Asian Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

March 11, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

News: Hawkers Asian Street Fare Opens in Chapel Hill

Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

If you’re a fan of SE Asian street cuisine, you’ll probably really enjoy the new Hawkers Asian Street Fare at University Place in Chapel Hill! This smallish chain has a location in Charlotte and this new Chapel Hill restaurant is the first in the Triangle. Bright, colorful and kitschy, the menu spans a variety of small plates and bites along with noodles, rice and more. It looks like a fun spot for the family or a date, I’ll be reviewing the restaurant in more details soon. Until then, enjoy the pictures and menus to get an idea of what to expect when you visit Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill!

Colorful decor at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Colorful decor at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Bar at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Small plates menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Small plates menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Noodle and rice menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Noodle and rice menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Hawkers Asian Street Fare

201 S Estes Drive, 400A (Next to Silverspot Cinema)

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.415.1799

Location on Google maps

March 8, 2020 by Ron Wen

KoKyu Southpoint, Durham: A Fun Eatery for Casual Asian-Fusion Fare Loaded with Flavor

Front of KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Way, way back in the day when the food scene was just ramping up in the Triangle, the big foodie novelty at the time (maybe 10 years ago) was food trucks! Offering up some unusual eats that you usually wouldn’t find in sit-down restaurants, food trucks blazed the trail for a lot of the more eclectic food offerings in the Triangle. The one food truck that stood out way back then was KoKyu.

The original KoKyu food truck in Durham - nctriangledining.com — The original KoKyu food truck in Durham – nctriangledining.com

A mash-up of Mexican and Asian flavors, KoKyu would be a great option after a day of drinking at popular breweries like Big Boss and Fullsteam. And like many successful food trucks, KoKyu made the move to bricks and mortar but with a twist. Kokyu’s first storefront KoKyu Na’mean, focused on Asian-style sandwiches (banh mi) and there was little menu overlap with the food truck menu. Wut?! The food was still good but there was a bit of a hole given it was missing some of my favorite, food truck items. Fast forward another 4 years and guess what? KoKyu is opening up its second bricks and mortar restaurant and it’s going back to its roots with the newer KoKyu Southpoint!

Order counter at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Order counter at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Dining space at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining space at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Inside KoKyu Southpoint you’ll find a bright blue and cheery space with a modern, funky feel. Polished concrete floors, spherical paper and tin washtub lamps overhead, along with a very interesting, blue triangular table in the corner. One wall has some graffiti on it in homage to their original food truck origins and design. Given their quick-serve origins as a food truck, all of the KoKyu restaurants are counter-service to keep things moving along. There are a couple of LED panels overhead with a very simple menu consisting of wings, quesadillas, tacos, bowls, salads and sliders, maybe 20 or so items including their customer favorite: duck fat tots. Once you order you’re given a playing card on a stand as your number and the food is brought to your table. KoKyu Southpoint also has a self-serve beer wall (you’ll need a wristband to use it) along with a small refrigerated case of beers to enjoy with your meal. Don’t miss checking out their restroom which has a beautiful and colorful floral stencil on the walls!

Menu and prices at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Menu and prices at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Short-rib sliders at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Short-rib sliders at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of a couple of visits I’ve had a chance to work through the KoKyu Southpoint menu and enjoy some of my long-time favorites. The short rib sliders and duck fat tots combination is still irresistible. The sliders are served on sweet buns and loaded with braised beef, topped with quick pickles (for acid), strips of red onion and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It’s a very Asian take on braised beef and delicious. The classic KoKyu duck fat tots are super crisp, sprinkled with herbs (rosemary) and served up with a sriracha-aioli type dip for your pleasure!

Duck fat tots at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Duck fat tots at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Short-rib quesadilla at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Short-rib quesadilla at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Another long-time favorite is the KoKyu short-rib quesadilla stuffed with more short-rib beef and gorgonzola cheese, a melty delight! Dabbed with some spicy sauce and topped with cilantro, the quesadilla is packed with flavor and filling. The bulkogi tacos are also wonderful, served on larger 6″ tortillas and loaded with fresh lettuce, tender beef, spicy cheese sauce and thin shards of red pepper. A nice Latin-American spin on a Korean-flavored classic, dee-lish! The quality of ingredients and produce used by KoKyu is always top-notch and appreciated.

