NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and the 919

  • NC Triangle Dining Food Blog
  • Home
    • Blog
  • Best Restaurants
    • Best Restaurants and Food in Raleigh, NC
    • Best Restaurants and Food in Durham, NC
    • Best Restaurants and Food in Cary, NC
    • Best Restaurants and Food in Chapel Hill – Carrboro, NC
    • Best Food Specials and Deals in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill
    • Triangle Top Three’s- Bars
  • News
    • New Restaurants and Bars, Coming Soon to the Triangle
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2020 Edition
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2019 Edition
  • Index of Reviews
    • Cary Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Chapel Hill and Carrboro – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Durham Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Raleigh Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • NC Video Reviews
    • Travel Reviews
  • Food Photos
    • Food Event Photos
    • Memorable Meals for 2019
    • Memorable Meals for 2018
  • About
    • NCTD Blogger- Ron Wen
    • NC Triangle Dining Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog Policy
    • Working with NC Triangle Dining
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog and Social Media Statistics

March 4, 2018 by Ron Wen

Namu: Serving Up Mouth-Watering Korean Food for Durham and Chapel Hill

Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen some great transitions from food truck to bricks and mortar. Think Pho Nomenal Dumpling => MOFU Shoppe. Now you can add one more to the list: Namu, a collaboration between the Bulkogi and Bo’s Kitchen food trucks. Tucked away in the location of the old Straw Valley and short-lived Boheme space, Namu soft-opened in mid-August of 2017 and I’ve had a chance to stop in a couple of times for meals. They’re off to an interesting start doing some things well but have some room to improve in my opinion! Here’s what my experiences have been like so far…

Order counter at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Order counter at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Patio at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Patio at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The first challenge with Namu is its location. If you haven’t been here before, it lies in an odd little strip facing 15/501 right on the Durham-Chapel Hill line. Head up on Mt. Moriah Road, turn into New Hope Commons Drive and then take a left into a nondescript gravel lot. Namu sits on the western side of the lot facing the highway, phew! They’ve got some signage up front but there are several buildings in the area and it’s a bit confusing coming in from this side. Inside, things get better quickly. They’ve got a white and bright coffee bar area with counter seating that’s bright and cheerful. To the back, a rustic patio set in some trees and to the right, a couple of modern dining rooms with exposed beams, blown glass lighting and a lounge area. There’s a lot of space here to stretch out in, have a meal or linger over coffee. The architecture and design of Namu feels a bit like an Asian teahouse with its bamboo garden in back!

Menu at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Menu at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Namu is counter order, table service with a list of small plates (han saang) and full entrees ranging from Korean barbeque plates, burrito bowls and tacos from $5 to $13. Beef bulkogi and an egg are $1 extras on the menu, I recognize a lot of items from the Bo’s Kitchen food truck which I reviewed a while back. A full coffee bar will get your day going with some caffeine and they’ve got some sweets sourced from partner food trucks (waffles, cake). Namu also has a good selection of wines and beers to enjoy with your meal instead of coffee. After you order, you’re given a number on a stand and go find a seat in the dining room. Your eats will be brought out to you when ready.

Dining room at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Hanging out in Namu’s dining room, you’ll be entertained by some electronic dance music and Korean pop while you wait. When I’ve visited, it seems like a pretty young college crowd. It’s a good looking space with some Asian aesthetics and plenty of sunlight. A corner lounge and couch area shows off a beautiful wood inlay Namu sign (namu = tree in Korean). And the furniture gives a nod to their Korean origins with curved seat backs. In the dining room you’ll also find a self-service area for plastic utensils, chopsticks, napkins and sauces-condiments, very much like you would at a food truck.

Bulkogi and Bo's special at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Bulkogi and Bo’s special at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of my visits, I’ve had a good chance to sample a lot of Namu’s menu. Most of the dishes are served in paper containers, the Bo’s Special is a good pile of bulkogi beef with scallions and sesame seed on top. Digging in further I find the rice, greens and four spicy pork mandu underneath, alright! The bulkogi at Namu is excellent: tender, hint of sweet and perfectly done. I also love the mandu which is a wrapped, pan-fried dumpling stuffed with slightly spicy pork (hidden in picture). There’s plenty to eat here and it’s really good Korean eats.

