Chicken Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

October 4, 2018 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: M Kokko in Durham Doing Chicken Asian-Style

M Kokko in Durham - nctriangledining.com — M Kokko in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As a fan of Chef Mike Lee who owns and runs great restaurants like Sono in Raleigh and M Sushi in Durham, I’m always curious to see what he comes up with next. So of course I was excited to hear that his newest eatery, M Kokko, was doing a soft open last week. Focused on chicken dishes that Chef Mike craves, I really didn’t know much about what M Kokko would be like which made for a fun experience on my first visit. With two friends in tow, we headed out in search of M Kokko on a warm Wednesday evening.

Decor at M Kokko in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

If you haven’t been to M Sushi yet, finding M Kokko is going to be a bit tricky! Head on over to 311 Holland Street and M Sushi which is hidden at the address on the side of a brick building. M Kokko is BEHIND M Sushi and at the back of the building, foodie explorer! As soon as you enter you’ll spot a large chalkboard with some bawk-bawk chicken imagery. Turn the corner and you’ll see it’s a pretty small space here at M Kokko. Maybe 20+ seats and very humble. The menu is very small (5 items) and chalked up on the huge chalkboard, no reading glasses necessary here!

November 2019 Chalkboard menu at M Kokko in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Choose from a donburi rice bowl, Korean fried chicken wings, a chicken sandwich, ramen and soon dan dan chicken noodles. M Kokko has a small selection of canned beers for your dining pleasure right now but I suspect there will be more options once they settle into a groove. At the table we order up two plates of KFC wings, a couple of donburi bowls and I go with what I suspect will be a boring chicken sandwich. Yep, I hate to order the same item as everyone else and it was too hot for ramen so it’s time for the sammich! We’re warned that the chicken and donburi will take 15 minutes since its cooked to order but not a problem.

Korean fried chicken at M Kokko in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Our Korean fried chicken shows up and it’s a lovely looking plate. Six or so flats and drums glistening with garlic-soy sauce along with some rice covered with tomato-okra gravy. M Kokko does a very good Korean fried chicken (Chef Mike is Korean) and a bit different than my other fave, Soo Cafe. While the chicken is equally fresh and well-fried, he goes with a heavier soy flavored glaze and it’s not that sticky. Excellent in its own way and the side of rice is fluffy and tasty. The KFC plate at M Kokko would make for a good meal.

Chicken sandwich at M Kokko in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is my boring (not really!) chicken sandwich. While my expectations weren’t sky-high it was a FANTASTIC bite! Served with some skin-on wedge fries, M Kokko amps up the flavor of their fried chicken breast with some aioli and these wonderful, soft sweet pickles. Taken all together with the flour-dusted bun, it’s one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve tried of late. And at $9, a really good lunch option!

My friends enjoyed their donburi and maybe I’ll try it for visit #2. Oh, and M Kokko will be adding chicken dan dan noodles soon (spicy Szechuan noodles). Service was solid and attentive at M Kokko but we’ll have to see how things move along as they get busy. Overall I was really pleased with M Kokko and especially since it was only it’s 2nd day in operation. But I suspect Chef Mike will tweak the menu and operations over time, he’s got a great track record for successful restaurants from what I’ve seen. So rock on M Kokko! You certainly do chicken right and can’t wait to get back for a return visit…

M Kokko

311 Holland Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.908.9266

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February 2, 2012 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Get your Chicken Roasted Peruvian-style at Mami Nora’s

Mami Nora's Rotisserie in Raleigh, Interior at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Mami Nora’s Rotisserie in Raleigh, Interior at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

While fried chicken always hits the spot, it’s probably not the best long-term option for consuming your chicken buck-buck-cluck. Between the cholesterol, trans-fats and calories, rotisserie chicken is typically a healthier choice. And with Mami Nora’s out on Wake Forest Road, you won’t even be sacrificing any taste, either! While the original Mami Nora’s is based out of Durham, the newer sister restaurant seems to be doing better in the online review world. If you haven’t tried Peruvian chicken before, you’re in for a treat. The meat is rubbed with spices and grilled over wood to create a VERY tasty bird. Along with Mami Nora’s traditional South American sides, you’ve got the makings of a hearty but reasonably priced meal.