Bulkogi tacos at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Bulkogi tacos at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Beer wall at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Beer wall at KoKyu Southpoint in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Overall as a long-time fan of KoKyu it’s been fun to see them evolve and expand over the years. They’ve stayed true to the eclectic flavors of Mexican-Asian eats and it’s really nice to have their classic dishes in a more comfortable and stylish setting. We’re talking street eats with heat and air conditioning, woo-hoo! There’s even a vintage boom box up by the counter, in homage to their food truck origins when music would be blaring out the back of their truck. So a round of applause for a Durham classic, KoKyu. Keep on keeping it on and dishing out those great casual eats for the S. Durham crowds!

KoKyu Southpoint

245 E, NC-54 Ste 105

Durham, NC 27713

919.251.9017

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 20, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Sushioki in RTP – Durham for Fresh Flavored Sushi Burritos

Front of Sushioki in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of Sushioki in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to foodie trends in the Triangle, one item that’s been popping up on my radar screen: sushi burritos, otherwise known as sushirrito! Usually limited to a poke restaurant or as an add-on to a Japanese restaurant, it seems like the time has come for the first dedicated sushi burrito shop, Sushioki! Luckily an invite from the two owners (Jeff and Lawrence) hits my email inbox so it’s time for a preview visit to the new Sushioki in Durham…

Entry-way to Sushioki in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Entry-way to Sushioki in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Thankfully I’m pretty familiar with this area of S. Durham at the intersection of 55 and 54. It’s a busy area with lots of little ethnic restaurants and small, shopping plazas. Sushioki is located in the same plaza as Brigs if that helps you at all! Inside Sushioki you’ll find a quick casual set-up in a very light lime-green dining room, it all feels very modern and light. At the order counter, you’ll find a HD panel overhead with the menu and it’s pretty basic, covering eight types of sushirrito rolls, rice bowls and rice chips!

Making sushirittos at Sushioki in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Making sushirittos at Sushioki in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The food is freshly prepared right in front of you on lime-green sushi roll mats (I see a theme here!) and with wonderfully fresh ingredients rolled in nori (seaweed wrap). I suspect most of the food here will do well for vegetarians and gluten-free diners given the heavy rice and seaweed components. The menu here at Sushioki is split between raw (fish) rolls and cooked rolls (pulled pork, fried chicken, bulkogi, tempura shrimp) primarily in an Asian theme.

At the counter, I put in my order for the Oh-my-gaashi, a fried chicken sushiritto with lettuce, pickled cucumber, kimchi slaw, hot gochujang sauce along with some barbeque rice chips. Rolls are priced in the $9 to $12 range and you can make it a meal (chips-drink) for an additional $2.50. The cheerful order-taker hands me my change and a cup, it’s time to self-serve my drink and hang out to wait for mah food! There’s a soft drink dispenser in a corner of Sushioki’s dining room for patrons.

Fried chicken sushiritto at Sushioki in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Fried chicken sushiritto at Sushioki in Durham – nctriangledining.com

My food is brought out on a plastic tray and I’ve got a substantial 9″ roll wrapped in white, service paper along with a wax paper bag of rice chips, it’s time to eat! Biting into the sushirrito for the first time is an interesting experience. Your mind says burrito while your mouth says sushi so there’s a bit of cognitive culinary dissonance there for a moment. But once you figure it out, it’s all quite tasty combining Japanese flavors and textures with core savory ingredients. The sushi-burrito concept actually works quite well once you figure it out. Sushioki wraps up its rolls and ingredients with great balance providing enough savory protein and fresh vegetables surrounded by the carbalicious rice and chewy nori wrap. And I do like the slightly Asian flavor combinations which are quite playful. I think you may need to find the flavor combination that works for your palate since they are all quite different.

Beyond the food at Sushioki, there’s a very human and community element to their story. I get a chance to chat with the owners of Sushioki, Jeff and Lawrence. They are both members of the Waypoint Church and are committed to providing a living wage for their staff. Sushioki is also committed to helping refugees so a good portion of their hires are from this immigrant group. Jeff and Lawrence decided to launch Sushioki after a trip to the West coast along with help from Lawrence’s sister who develops the recipes and roll combinations! All I can say as a foodies it that it’s an interestnig food concept and certainly a worthwhile social mission. So if you’re curious about the newest foodie trend in the Triangle, check out Sushioki out in RTP/Durham sometime soon. Tasty, healthy Asian-fusion rolls served with a smile will keep you happy!

Sushioki

4900 NC-55 Suite 510

Durham, NC 27713

919.405.7121

Location on Google maps

April 8, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Fantastic Asian-Fusion Fare and Decor at the new CO in Raleigh!