Spicy pork with fried rice at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Spicy pork with fried rice at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

A return visit allows me to explore the menu a bit more. I order up a spicy pork rice plate along with the galbi (short rib). And all the food is outstanding! The spicy pork is tender and perfectly marinated with a slightly spicy sauce (gochujang?) and love the fried rice on the side which shows off some toothsome stickiness. Add in the perfectly fried egg on top and it’s a wonderful meal. A side of greens makes for a great complement. And the galbi? OMG, loved this plate. While it’s the most expensive dish at Namu, if you love beef you have to get it! Cross-cut ribs grilled and marinated with a slightly sweet, soy-sesame sauce. These ribs were super tender and showed off that perfect charring flavor of the grill. Sinewy and a bit chewy, wonderfully delicious.

Grilled galbi (short rib) at Namu in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Grilled galbi (short rib) at Namu in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Given the counter order and table service model, it’s sort of hard to judge the service here but let’s just call it casual and efficient. The food at Namu is still as good as it’s ever been and for the most part they’ve held the prices as-is. But there’s part of me that expects more once they go bricks and mortar. The paper serving containers, self-serve napkins, utensils and condiments speak food truck. The dining room decor and wine prices are more upscale and puts Namu into direct competition with standard sit and dine establishments. So while I love the food, there’s part of me that would like real plates and silverware if it meant paying a bit more. But that’s just one opinion and while I think there could be some improvements, the food is awesome and worth a drive. So congrats Bo and Joe on making it to bricks and mortar! You’re still keeping that Korean food, real and delicious…

 

Namu

5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd

Durham, NC 27707

847.530.6910

 

Namu menu

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Korean Restaurants

July 26, 2017 by Ron Wen

First Take: Aroma Korea an Asian Eatery for Korean Fried Chicken & More!

Front of Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Front of Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to Korean food in the Triangle, things are certainly looking up! While there are plenty of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese eateries, Korean has been a bit tougher to find in the area. But out in Cary you’ll find the new Aroma Korea, located off of Harrison Avenue and Maynard Road. Online reviews were glowing about the place and its Korean fried chicken so yes, it was time for a visit to this new ethnic eatery for the Triangle!

Dining room at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

First of all, if you’re familiar with this area, you’ll recognize the location and space. Previously Aroma Indo-Chinese, Aroma Korea sits on top of a hill at the edge of a small plaza. Large patio to the side, inside Aroma Korea hasn’t changed much at all. It’s a large open dining room with and odd divider down the middle. For some reason I always imagined this place used to be one of those sushi spots with plates on a conveyor belt but I could be wrong! Aroma Korea’s dining area is neat, clean and pretty modern. I’m seated at a side booth and handed over a couple of menus.

Korean popcorn at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Korean popcorn at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

While I’m scanning the menu, my waitress brings me over a small bowl of Korean popcorn, cool! I’ve never seen this before, it’s a small bowl of rounded popcorn kernels which are soft, fluffy and slightly sweet. A nice treat to munch on while checking out the Aroma Korea menu. The drink menu has a long list of sakes, sojus and Korean specialties to choose from. I go with the Banhari without any clue of what the drink is. Hey, I’m here to explore the menu, right? I also order up some soy-garlic KFC and bibimbop with bulkogi for my lunch. Yeah, it’s far too much food but I’m not sure when I’ll get back to Aroma Korea again!

