"Delicious Honduran food just south of I-85 on Guess Rd in Durham"…read more Came here on a Saturday evening a little after 6pm-- this is the building that used to be "Pad Thai" a few years ago. There's parking out front, but not a ton, and a bit more along the side. Inside, there's a counter by the door with a register and mints (and probably where one would pickup takeout), but you wait to get seated. The place was bright with interesting Central American paintings and lively music. A few tables were taken but it was hardly what I'd call "busy". I ordered the Tajada con carne molida (fried plantains with ground beef) off the "Honduran menu". My dining partner had a creamy chicken mofongo. We also had Jarritos sodas-- I got the pineapple and she had the tamarind. One awkwardness was that the menu didn't have any prices, but I assumed (correctly) that nothing would be crazy expensive that we ordered (though weirdly the tamarind and pineapple Jarritos were different prices). Service was good-- although English was a second language, our server made do, accurately took our order, and was attentive. As other reviewers noted, this is not a speedy place-- I think it was at or maybe over 20 minutes to get our food, but that was fine. Both dishes were really good. The creamy sauce on the mofongo was to-die-for... so yummy. And I enjoyed my plantain/ beef dish-- my dining partner said it was somewhat analogous to "nachos" in a funny way, and she's not wrong. The plantains were pretty stiff-- almost like plantain chips, but still yummy, and the beef and accompaniments were excellent (see photo). The quantity was HUGE-- both of us had enough easily for a second meal. Price wasn't bad-- with the drinks and tax and tip, it was slightly over $50 total. Overall, I'm very happy we tried this place, and I have every intention of coming back.

Wow. This place was delicious! The 4.9 stars are accurate. It doesn't look like much from the…read moreoutside, but it is fresh and delicious. Went with a friend. I had a dish with a pork chop, shrimp, and plantains. Huge portion. Couldn't stop eating it. Fresh, hot, delicious. The food is authentic. Service was friendly, atmosphere casual. Not fancy, but delicious!

My recommendation, get the 'Plato Típico Chapin'. It offers a mix of various Guatemalan specialties…read morelike Garnachas, pastelitos de papa and a stuffed poblano pepper. I like grabbing it for the stuffed poblano, but the Garnachas are wonderful too. The entire plate is FILLING and it pairs so nicely with what they offer at their salsa bar. Speaking of their salsa bar... The orange sauce is legendary, the grilled jalapeños are delicious and the pickled vegetables are tasty! That was so nice to have! Ambience is a mix between store and restaurant, so you can even take some Guatemalan treats to-go. Service is solid. Definitely worth a stop.

We live near by and have never tried so we stopped by today at lunch time and grabbed a few…read moredifferent dishes mostly appetizers. My favorite was the garnaches, the tortillas were so crispy and the ground sirloin was juicy and flavorful. All the veggies were super fresh and amazing. Some of the best taquitos I've had in a while. The Ceviche was our overall favorite just full of flavor and tastes very fresh. The inside is like a mini bodega and there is a dinning room with seating. They have a sauce and toppings bar. So many drink options as well. A hidden gem must try for sure. Our cashier said they have been here over 10 years and told us to come back to dine in for dinner one night and we most definitely will be.

Such a hidden gem! The best pupusas I have ever had. They also have great tacos with many meat…read moreoptions and lots of traditional Salvadorian dishes. Ask for a side of their house made salsas if you like spicy. Nothing fancy on the inside but we like dining in. It's very tiny and cozy inside with older decor. Be prepared for possible language barriers but the staff is always kind and service is good. In my top 3 Hispanic restaurants in Durham for sure.

This is the best kept secret in Durham. I consider this the best Mexican restaurant in the…read moretriangle, and have a lot of good memories here (wife and I had a magical snow night here where this place was open and we were the only ones dining here). It doesn't look like much from the outside, but everything here is delicious. You also usually get enough for more than one meal to take home with you. We've left Durham, but this was a spot we frequented the most

Fast service, delicious tacos! Friendly folks. Churros to…read moredie for! Did I mention the fresh guacamole? Very good! Also, clean and bright environment to enjoy your meal.

