Mexico. I love that they have a healthy options made with fresh ingredients but still staying true to the cuisine. They have a nice selection of crafted drinks from coffees, matcha and cocktails. The Coco Matcha and Espresso Martini are by far my favorite. The martini is made with their house espresso, which is fantastic. There is an awesome outdoor area as well. Feels like you are in a true Mexican cafe. They are starting to host a lot of events so I recommend following their IG page. Don't miss out on Kooben! read more
2 months ago
You really can't go wrong here whether you're dropping in for brunch, lunch, or dinner--the menu options for every meal are fantastic. Right off the bat, the service stands out with a warm welcome and a free tasting of their house-infused herbal coffee. It's an unexpected flavor profile, but so good! I came here for a post-flower-picking brunch with friends and tried the dulce de leche pancakes. They are delicious and served in a massive portion, though fair warning: they're quite rich, so you might want to split them if you don't have a huge sweet tooth. To top it off, the vibe is adorable with greenery everywhere and a wonderful new patio space. read more
Our food was almost certainly sitting under a heat lamp for 45 minutes. Three or four tables of larger groups (ours was only three) sat down and served their food WAY before ours. We had to flag down one of our servers to ask where our food was. About five minutes later, we received our food and the other tables were done eating. Unfortunately, this affected the taste of our food. It was warm just enough to eat. Since our food was left sitting out, the sauces were dry and the taste of other ingredients were absent. I'll spare more details, but none of us said a word when we finished. I understand it was a very crowded and small interior space (which is attractive), but this doesn't explain the most essential part of our experience. I enjoyed the free coffee they gave us. If only the same experience persisted. I'm hoping I can muster the courage to eat here a couple more times to see if this is the standard or if it's a one time fluke. read more
I will start with the positives. The space itself is nice, with a neutral, modern decor. They have both indoor and outdoor space, which is nice. We were seated almost immediately - it was the last and only available table. The menu has a nice variety of items, which are different than your average Mexican restaurant you find in the Charleston area. They also brough little samples of their house coffee, which was very good. Now, onto the rest of the experience.... Our server was nice enough, got our drink orders, but we weren't ready to order food yet. Quite some time passed and she returned to take our food orders. 2 of us ordered water, 1 ordered Coke. It took probably 25+ minutes for the Coke to make it to the table. An hour or so after being seated, multiple tables came in during this time, several of which had already been served and were halfway through their meal. We were able to flag down our server and point out that we never received our meals. She said she'd be back. A few minutes later, she came out with our food. You could clearly tell that it wasn't fresh and had been sitting for who knows how long under a heat lamp. Nothing was hot and things were tougher to cut/chew because they were starting to get a little stale. The food itself wasn't that great and one can only wonder if it would have tasted better had it not been sitting there for 20-30 minutes waiting to be delivered to our table. I am typically very patient and reasonable when it comes to things taking time, restaurants being busy, etc. I had heard good things about the food and coffee here, but based on this experience, I will not be coming back to find out. I was very disappointed in this experience. We were moments away from walking out and finding somewhere else for lunch. read more
I still love coming to Kooben. The service is always great, the vibes are lovely and the coffee and food is always so good! In my most recent trip I ordered the TAMAL MONTADO and it was delicious! My hubby ordered the Yucatán omelette and ate his plate clean! Even if you don't like marzipan, you must get the Mazalatte. It's just amazing! You can't go wrong here! read more
The aesthetic of the restaurant is perfectly aligned with the fusion of coffee and Hispanic food. Very cute and clean. The food was flavorful and well priced. My only complaint is that my food arrived a little less than warm. The server was professional. read more
2 months ago
What a great experience! Took the kids here today. There was a bit of a wait and they were clearly super busy but service was still friendly and lots of check-ins from our server. I had the classic chilaquiles, dark horchata, and split a flan with my daughter. She had enchiladas, my son had a kids quesadilla. He didn't care much for it, but that's because this is an upscale, authentic Mexican place that isn't just going to throw a tortilla with some gooey cheese on it on the grill for a minute. My daughter loved her enchiladas and somehow ate the all and was so full she didn't bother eating another thing all day. The flames astounding, the horchata tasted amazing, and the chilaquiles were fantastic. And prices were extremely fair too! It was loud inside between the packed house and a DJ. Very chic place and a good time, felt more like a club than a cafe in some ways. Just mind bending food here. J.Ja read more
10 months ago
2 months ago