Soy-garlic Korean fried chicken at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Soy-garlic Korean fried chicken at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

The Korean fried chicken is brought out first and I’m warned it’s a bit spicy. Five pieces of chicken (drums and wings) on an aluminum plate along with a small portion of pickled daikon, yummy! If you haven’t had Korean fried chicken before, it’s becoming more popular in the Triangle of late (Soo Cafe, M Kokko) and Aroma Korea does an excellent job. Showing off a super crispy and crunchy crust, this chicken has the soy-garlic sauce drizzled atop along with a sprinkle of sesame seed and scallions! The chicken is well-fried and the sauce does have some heat to it! My nose is sniffling a bit but it’s all good… I’d have to say that Aroma Korea’s soy-garlic KFC goes a bit more on the savory soy side versus the sweet I’ve had elsewhere. Definitely a worthwhile choice as an app and the 5 pieces of chicken are puh-lenty! The Banhari (dry apple wine) is pretty strong but cuts through the fat and richness here.

Bibimbop with bulkogi at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Bibimbop with bulkogi at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is my bulkogi bibimbop which is if you’re not familiar, is an Asian rice bowl with meat. What makes bibimbop special, however, is its thick ceramic bowl! It comes to the table, sizzling hot and steaming. The hot bowl creates a bit of crunchy crust at the bottom of the bibimbop. Along with the sizzling rice, Aroma Korea serves up their bibimbop with spinach, shredded carrot, daikon, squash and an egg on top of the bulkogi beef. It’s comfort food at its finest and I really like how they do a traditional banchan offering here with some kimchi, pickled squash and seaweed as an accompaniment. Overall it’s a very tasty and filling dish, with a lot of food for the money here.

Banchan at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Banchan at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Wow, so color me impressed Aroma Korea! I will definitely miss my Indo-Chinese food that used to be in this space but what a great option for Korean. It all feels quite authentic here at Aroma Korea. From the staff to the drink selections and the menu, you’re going to get some authentic Korean eats for not much money. Pretty much everything here is under $15 and quite affordable. So if you’re willing to make the trek out to Cary and give Aroma Korea a whirl, I think you’ll find it worth the effort. Just watch out for that Korean fried chicken and Banhari, both will hit you hard…

 

 

Aroma Korea

160 NE Maynard Road

Cary, NC 27513

919.650.2696

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Korean Restaurants

March 10, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Travel: Creative Sushi & Omakase at Kumi in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

KumiLasVegas-FrontEntrance
Front of Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to business conferences, you’re usually treated to an endless line of steam trays filled with over-cooked chicken, fish along with hard rolls and a cold pat of butter. But it is definitely a nice treat to get off the ranch and try something a bit more special. At IBM InterConnect 2016 at Mandalay Bay it was Kumi restaurant that made up for that industrial hotel food and boy, did it ever!

Back dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Back dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

Conveniently located just north of the convention centers and across from Aureole, Kumi is a bustling hip spot drawn up in a bit of sexy ambiance. Small bar up front, two main dining rooms with a side room for small groups, the space has a very warm feel and offers up a mix of Japanese and Korean on the menu. I managed to stop in for two visits, the first for omakase which is the chef’s choice from $65 to $150 per person. Rolls a la carte on the menu run in the $21 – $28 area, appetizers in the $10 – $15 range.

Dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

While the main dining room is appealing with a nice view of the sushi bar, the second dining room in back is spectacular! Circular and glowing underneath a jumble of a lit stick structure overhead. Wish I could describe it better but it looked good! Cherry blossom wallpaper fills out the rest of this special dining room in back.

KumiLasVegas-Omakase-PoachedLobsterOmakase roll at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

For our first meal, we did the $90 omakase which consisted of 10 or so plates brought to the table ranging from warm apps to sushi-sashimi and ending up in hot entrees. There were a slew of great flavors but some favorites included the sashimi plate which include clam and octopus, poached lobster and sizzling filet mignon plate.

Nigiri plate at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Nigiri plate at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

Really nicely done and not a bad deal for Mandalay Bay at the price. Unfortunately since the meal was the chef’s choice, I’m not really sure what we ate for the evening! With a smaller group, service at the table was excellent for the evening.