Order counter at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Order counter at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Step inside the bright yellow building, head on over to the counter and you’ll see a handful of choice on the menu mounted above. Three or four rotisserie chicken options along with some sides (black beans, three types of plantains, yucca fries, and more) keeps things basic. I’ll typically go with the 1/2 chicken option along with two sides for $8. Grab a seat after you order at the counter, it’ll typically take five or ten minutes to get you served. Mami Nora’s also has a nice array of S. American soft drinks (Inca Kola, Cola Champagne) available. Yes, you could probably get your rotisserie chicken faster at Boston Market but it’s going to be worth the wait.

Black beans and chicken at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Black beans and chicken at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Out pops a smallish chicken, cut into two quarters with well-browned skin. The meat is slightly smoked from the wood flame and tender. And the spices? Not a typical sweet marinade but a hearty mix of what tastes like oregano, garlic, and more. The chicken is served with aji verde and amarillo (creamy pepper sauce, the green is spicy) as a condiment, sort of a mayonnaise dipping sauce. Be aware that if you do take-out, they’ll be packing your bird and food in a lot of styrofoam, if only they could be greener! I brought some Mami Nora’s chicken to a potluck and it disappeared in a blink of an eye…

Roast chicken and sweet plantains at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Roast chicken and sweet plantains at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Mami Nora’s also does awesome sweet plantains that have been softened and sweetened to perfection. Toothsome and satisfying, they are up there on my best plantains ever, list. The chicken soup is a bit salty but full of veggies and meat. And their black bean (frijoles) are basic but very tasty. In addition to the chicken, I’ve also tried their arroz chaufa (fried rice with chicken, sausage) and a side salad which was excellent. Mami Nora’s has a small selection of desserts, including flan and a tres leches cake special from time to time.

Interior at Mami Nora's in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Interior at Mami Nora’s in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

What I really like about Mami Nora’s is the authenticity of the place. Between the staff and patrons, the place has a real latin feel. Salsa music on the speakers overhead, simple carved wood chairs and tables, Mami Nora’s has enough personality to briefly take you to Sud America for your meal. And yeah, the food is inexpensive and good, always a winning combination on Foodalicious Follies! There’s nothing like great roasted chicken and that’s what Mami Nora’s delivers on the cheap, bon appetit.

Mami Nora’s Rotisserie

2401 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27608

919.834.8572

Menu at Mami Nora’s

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November 14, 2019 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The Famous Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich in Raleigh and Durham

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Popeye’s chicken sandwich in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Now you may be wondering about the buzz around the new Popeye’s chicken sandwich! Launched in mid-August, this chicken sandwich quickly went viral through word of mouth creating lines and mania everywhere. Claims that the new chicken sandwich was better than arch-rival Chick Fil A’s was put to the test. Popeye’s then ran out of chicken in September, sadly ending all the chicken craziness. But not to fret, dear foodie, because the Popeye’s chicken sandwich re-launched on November 3 and guess what?! There were still lines! But persistence is important in life and all I can say is that this chicken sammich, well it’s worth a bit of a wait!

I headed over to the Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen on Capital Boulevard at about 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Pulling into the parking lot, I could still see a line of about 6 cars in the drive-thru. Inside, there was a shorter line of about 4 people so, not too bad. And you can bet that most people were in line for that chicken sandwich. It takes about 10 minutes to hit the front of the line and I order up one spicy chicken sandwich ($3.99) and one classic combo’d up with a drink and Cajun fries. It’s $11.69 for the whole deal which is super reasonable and my order comes out in about 5 to 10 minutes given the busy restaurant.

