KoKyu

Atmosphere is amazing. The outdoor seating on a nice day is spectacular. Service was top notch. I had the baht mi and the fries. Pretty good meal. Fries blew my mind. Sandwich was ok - it felt like a mix of good flavors that were having a hard time coming fully together. A bit too heavy on the beef, and the jalapeños added just a bit too much spice. The peanuts were a nice touch. Good enough to bring me back.

Excellent food and the milkshake was delicious too!!! Will be going back to try few other dishes here. Fig milkshake - one of the best milkshakes I’ve had at this city Shrimp tacos - delicious, filling and healthy Fries - do not miss this one out. Yummy!!! Chicken bowl - loved this as well They clearly informed that everything was customizable and you order from the App. Lots of veg options. Excellent service and water got topped every few minutes. Lot of parking space so no need to worry about that as well.

The food was quite tasty, with lots of inventive options on the menu, and the prices reflected what you might expect for food of this quality in Durham ($15 -20 items). However the ordering was done through a QR code and everything arrived in disposable containers, which creates something of a "to go"/ carry-out experience. We spent almost $70 on two people for shrimp tacos, a tofu bowl, fries, and 2 canned beverages.

Vietnamese food holds a special place in my heart because when it’s done right, it’s about balance, restraint, and respect for ingredients. KoKyu understands that deeply. Every dish is focused, intentional, and layered without being heavy-handed. The flavors are bold yet clean, comforting yet exciting — the kind of food that shows confidence rather than excess. You can taste the discipline in the kitchen. Nothing feels rushed or sloppy. Each bite feels thought through, from texture to seasoning to finish. It’s the kind of food that makes you pause and appreciate the craft behind it. The atmosphere mirrors the food perfectly — warm, welcoming, and unpretentious. There’s an ease to the space that lets the food speak while still making you feel taken care of. It’s energetic without being chaotic, comfortable without being boring. And the staff? Truly outstanding. Every person I interacted with was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely kind. You can tell they’re supported and proud of what they’re serving. That kind of service doesn’t happen by accident. A special shout-out to Jason, whose leadership is evident in every detail — from the consistency of the food to the confidence of the team. As someone who leads kitchens, I recognize what it takes to create this level of excellence and culture. It shows. KoKyu is the kind of place chefs love to eat at — thoughtful food, a strong team, and an experience that’s both inspiring and deeply satisfying. I’ll happily keep coming back.

Kokyu was really good and better than we expected. Each of our meals were delicious. I had the bahn mi sandwich and it was stuffed, which was great. Two of the other orders included the fried chicken and rice and the fourth order was the pork belly tacos. Everything was prepared just the way we wanted. The place itself is clean and nice and there are two sections once inside. One more of a front counter area and the other for formal seating. They had nice art around the place and overall a pretty good vibe. The service was great, and we didn’t expect to be greeted the second we walked in. Over the top service and then they checked on us a few times to make sure everything was OK. Overall, two thumbs up and a recommendation.

The food is delicious but the restaurant appears to have some challenges with service. I appreciate the option to order via their online app and have the food brought to your table but it becomes a bit confusing when determining what to expect from the servers. No one in particular is assigned to your table and everyone seems to be just pitching in to help wherever they feel they are needed. It may be helpful to explain the concept to customers before they come to the restaurant so they know what to expect. The prices certainly do not reflect the hodgepodge experience provided.

This food was so good I want even that hungry coming in and I ate that whole bowl. My drink was tasty and refreshing. Very deserving of the 5 stars. I’m in town for a short time and glad this is the spot I stopped for lunch! Only wish I was here longer to try something else.

I went on Halloween in costume everybody was nice automatically gave me ice water and I got the baht mi (which I came for) it comes with a side. I got the sweet potato salad and it was my favorite thing it was soo good 😊 come for the main food. Stay for the sides the next time I go. I need to get a bigger portion of that side. Sweet potato salad. The baht mi comes with crushed peanuts on top I don't like whole peanuts so I got those removed. It does come with a peanut sauce so you probably can get that removed too if you're allergic.

Super cute patio! We ended up having to move inside because of rain, but the patio was nice and big and a really cute spot. All of the staff were incredibly kind. They greeted us right away and checked on us often. The burnt end pork nachos were amazing. The meat was so tender. The large was enough for two people. The queso has a little bit of a kick to it.

Delicious food and a great ambience. A unique Asian fusion that worked great and urban feel close to RTP. Highly recommended. Service is amazing in general but manager Jen's kindness made us feel right at home - now we're regulars! .

I've heard great things about Kokyu and have wanted to try it for a while, so I was very excited when my friend suggested we meet here for lunch. We went on a Thursday afternoon and had no trouble finding a table. The service in general was great - the food came out quick, the waiters were attentive but not imposing, and every staff member we interacted with was kind, friendly, and welcoming. It was hard to decide what to order since there were so many unique options, but I ended up ordering a chicken banh mi. It was my very first Bahn mi ever and I loved it!! I will have to come back to try their other menu items sometime!

KoKyu has been on my list to try for a while, and I finally got the chance to do so! They're known for their sandwiches so I got the Baht Mi. It was packed full with tender and flavorful short rib + so many refreshing veggies and was absolutely delicious. My friends and I also got fries to share, but this was pretty disappointing: it was a terrible portion size (seen in the photo) for $8. Ambiance is really nice with both indoor and outdoor seating. Service is fast, you order via QR code. Lots of free parking in the lot up front. 7.5/10 would recommend overall, 10/10 just for the sandwich!