Front of CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Front of CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Over the past several years, while downtown Raleigh has grown dramatically, so have other popular areas within the city limits. North Hills is a perfect example of what’s come about in the Triangle. The addition of the new North Hills East area has brought about a slew of fun restaurants like Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, Chuy’s, Capital Grille and more. The newest restaurant on the block is the new CO Restaurant located at the base of the AC Hotel! A smaller chain of restaurants with eight locations in the Southeast, CO Raleigh opened on March 17 and I was able to get in for a media lunch and visit. And while the glam decor may immediately catch the eye, I was so happy to find that its food exceeded my expectations…

Bar at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bar at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

From the outside, CO throws off a super modern and chic face to the street. Both the front and side of the restaurant front is lined by large glass windows and highlighted by some bright red signage above. And once you get inside, that theme of gray, black and red continues. The dining room is quite modern with a large bar and funky sitting area to the right, main dining room and side dining room to the left. Seating is primarily in red and black leather with some neon lighting to the side. The whole space feels a bit clubby and fits in quite well with the ambiance created by the AC Hotel it’s located in.

Dining room at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For our media visit, we’re pretty much given the entire menu to choose from which is a wonderful luxury. What’s interesting is that CO has the same menu for lunch or dinner with entrees in the $10 to $15 range, very affordable! Choose from dumplings, banh mi, noodles, rice, along with poke bowls and a handful of desserts. There’s also a nice selection of appetizers which are discounted for CO’s happy hour, 4 to 7pm from Monday to Friday. (Note: I came back in a week after my first media visit and paid out of pocket, this post covers both visits.)

Pork belly buns at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Pork belly buns at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Malaysian chili wings at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Malaysian chili wings at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For the small plates, I managed to try both the pork belly buns and Malaysian chili wings. The pork belly buns were spot-on, nicely steamed and showing off some unctuous belly paired against crisp cucumber and shredded carrots. A delicious start and things only got better with the wings! CO’s Malaysian wings are sticky-good, perfectly tender and tasty. At five to a plate, it makes an excellent starter for two people but you may be fighting over that 5th wing!

Vietnamese fried rice (com chien) at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Vietnamese fried rice (com chien) at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

And now on to CO’s entrees which are fantastic! CO has managed to serve up Asian cuisine that’s been fancied up a bit but stays true to its roots. The delicious com chien (Vietnamese fried rice) is a heaping portion of fried rice packed with edamame, chicken and sausage. Adding the optional fried egg on top makes it a wonderful meal, there is a lot of food here. I also tried the Hanoi noodles with curry. This fragrant dish is loaded with zucchini, onion, shrimp, sausage and is again, super filling and tasty. I love how that even with the upscale environs, CO keeps the food real and plentiful for diners…

Hanoi noodles at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Hanoi noodles at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Chicken hibachi at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Chicken hibachi at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

My tablemate’s chicken hibachi also looks wonderful, served with black sesame seeds and a wonton on top with two sauces on the side. All of CO’s dishes are colorful and well presented, making them pleasing to the eye and stomach. And I ended up bringing home leftovers from both visits. I’m looking forward to future meals and working through the banh mi and small plates menu!

Strawberry spring rolls at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Strawberry spring rolls at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Crispy cheesecake wontons at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Crispy cheesecake wontons at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Even with all that food, we are totally tempted by dessert and CO has four options, all at $5 (very reasonable). A big thumbs-up for the crispy cheesecake wontons and strawberry spring rolls, two plays on traditional dishes. The strawberry spring rolls are served with a nutella dipping sauce, wonderful! And the perfectly fried wontons are beautiful crimped brown purses filled with creamy, lemon cheesecake. Slide them into the cream sauce and you’ve got some yum on your fork…

Lounge area at CO in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Lounge area at CO in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of my two meals at CO Raleigh I’ve been impressed with the service here. While the staff seems a bit new, they are well-trained and friendly. So I can honestly say I was very pleasantly surprised at both my CO Raleigh meals. I had expectations given the location and decor that the menu would be a bit over-priced, that’s been my usual experience at North Hills. BUT CO is anything but, offering spun-up, gourmet Asian cuisine with great presentation and taste without breaking the bank. And it all stays true to the food’s roots which is a nice change of pace to me. So thanks so much CO for doing so many things right! So happy to have you in the city and can’t wait to get back for visit #3..

CO Raleigh

101 Park at N Hills Street

Raleigh, NC 27609

919.258.2070

Location on Google maps

News: Hawkers Asian Street Fare Opens in Chapel Hill

Hawkers Asian Street Fare