Durham Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

January 7, 2020 by Ron Wen

Chicken Bee, Durham – Offering Amazing Korean Fried Chicken on 9th Street

Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

One of the more exciting food trends we’ve seen over the past several years is the emergence of Korean food and in particular, Korean fried chicken. This delicious, double-fried poultry was brought to the area first by Soo Cafe out in Raleigh. And over time, Korean fried chicken has slowly been added to many menus of restaurants that serve Korean food. But I admit that I was excited see what Chicken Bee could do since it specialized in Korean fried chicken. So it was time to head off to Durham’s 9th Street to see what Chicken Bee is all about!

Dining room at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

While Chicken Bee is conveniently located on 9th Street, it sits at the very northern end of the street in the newer section past Hillsborough and Markham Avenue. Given the newness of the building, Chicken Bee is pretty light and bright inside with a basic but modern cafe decor. Primarily smaller 2-tops and 4-tops throughout the dining room. In the back sits a small bar with a couple of TVs for entertainment. The usual crowd here is mostly Duke students looking to get their chicken on or take-out orders for workers heading home. Chicken Bee has a classic Korean fried chicken menu similar to Bonchon (a chain) offering up KFC but also a handful of Korean dishes and even some Japanese ramen. Everything’s pretty much $7 to $15 on the menu so it’s affordable eats here. Along with the food, Chicken Bee offers a handful of beers-wine along with some Korean soft drinks.

Mandu appetizer at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Mandu appetizer at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Seafood pancake at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Seafood pancake at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For appetizers, I definitely recommend the mandu (Korean dumplings) glazed with some soy-garlic sauce. While they are vegetarian, the mandu here are perfectly fried (similar to gyoza) and wonderfully delicious. With 8 to an order, you should definitely be sharing these with friends! The Korean food seafood pancake doesn’t fare quite as well, a bit greasy without a ton of taste so I’d probably pass here and save my stomach for more important things. But given that it usually takes at least 30 minutes to get fresh Korean fried chicken, an appetizer or beer helps immensely with your wait.

Half and half Korean fried chicken at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Half and half Korean fried chicken at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And more important things at Chicken Bee is of course, their signature Korean fried chicken. Offered as soy-garlic or spicy garlic in 6, 10 or 20 pieces, I’d go the half and half route to taste a bit of both. The Korean fried chicken is served with your choice of two sides, choose from cole slaw, white rice, pickled radish, soda, or kimchi ($3 extra). While you may wait a bit for you fresh KFC, it’s totally worth it! When they drop that plate in front of you, it’s hard not to jump right in but be careful it’s probably just out of the fryer. And Chicken Bee was nice enough to provide these plastic finger covers to neatly eat your KFC, first time I’ve seen them. But once you dive into the chicken, it’s really hard to stop eating! Plump flats and drums lacquered with delicious soy-garlic or spicy garlic sauce are equally wonderful. The wings here are meaty and perfectly cooked, the skin is crispy and pulls off the meat a bit. Really wonderful bar eats but yeah, probably not the healthiest thing you’ll eat this week.

And service? There have been some complaints, the restaurant is still pretty new along with the staff. And I know there has been some stress in getting patrons to understand the KFC cooking/frying process which just takes some time. But if you’re patient, dinner here is well worth the wait for this chicken deliciousness. I’m in Durham often for dinner and other than Hutchins Garage and M Pocha, Chicken Bee is a craving that I get whenever I visit. So despite its faults around service, you’re going to get great Korean fried chicken at a very reasonable price here at Chicken Bee. And that’s plenty good enough for me when I’m choosing a place to eat in the Bull City.

Chicken Bee

810 9th Street #129

Durham, NC 27705

984.888.5561

Location on Google maps

June 23, 2019 by Ron Wen

Media: M Pocha Offers Up Some Culinary Magic for Durham

Front of M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to chefs in the Triangle, I’ve always enjoyed what comes out of the kitchens from Chef Mike Lee. Since his days as owner-chef of Sono in Raleigh to competition cooking events, I’ve watched him grow in the Triangle as he’s built his group of M Restaurants in Durham to much acclaim. And now the Bull City has M restaurant #4, M Pocha (short for pojangmacha – street food). Sitting on a corner of Five Points, M Pocha will be bringing some foodie magic in the form of Asian small plates! I was lucky enough to get an invite to M Pocha’s friends and family preview dinner before they soft-opened. Here’s what to expect!

Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Heading on over to M Pocha, it’s a bit inconspicuous from the outside with shaded, plate glass windows (it’s a sunny spot) and a slightly, narrow triangular feel to the space. If you had been in the old Cupcake Bar space before, you won’t recognize it anymore. Inside, M Pocha has a minimalist, darker decor focused on metals and woods. A bit different then the other M Restaurants which usually have featured a lot of exposed brick. The seating is also different here with bar seating at the front and side along with one large communal table down the middle. M Pocha’s space is probably best suited for 2 to 4 people along with solo diners given the seating setup. M Pocha offers up a short selection of beers, wines and cocktails to get your meal started!

Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Chef Mike is in back, busily working the kitchen while about sixteen of us sat at the communal table, eagerly awaiting what was to come. The meal opens up with a spicy kimchi soup filled with napa cabbage, smoky sausage and tender fall-off-the-bone pork ribs. The soup has got some great depth and texture, it reminds me of a classic Chinese soup and is gobbled up by the table. While I think kimchi can get really strong and pungent, the presentation of that fermented flavor is balanced well in this soup!

Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The table moves on to nasi goreng, an Indonesian fried rice served up with some fried shrimp. The fried rice is moist and tasty with a bit of soy sauce, garlic and more. It’s a very comforting dish for me, something that mom might put on the table. Served up with some nicely pan-friend brussels sprouts makes for a great starter for the meal.

Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The highlight for me is next, the seared short-rib served up yakitori-style (barbeque) on a ceramic grill. Thick, succulent pieces of short-rib showing off great char and beefy chew. Mike is serving them boneless which makes for easier eating. A follow-up dish of spicy pork belly served with greens, pickled veggies and steamed buns offers up a great mix of textures and colors for the palate. A fun take on the traditional bao with some acid and greens to brighten the dish up.

Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And finally the closing small plate, perfectly fried pork dumplings (gyoza)! The skin on these dumplings were thicker but still tender and as you can see by the picture, very nicely pan-fried to a deep brown. The crunchy bottoms make for a nice contrast to the soft tops of the dumplings, dee-licious!

Pan-fried gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pan-fried bacon gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of the dinner, Chef Mike comes out several times explaining the origins and ingredients of each dish, along with his career and path as a chef. Like many chefs, he started out formally trained to do one thing and pivoted when he discovered his love of the culinary arts and food. I’ve always appreciated his menus and cuisine from Sono to M Sushi, M Kokko and more. His dishes stay true to the authenticity of Asian cuisine while taking some light liberties with ingredients and preparation. I wouldn’t call it Asian fusion, more like Asian uplifted, similar to Brewery Bhavana. But always delicious and balanced for flavor!

And I think he will have some fun with the broader menu options here at M Pocha, offering up small plates of his favorite Asian cuisines across the region. So here’s to more and better at M Pocha and from Chef Mike. We’ll know more of what to expect from the restaurant in upcoming months as they get into a groove after their soft-opening, cheers!

M Pocha

101 E Chapel Hill Street

Durham, NC 27701

M Pocha menu

Location on Google maps

May 28, 2019 by Ron Wen

DeeLuxe Chicken, Durham – A Glorious Take on Southern Fried Chicken

Front of DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to all American eats, it’s hard to go wrong with the essential fried chicken! Wings, drums, thighs and more, dropped into a deep fryer and brought on a plate, steaming hot is always a special treat in my book. So who else is excited for the new DeeLuxe Chicken out in Durham, raise your hand?! Brought to you by Chef Scott Howell of Nana fame, DeeLuxe Chicken goes for the more informal dining route with a fast-casual, counter set-up, table service. And right out of the chute, DeeLuxe Chicken is doing a lot of things right!

Interior of DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Interior of DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you’re new to Durham, Broad Street runs parallel to 9th Street and has its own little vibe. Quieter but with still some fun options like Watts Grocery, the Green Room (billiards) and the Palace International. DeeLuxe Chickens sits on the corner in premium spot, showing off a retro 60’s facade in bright red and blue. Nice, covered patio in the front, cool Rooster mural on the side, they’ve done a really great job renovating the space and I barely recognize it from its predecessors (Oval Park Grille). If you’re into casual and colorful, you’ll like DeeLuxe Chicken!

Counter order at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Counter order at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Head on over to the order counter and you’ll find a short menu overhead covering chicken baskets, seafood baskets, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sides. Everything’s a bit cheeky and fun at Deeluxe Chicken, including the classic grill menu. Once you order your food, you’ll be given a number on a stand, grab your drink and find a table! Oh and don’t miss the condiments and sauce station near the entrance. You’ll find a wide assortment of flavors here: honey mustard, spicy green, ranch, chili sauce and more, 12 in total along with bread pickles and lemons. I’m guessing that these sauces are for blinging out your tenders or sandwiches!

Condiment bar at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Condiment bar at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Dining room at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

While Deeluxe Chicken is great for families with its quick casual setup, it’s also got a nice selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails for the adults. A long bar on the side is probably best suited for single diners and couples. The food at Deeluxe Chicken comes out pretty quickly (thankfully, they’ve got a short menu), usually under 10 minutes in my experience. And their chicken looks really mouth-watering!