The suburban shopping mall isn't exactly the best location Charleston has to offer, but I came to this one in search of an interesting brunch. They have some Mexican options that aren't easy to find in this area. I was offered a small complimentary coffee upon sitting down, but in addition I ordered a chocolate and corn beverage that is the peak of Americana. It was quite rich and an interesting flavor. I'd come in with the idea that it would be vegetarian-friendly and the menu was okay but not great. Many of the salads and things were not amenable to my needs, but I did find some cactus tostadas that were a nice way to start the day. I wanted some more bean-based options. But it was an interesting and new experience and perhaps the menu will grow. read more
1 month ago
Heard about this place from a coworker and had to check it out. It did not disappoint! We had the guacamole to start which was great and then I did the verde chilaquiles which was also awesome. I tried the horchata as well and had a sip of my partners dark horchata. I couldn't say which was better, they were both great. While the service was a little slow, they were busy so it's understandable. Overall we had a great experience and will be back! Definitely a trendy little spot. Nothing else like it in Charleston! read more
Walk into this stunning space with high ceilings, beautiful basket lighting and tropical plants. The service is excellent and large portions for values. Today they greeted customers with a welcome cafe and handed out roses to prep for the Valentine's Day special events. This was our 4th time visiting and will keep coming back! My favorites so far have been the Chile Relleno, Kooben Burrito, Chilaquiles, and Pozole Verde. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
The ambiance was beautiful, and the menu was very intriguing--there were a lot of things I wanted to try. They also had breakfast options, which was exciting--I haven't had a decent Mexican breakfast since I left Houston, years ago. But I didn't enjoy the fusion version of huevos y papas (it was a burrito). The waitress was not receptive either to questions or compliments. And I felt... weirdly scrutinized and unwelcome as a POC who was non-Latino. Like, "what are you doing here?" Maybe it was a Hanahan thing?--Hanahan being historically a "white flight" community. Maybe they would have been cool if I spoke Spanish? But I didn't feel welcome and, while I will recommend it to my Puerto Rican and Dominican friends, who are always looking for a taste of home..., I won't be going back. read more
2 years ago
For a networking meeting I always want to support local and so we agreed upon the recently opened Kooben Cafe in Hanahan. We arrived at noon and a large party had just left but the place was still pretty full. We sat at a two top near the door. If you'd like they bring out a cute complementary cup of their cafe de olla. I don't drink coffee but my networking friend loves it and drank mine too! I ordered the chilaquiles with green sauce and added steak. It was fantastic!! Their house made green sauce is so fresh tasting. I could have used some heat so I should have totally asked for some hot sauce because I know they have it! I had a lot of steak and the chips leftover and took it home. The chips don't reheat well but I used the leftover steak with multiple things. Kooben is actually located down the road from our soon to open new office, so this will be a regular go-to spot! read more
Everything went well food was delicious. Service was very professional from a lovely young woman who could not have been more knowledgeable or helpful and the atmosphere was attractive. We will definitely go back. Can't wait to try some of their other delicious food. Definitely get the guacamole, but it's the bomb:-) read more
2 years ago
Holy smoke! Talk about crowded. After dining here, I can definitely see why. Kooben is one of the newest coffee spots located in Hanahan. What I expected was a nice little coffee shop for an after church brunch. I quickly realized this was a very popular hangout spot. Very friendly staff, very neat and well kept. They have a plant wall so you know I loved that! The food was on point and the coffee was superb! My guest and I had the Dark Horchata. What makes it dark is the espresso. Let's just say it is a spicy twist on a latte with cinnamon and, if I'm not mistaken, they had ground espresso beans mixed in as well; not just brewed but mixed in. We ordered the pollo chiquiles with black beans and Empanadas. Muy delicioso! I definitely see another brunch date in the near future. read more
Stumbled upon this gem today. I had the burrito and got the horchata French toast to go. Nothing short of amazing! Fast service, AMAZING food, extensive menu. The drinks look phenomenal and I need to try them when I visit again. I wish they had one of these in mount pleasant because hannahan is such a drive. I would come for breakfast everyday. Please support this local business! read more
1 year ago