Pork belly and Hot Mess rolls at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining
Pork belly and hot mess rolls at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

For visit #2 we went a la carte, with a little bit of edamame to start the meal and sushi for my main. I went with the pork belly and hot mess rolls which were well-reviewed online. But I was totally tempted to try Kumi’s pop rockin roll which caught my eye. The sushi here is obviously pretty creative and untraditional but what would you expect for Las Vegas? The pork belly roll is presented as 8 pieces and covered with a slaw, delicious stuff. And the hot mess is crab and poke with some Screaming O sauce, a spicy concoction drizzled on table-side. It’s a pleasantly spicy sauce with just enough heat. Service for this second meal was pretty stilted and challenged but with a conference of 20,000+ people going on next door, not a total surprise.

KumiLasVegas-BarNight
Sushi bar at Kumi at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas- NC Triangle Dining

What can I say but Kumi hit all the high spots for me during my week in Las Vegas. While I do think the sushi and rolls here are pretty darn good, they are probably enhanced by the great ambiance. Think very good, but not great. However when you tie in the ambiance and decor it certainly rises above the average for what you can typically find around here. So enjoy Kumi for the sushi, decor and experience!

 

Kumi Japanese Restaurant

Mandalay Place

3950 S Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89119

702.632.9100

 

Kumi menu

Location on Google maps

Save

Filed Under: Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Travel Tagged With: Japanese-Sushi Restaurants, Korean Restaurants, Las Vegas Restaurants, Sushi

July 8, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Bo’s Kitchen in Raleigh, Korean Food Like Mom Would Make

Bo's Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Bo’s Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

So I may not be Korean but I’m pretty sure if I had a Korean mom, she would make food like Bo’s Kitchen puts out! Bo’s Kitchen food truck had been on my mental mind map for months and I was finally able to track them down in the Mordecai neighborhood a while back. And yes, they were worth the wait and effort!

Menu for Bo's Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Menu for Bo’s Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

One of the reasons I had a hard time tracking down Bo’s Kitchen was because they don’t have a website (woohoo, they now have a website). But they do have a pretty active twitter account and Facebook page if you want to track them down. Bo’s menu is pretty basic: bulkogi, spicy pork, spicy chicken with either rice or bread at $9. Some dumpling options, edamame, kimchi and that’s about it! I keep things simple going with some beef bulkogi (rib-eye) and some spicy pork dumplings (mandu). Bo offers up some Korean grape soda (Sac Sac) to try out which is pretty cool! Super refreshing and canned with some peeled grapes inside…

Mandu dumplings from Bo's Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mandu dumplings from Bo’s Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

My food only takes five minutes or so and it’s a lotta food! The mandu dumplings are beautifully pan-fried and folded over. It’s a tasty treat but not as spicy as I would have hoped for.  I dig into my bulkogi which is served up with some scrambled eggs, pickle and jalapenos.  Both dishes come served on top of greens which is a nice touch. The bulkogi is quite good, lean and full of flavor. Paired with the egg and it’s a lot to eat. But I’m up to the challenge!

Bulkogi from Bo's Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Bulkogi from Bo’s Kitchen Food Truck, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Happily stuffed, I was pretty impressed with Bo’s Kitchen. He’s an enthusiastic and happy guy putting out good Korean eats. I’m not sure if his mom is cooking in the truck but it sure tastes like it! I don’t always get to eat Korean food because it’s hard to find in the Triangle so make an effort to check out Bo’s Kitchen. And yes, I know it may not be any easier to find with a moving truck but it’s worth it, my friend!


Bo’s Kitchen- Food Truck

Various locations in the Triangle

Raleigh, NC

919.793.5493

Facebook page

Twitter feed

 

Save

Save

Filed Under: Food Truck, Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Korean Restaurants

Subscribe to NC Triangle Dining

Popular Reviews

Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill for a Mind-Bending Taste of Asia

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

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

Don’t Miss

  • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2020 Edition
  • New Restaurants and Bars, Coming Soon to the Triangle

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

New Reviews!

  • A Look Back at the Triangle Food Scene in the Year of COVID
  • Purr Cup Cafe in Raleigh, a Haven for Coffee and Cats
  • Photos: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh
  • Photos: Amber Flavors & Taste in W. Cary for modern Indian eats!

Connect with NCTD

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

NCTD Email Subscription


Handcrafted with on the Genesis Framework