Quarter chicken dark with sweet potato fries at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Quarter chicken dark with sweet potato fries at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Covered in a thick, crunchy and bumpy batter, the chicken at Deeluxe is moist and flavored a bit (paprika?). I’ve done the quarter dark which is a large and plump bird along with some chili-dusted sweet potato fries. Unlike some 1/4 chicken offerings, there’s plenty of food here. A perfectly seared and buttered piece of Texas toast finishes the meal. All of the chicken baskets at Deeluxe chicken come with a side-kick which ranges from fries, potato salad, slaw, mac n cheese, spicy Asian cucumbers or a salad. A nice range of options for your side.

The Purist chicken sandwich at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham - nctriangledining.com — The Purist chicken sandwich at DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The sandwiches here at Deeluxe Chicken are super substantial! Try the Purist which seems to be a play on the classic Southern chicken sandwich (Chick-fil-a). Loaded with thick and sweet pickles, on a seared bun, it’s a great sammich. Simple and to the point, it hits all the right notes for a satisfying Southern chicken sandwich. And you can now finish up your meal with some soft serve, Deeluxe Chicken offers ice cream cones with a “flavor burst” (chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch) for $1.50

Service at DeeLuxe chicken has been very good during my visits here, a nice touch for the budget price you pay. Overall I think you’ll be happy with a casual meal at Deeluxe Chicken. Inexpensive, tasty and filling, it’s a perfect spot for families and students looking for some quick chicken. While the menu is short, they’re added burgers and more which is plenty to keep most people happy. Paired with the beer, wine and soft-serve means you’ve got a more adult version of a Chick-fil-a which is A-OK to me!

DeeLuxe Chicken

1116 Broad Street

Durham, NC 27705

919.294.8128

Menu at DeeLuxe Chicken

Location on Google maps

March 26, 2019 by Ron Wen

Retake: Toast Paninoteca, Still a Hidden Gem for Sandwiches in Durham!

Front of Toast Paninoteca in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of Toast Paninoteca in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As a food blogger, I’m often chasing down the newest, latest and greatest restaurants in the area but I try not to forget the classic restaurants in the area. Take Toast at Five Points in Durham, for example. Opened up by Kelly and Billy Kotler in the early stages of Durham’s restaurant revival (February 2008), I remember stepping into Toast for the first time on a Taste Carolina gourmet food tour. And I remember being pretty impressed with the food and concept, right off the bat. And ten years later, Toast is still going strong, feeding the locals in the now busy, Five Points area in downtown Durham. And you’d be remiss to forget about this tiny, little, turquoise gem and it’s great eats. Here’s why!

Casual interior at Toast Paninoteca in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Casual interior at Toast Paninoteca in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Located in the hopping 5 Points section of Durham in a prime location, Toast is now sandwiched between great restaurants such as Mothers and Sons along with Viceroy. But what makes Toast a bit unique is its more casual, quick-casual, counter order setup. Bathed in bright blue colors, Toast paints a casual and comfortable interior. The stencil wall mural proclaims it culinary commitment as a paninoteca, otherwise known as an Italian sandwich shop.

Menu at Toast Paninoteca in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Menu at Toast Paninoteca in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the order area is a neatly scripted chalkboard menu outlining all the great eats at Toast. They range from panini (pressed sandwiches, to tramezzini (cold sandwiches, crostini along with soups and sandwiches. Given Durham’s culinary reputation, what’s amazing is that pretty much everything here is under $12, super affordable. Toast’s focus on high quality meats, cheeses and produce really uplifts the humble sandwich given the talent in the kitchen. The dining room at Toast is a bit tight but certainly take advantage of their sidewalk seating on good weather days!

3 cheese panini at Toast Paninoteca in Durham - nctriangledining.com — 3 cheese panini at Toast Paninoteca in Durham – nctriangledining.com

A recent lunch visit had me ordering up their popular 3 cheese sandwich stuffed with grana padano, asiago fresco, pecorino and accented with truffle oil. This rich and gooey was served on thick, white bread and perfectly grilled. Cut diagonally into triangles (hooray) the cheese spilled out onto the plate in a deliciously unctuous mess. Biting into this sandwich is a cheese addict’s dream and wonderfully addictive.

Arancini at Toast Paninoteca in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Arancini at Toast Paninoteca in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Paired with a crunchy and toothsome arancini lovingly served in a white porcelain cup, it was a fantastically simple and delicious meal. While Toast offers up the usual sodas and juices, I usually like to take advantage of their affordable house wines to really make it feel like I’m in Italy. Service here at Toast is always casual but attentive and professional, another plus.