Kooben is a great authentic cafe right in the little downtown center in Hanahan. It's easy to miss from the road, the entrance is unassuming, but it's actually quite a large space. We normally drop by during the week for coffee and its pretty chill, but we went this 4th of July morning and it was packed. The interiors are trendy, airy, super clean with lots of live plants draping down from the walls. We sat at a two top on the banquette wall and they started out by bringing us tasting samples of their in house coffee in little stonewear cups -- the coffee was light and tasted spiced like it was brewed with cinnamon. I ordered a cortado and my boyfriend the same. Nice small espresso portions. We've gotten the cappuccino and cuban coffee here before-- everything has a twist so don't be suprised if it's not exactly what you'd get at Starbucks. The cappuccinos are served spiced, so opt for the cortados for a more espresso forward cup. The food here is so good and we are regulars at this point. The montaditos are our go-to: huge portion of chicken tinga over fried green plaintains, black beans, avocado and onions over tostados. Large enough to split for a full meal for two. Today I tried the Tobil De Elote sweet corn tamales with beans and fresh cheese. They were a bit more pancake-y than that corn texture, but amazing and hearty for a sweeter breakfast bite with coffee. They come with two, so also good to split. We also ordered the Yucatan omelet with fried green plaintains, chicken tinga, lots of onions. It was huge and had a nice light bit of heat. The plaintains were served on the side and really yummy. Finished the meal with one last cortado-- a decaf-- which I always like to taste test. Excellent! We love the staff and crew here-- such a nice vibe and a beautifully maintained spot with tons of great meal options. They have plenty of authentic mexican dishes but just as an aside, there's also yogurt and acai bowls, avocado toast, etc for less adventurous eaters. Dine in or take to go-- a great spot for the neighborhood with easy parking! read more
10 months ago
Landon and Armando were fantastic! Food was great and cafe de olla was exactly what you need to start your morning! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This place is adorable!! When you walk in, it feels like an exciting experience already. I stumbled upon this place after a vet visit, and the staff greeted me right away. I got a sample of the cafe de olla, which is an amazing spiced coffee of sorts. Having already had my coffee limit for the day, I had to decline a cup, but I couldn't resist ordering some food to go. I got the Tobil del Elote. Deliciously slightly sweet tamales accompanied by savory refried black beans made a delicious lunch. I can't wait to make this my new meet up coffee spit or breakfast/lunch joint with friends. read more
2 years ago
Second time visiting and still just as great as the first! I ordered the chilaquiles verde with steak. Very good. The sauce was a little too tangy for my taste. I won't get it again with the salsa verde. I would have liked some spice, as well. The steak was phenomenal! Worth getting! Huge portions! My husband orders the tamal montado and those were fantastic! Filled with tons of meat! Great flavor! The dark horchata is also a must! read more
Tried this new to me spot today. Beautiful and cozy decor. The food was all delicious! Those tostadas were amazing! Everything we saw go by looked fantastic. They have a yummy hot salsa if you want to bring the heat. Portions are beyond generous and the prices are unbelievable. Like $25 for these two huge plates. Service could have been more attentive, but it wasn't bad. Will definitely be back to try other dishes! read more
1 year ago
Was a treat. Great food was amazing and had a cultural atmosphere. The restaurant had Great service. Would plan to go back again soon. read more
I stopped into Kooben during their grand opening after seeing some of their posts on Instagram. I thought going in that it was more of a fast casual style coffee shop so I planned to get coffee and a snack to go. When I came in, I found out that it's a full service brunch style restaurant. Every seat was taken and I didn't really have time to wait since I wasn't planning to do so anyway. They were very nice and allowed me to order from the counter and get something to go. They also had us sample some of their delicious house coffee. We got a latte type drink, a green juice, and one of the Mexican pastries out of the case. While we waited at the counter, we watched all these amazing dishes come by and they looked so amazing. I am planning to come back for the full experience asap. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Enjoyed the coffee shot given upon being seated. Restaurant is clean , food was good. I had the enchiladas, the tortillas were not on the heavy corn side which made it on point. The sauce appeared heavy and about to cause heartburn- wrong. My son had the burrito. He said it hit the spot, delicious. And my son is a critic. My spouse agreed on the healthy omelette. A good start for her. No complaints, but did not eat the side arugula salad. Charleston , nice place you have there. Yes, we will be back. Gracias read more
2 years ago
Great breakfast spot that is in Hanahan. When we first walk in they served us a free sweet Mexican pot cooked light coffee before we even ordered! It was great called "cafè de olla"! Was really good! Drive to the far right of plaza on the side of the Mexican restaurant and candy store. read more
2 years ago
So glad to have stumbled across this place! The venue is very clean and has an open and comfortable layout, and all the employees are welcoming and helpful. Lander, our server, answered MANY questions and made sure we knew exactly what it was we were ordering. He also offered suggestions and helped us decide the right amount of food to order to split. They press their juices fresh in house and get freshly baked breads from the neighboring store daily. Everything we got tasted incredible and I'm looking forward to trying even more items the next time I go! read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Delicious food, friendly/knowledgeable staff and it's a very chill vibe inside. Will definitely be a repeat customer! read more
1 year ago
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