Good service and food is the best a mis hijos les encanta y su servicio rapido y limpioread more

| Overview + Good…read morevariety of empanada fillings to choose from with gluten free options + Texture of empanadas is fine - Size of empanada is ridiculously small - Slow & unfriendly customer service - Makus mostly serves empanadas (the rest of its menu are boring) - Not comfortable ambiance | Review After 3 years, I decided to give Makus another chance. I went to Makus in New Hope Commons, Durham in a Tuesday afternoon, and when I entered its lackluster ambiance with cheap-looking uncomfortable high chairs, I was surprised that there's not a single employee in the front. I saw about 2 of them in the back, seemingly preparing the empanadas. I was ready to order but no one was there to accept my order. I almost left Makus until I saw the bell on the concession with a notice saying, "NEED HELP? RING ME PLEASE!" I rang the bell once, no one came; I rang twice, finally, an employee! I ordered 2 beef empanadas & 1 ham & cheese empanada for a total of almost $13. There was only 1 customer before me, waiting for her order when I went. While I was waiting, the employee who was smoking earlier outside came in and just ignored me as he returned back to work in the back. At around 15 min. mark of waiting, an employee went to the front, holding a plastic with a small takeout box inside. I stood up and asked if my order was ready, the woman just nodded without saying a word, just cold and expressionless. Finally, after about 20 minutes of waiting just for 3 empanadas, the same woman handed me the plastic with my order. I thought they were busy preparing empanadas in the back. Why'd it take so long just to get 3 empanadas ready? Out of all the empanadas my girl & I have tried: Filipino-style, Ilocos-style & El Salvadorian style in the Sabor restaurant nearby, the empanadas in Makus are the smallest. Each empanada cost about $4 (a dozen for $47 - seriously, who would buy a dozen of these?). I'd be fine with this size if the empanadas are gourmet quality with astonishing fillings and flavors, but the taste was alright - nothing special, and definitely not worth $4 in our book. The good part was that the empanadas were not doughy, so the texture was fine. The sauce that came with it was alright, and the 1 small cup is just fine for 3 tiny empanadas. When I came home to eat the 3 empanadas with my girl, she asked me why I returned to Makus after we were disappointed in our first visit a few years ago. I said that I wanted to give it another chance. Now, I deeply regret this decision. | Overall Score: 1.2/5

Bottom line: This Durham location of Makus Empanadas provide tasty choices I enjoy for delivery…read morelately. The chicken filling and sweet corn filling are my two go-to varieties of these baked empanadas, each hitting the spot and delicious. I am a fan! The Deets: I've had the chance to enjoy meals from a few of the NC Triangle locations of Makus Empanadas. With this Durham location, I mainly utilize delivery to enjoy their empanadas lately. Even with them not being just around the corner from me, they arrive fairly warm and withstand the trip well. One of the draws for me in getting Makus Empanadas are they appear to be baked and not fried (don't get me wrong, I like fried empanadas as well!) and honestly they remind me of mini-versions of my grandmother's homemade fruit turnovers in appearance (a good thing). I usually order these light pockets of tasty goodness with their chicken filling or their sweet corn filling version. I find both pretty good, they hit the spot with chicken giving flavorful and needed protein with not being overly spicy while the sweet corn version being a delicious but not so heavy choice. They even identify which are each variety by initials baked in at the edge of the crust, pretty cool and no guessing. I am a fan and I will continue to keep this location of Makus Empanadas in my delivery meal rotation.

The level of hospitality was unmatched. They truly put an emphasis on creating a warm and…read morecomfortable environment for everyone. I was especially impressed by the dedicated server who attended to all guests--offering guidance and thoughtfully explaining the menu, which made the experience feel both personal and welcoming. The food tasted incredibly fresh, with meats grilled to perfection and everything seasoned just right. The homemade sauces were a standout, and the drink options felt authentic and well-curated. Look for the yellow tables and umbrellas--it's part of the charm! Plus, parking is free, which is always a bonus.

Pros: fresh ingredients, authentic flavor, plentiful portions,…read more Cons: wait time It's a small food truck, but the food coming out of it is great. They offer traditional arepas, but you can also get a burger or a bowl, if that's your preference. They greet you with a smile and eagerly take your order. If it's cold or hot outside, there's an inside area with seating for eating or waiting. There's also seating outside. The shredded beef tastes best; I found the strips of beef to be a bit tough. They are generous with the cheese and plantains, and it will fill you up. Three chimichurri is pureed, which was not my favorite. I like it chunky. Overall I was happy with the quality and flavor of the food

Food was delicious! Service was great! Best soup I've ever had. Highly recommend ordering a…read moreMichelada and the seafood soup yum!

Great food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. I'll definitely be back again!!read more

I decided to visit this place for lunch on a Sunday, i was craving some pupusas, this place was…read morepacked so i was expecting a good food. I had the 3 pupusas meal (10 dollar value and they are good size) and chose to do three different ones, zucchini with cheese was pretty good, you can't go wrong with the cheese one, the chicharron (pork skin) one wasn't that good, i think overall all of them needed a little bit of more seasoning. The mango agua fresca tasted more like water than mango, but the orchata was very good. I would have given them a 4 star but because of the agua and the seasoning I'm doing 3 stars, I do recommend the place and I would come back for sure. As always this is my honest and personal opinion.

Delicious pupusas. You can't go wrong with any of them. My favorites are: cheese, squash and…read morecheese with beans. All are made to order and piping hot with a side of cool slaw. Chefs kiss!