Crostini at Toast in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Crostini at Toast in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve eaten at Toast many times, trying out quite a bit off the menu and across the sandwich types. And the food here is always fresh and bursting with flavor. While you can certainly spend a LOT more money for your meal in the Bull City, I’m pretty sure you can spend half as much at Toast and walk away wonderfully satisfied no matter what eenie (panini, tramezzini, crostini) you choose. In the category of quick casual near DPAC you might also try Only Burger or the new Neomonde but I can guarantee you that a meal at Toast will never leave you disappointed, buono appetito!

Toast Paninoteca

345 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.683.2183

Location on Google maps

March 13, 2019 by Ron Wen

First Take: Cucciolo in Durham, a Classy Option for Italian Eats

Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Italian food, Durham definitely has a leg up on most of the cities in the Triangle. From Gocciolina to Mothers and Sons and now, Cucciolo Osteria! A new option conveniently located on W. Main Street, Cucciolo is definitely bringing some new and different eats to the Bull City Italian food game. And if you’re up for great Italian food in a more proper setting, I think you’ll like Cucciolo quite a bit.

Bar at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Brought to you by Duke University alumni Jimmy Kim, Cucciolo Osteria comes from a small 5-restaurant chain that started over in S. Korea. Built out next to old Durham standby West End Wine Bar, Cucciolo Osteria has a pretty convenient location except for ONE thing: parking. The lot the restaurant sits in is usually full and most of the spaces seem to be reserved for residents rather then for retail parking. I’ve had better luck parking directly on Main Street but that is a bit of a crap-shoot with the parking meters.

Vino at the bar at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Vino at the bar at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Once you find your parking space and get inside of Cucciolo, you’ll be greeted by a host or hostess up front which gives the restaurant a slightly upscale feel. The long space is a tribute to understated simplicity. Industrial concrete floor, high ceilings and a very long, white marble-top bar dominate the setting. Lighting is dim with good ambiance, it all feels a bit industrial and modern. Given the price-points at Cucciolo, it seems to be drawing an older crowd based upon what I’ve seen during my visits. A handful of 4-tops sit up front with smaller 2-tops lining the space. Seating is somewhat limited so you may need a reservation if you’d like to dine at a table versus the bar.

Fried gnocchi with mozzarella mousse at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Fried gnocchi with mozzarella mousse at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Butternut squash arancini at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Butternut squash arancini at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

With the short menu, you’ll get a chance to try most of your favorite dishes, pretty quickly. For starters, check out the very interesting prosciutto with mozzarella mousse and fried gnocchi! On the plate, Cucciolo serves up some tender slices of prosciutto paired with pillowy, fried gnocchi and crumbled mozzarella. I’m not entire sure how to eat this plate (wrap the gnocchi and dip into mozzarella mousse?) but most of it made its way into my mouth. An interesting play on several Italian classics. The butternut squash arancini is offered as six generous pieces of arancini with a spicy aioli which makes for a great starter.

White ragu tajarin at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — White ragu tajarin at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Moving on to the pastas at Cucciolo, you’ll find a short assortment of primis as both fresh and dry pasta in the $14 to $20 range. The white ragu tajarin I tried was fantastic, toothsome and flecked with cheese, pork and parsley. The pasta serving sizes at Cucciolo are just enough to sate your appetite but probably not enough for a full meal unless paired with an appetizer. Overall I was impressed with their pastas but feel that all the offerings should be house-made at these price points.

Moving on to the entrees at Cucciolo, you’ll find a small assortment of meat-forward dishes across the beef, pork, chicken and seafood spectrum. The butter chicken ($19) is served at the table in a sizzling hot cast-iron mini-skillet. Lightly breaded and fried crispy, you’ll find the chicken to be extremely tender and rich. A very simple but delicious preparation for a normally boring chicken breast. I also tried the porchetta ($27) which is an Italian standard for me: slow-roasted pork belly and loin wrapped around herbs and nuts. Cucciolo’s version was a miss for me, heavily fatty, luke-warm and covered in some sort of sweetish, nut-based sauce. I really scratched my head on this one, typically it’s a very simple preparation that shows off the simple roasted meat but at Cucciolo it was just doused and covered nearly beyond recognition. I couldn’t taste any crispy, pork skin or tender loin which was a surprise.

Porchetta with sauteed vegetables at Cucciolo in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Porchetta with sauteed vegetables at Cucciolo in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When you look at Italian food in Durham, you’ve got some delicious contenders and Cucciolo fits right into the mix of better Italian for the Bull City. But even given its great online reviews, I feel like they’ve got some areas for improvement. More house-made pastas and better execution on the porchetta given their price points seem like reasonable expectations. And given how new Cucciolo is, I think there’s definitely room for growth in this Italian food concept, buon appetito!

Chicken Bee, Durham – Offering Amazing Korean Fried Chicken on 9th Street