The chicken sandwiches come nicely wrapped in foil-paper sleeves which keeps some of the heat in. Visually, it’s a delicious looking sandwich! Shiny-top, brioche bun with a large and bumpy, fried chicken patty tucked in between. Inside you’ll find two pickles, a slather of mayo (spicy or plain) and that’s about it. Taking a bite you’ll get a hit of tender chicken, crunchy batter and sweet from the pickle. Popeye’s grills the bun a bit for some buttery texture and the brioche adds a hint of sweet to the sandwich, excellent! While the chicken patty is all white meat, it’s tender and exhibits some juiciness. All in all it’s a very, nicely balanced chicken sandwich with some heft and surprisingly, not much grease which is appreciated. I’d recommend the spicy version to maximize flavor. And oh yeah, those Cajun fries are great too! Just a hint of spicy coating, I’ll need to get them fresh next time.

While I wouldn’t wait in a 30 minute line or risk being stabbed in line for the Popeye’s chicken sandwich, it’s certainly about as good as it gets for fast food chicken. It’s an extremely satisfying bite and well put together given its humble origins. Just be aware that we only have 7 or so Popeye’s in the area vs. the MANY Bojangles locations. So if you’re willing to make the trek out to your local Popeye’s Louisiana Chicken, I’m pretty sure you’ll be pretty pleased with their chicken sandwich, Classic or Spicy!

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations in the NC Triangle

3904 Western Blvd, Whitmore Drive, Raleigh

3699 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh

3318 Capital Blvd, Raleigh

1701 Pinewinds Drive, Raleigh

7120 Knightdale Blvd, Knightdale

Terminal 2, RDU Airport

2723 Guess Road, Durham

March 20, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Media Event: Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville!

Front of Mami Nora's-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle — Front of Mami Nora’s-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle

(Re-named Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken in late 2014) When you think of chicken, my thoughts and my mind loop over to say, Bojangles or Popeyes. But more often or not, Mami Nora’s and their delicious roasted chicken also comes to mind. This little, local chain started up in Durham and then opened up locations in Raleigh and Morrisville. And that’s because they dish out consistently great eats, why not spread the love? So last year I got invited to the Ethnosh for their new spot in Morrisville and I’m glad to say it’s everything you’d expect out of Mami Nora’s and a bit more.

Counter at Mami Nora's-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle — Counter at Mami Nora’s-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle

From the outside, this Mami Nora’s location is a bit different since the two other locations are stand-alone buildings. The Mami Nora’s Morrisville sits in a tidy strip mall right next door to Goody Box Cupcakes. Inside Mami Nora’s, there’s a familiar feel to the place but some noticeable differences. The space is a bit more colorful with a bright yellow fireplace on the right hand side. The order counter is more cafeteria style with an open service area with all the chicken, sides and drinks visible and on display. For Ethnosh, we get a 1/4 chicken with three sides for $5 which is a deal here. I order up a 1/4 dark chicken, yucca fries, corn and some fried rice on the side. Service in this spot is a lot faster, especially given the Ethnosh crowd. Takes 3 minutes or so once we’re at the service area, I grab and Inca cola and go find a table.

Interior of Mami Nora's-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle — Interior of Mami Nora’s-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle

And thankfully, the food looks great and the same as the Raleigh location. Rich, dark skinned chicken with spices rubbed underneath marks the sign of good Peruvian roasted chicken. This chicken is roasted over a wood fire making the meat tender and wonderfully flavorful. It nearly falls off the bone. The standout for sides is the yucca fries (not greasy, dense with good crunch) along with the fried rice which I believe is not a standard side, typically. And all of this great food works even better with a dab of their popular and creamy aji sauce, yellow for mellow and green for a bit o’ spice.

Dark chicken plate at Mami Nora's-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle — Dark chicken plate at Mami Nora’s-Alpaca Peruvian Chicken in Morrisville, NC Triangle

What can I say but I loves me some Mami Nora’s and the Morrisville location continues their tradition of great, ethnic eats for not much money. And in a bigger space and with faster service, thank you! Not all restaurant chains get better as they age and expand but thankfully Mami Nora’s is doing it right so far. So thanks for the Ethnosh love and great food, Mami Nora’s!

Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken- Morrisville

9575 Chapel Hill Road

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.378.9259

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First Take: M Kokko in Durham Doing Chicken Asian-Style