Came here wanting to enjoy some outdoor seating. This place has a really nice outdoor patio nestled against the woods, with nice ambient lighting it really sets the mood for a relaxing time. The ordering is virtually all done thru their online ordering process. The food itself was outstanding. The bowls are a decent size and you leave feeling full. If you can take 'heat' their house sauce will take your dish up a notch, but mind you the sauce is hot. This place is a keeper, we'll be back.

KoKyu is a cute Asian fusion restaurant hidden behind Southpoint Mall. I enjoyed their bulgogi banh mi and pork bowl last week. For the banh mi: I thought the beef was excellent and the toppings fresh. I especially enjoyed the large amount of cilantro and the side of daikon. The flavors were well balanced and the bread crispy. For the pork bowl: I thought that although each ingredient tasted fresh, they didn't pair well together. For example, the rice and spinach were hot and flavorful but the pickled bean sprouts and kimchi were cold and sour. The contrasts between each ingredient were stark. I thought that the pork was well marinated as well but the flavors as a whole could have meshed better together. Overall, I liked the location, ambiance, and service. I'll probably be back for another fusion banh mi.

Burnt end nachos were delicious! The patio had a very nice vibe. My wife got this shrimp tacos. She enjoyed her meal as well. Lots of good flavors throughout.

This was my first time at KoKyu as I always thought it was a vegetarian spot but boy was I wrong. This was one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had in the RDU area, and it was very fresh. Their unique take on hot honey , as well as the steak pepper fries are a must. I'm not a huge fan of coke slaw but it was the perfect pair with the chicken sandwich as all the flavors came together. KoKyu offers an extensive menu, with a highly trained and welcoming staff. Amazing atmosphere and even better food/service.

This place is 10/10! Hospitality 10/10, food 10/10, ambiance 10/10, cleanliness 10/10. We went there on a Thursday evening and the weather was nice so we got to enjoy the patio seating and it was beautiful . We got a couple of bibamp bowls and they were bursting with flavor! We'll be back to try every item on their menu

Went there today for lunch and everything we ordered was amazing. 10/10 would highly recommend (we drove from Pittsboro and will do it again).

Was in town for the day and wanted to find something new that we don't often get to see in smaller towns. And let's say this place did not disappoint. I had the short rib Bahn mi and we had the burnt end nachos along with the fish tacos. All of them were absolutely delicious and the service was great. The vibes were laid back but also trendy which made the whole experience a good time. Definitely try this place if you're in town!

The burnt end nachos are out of this world good. Holy cow. Everything here is great but that's without a doubt my favorite. The pork belly tacos are also incredible and have amazing flavoring. Right now they're just doing take out you can't sit in but that'll change in a few months

Belly Banh Mi was alright but nothing to write home about. For the price ($17 with tip), I was expecting a lot more. I liked the amount of veggies they put inside and the side options (seaweed salad, chips, etc.). The pork belly was not flavorful but also not bad. If you're looking for banh mi, there's better places for half the price. KoKyu does have a lot of other options which I may try another time. Many of their items are on the pricier side which does not seem worth what you're getting imo.

The food is really really fresh and the combination of spices and food combinations are delightful. The service was a bit slow, but they explained what happened and reordered and rushed it to the table. It's a very clean facility and the outdoor seating looked inviting but it was too humid that day to sit outside. The staff were all very accommodating, and very attentive.. The portions of food are very generous. Like many restaurants, the acoustics weren't good, so I guess nothing is perfect.

This place is awesome! Food is awwwwwwmazing! The patio just rocks my socks and the staff here are super friendly! I highly recommend. Definitely sit on the patio you are surrounded by trees and their jams are hittin just right!

Went this weekend with husband and daughter. It was probably my fourth visit and the first time sitting on the patio. The outdoor patio is a great spot with lots of tables and trees. I have to say that every visit the staff is super friendly and welcoming. We've had the banh mi, chicken, and veggie bowls. Everything was excellent. The fries are a standout as well. Nice beer and cider selection too.

Best restaurant in Durham with the best patio, but I was just told to leave because they cannot allow dogs on said new patio because they are connected to a medical building?! Okay well that is an unfortunate new development. Buster move y'all ain't it! Won't be coming back which mostly sucks for me as a very long time customer (since the food truck days!) Lame sauce on the side. Edit: Owner, Flip, reached out with a very flippant response, so the 1 star review stays here forever and I will not be coming back. Reactionary, yes maybe, but I do not give a flying flip about some BS "out of your control" policy enough to buy any more over priced (albeit delicious) sandwiches from your establishment again. Good luck and good riddance!

Delicious food. Very filling! The interior is ok. Music is too loud. QR code ordering but there's weak service which makes ordering frustrating. People were nice. Food is good.

One of our local favorites. Great and creative food, thoughtful service, and the ambiance in the new seating area is cool. We will be back again and again.

Picked up dinner here on a Monday evening! You can order online or outside using the QR code. There is no inside seating. The worker outside was friendly and explained the process to me when I arrived. The menu has an arrange of different bowls and sandwiches that all sound good. I ordered the karaage bowl. It was good! But I just wish it had a little bit more vegetables and sauce. It was a little bit more than I would have liked ~$20 for the meal after tax and a small tip. Glad to try this place out!

Assumed there was indoor seating when we went on a rainy day (that's on us for not checking) but it is indeed just some outdoor tables. They did have large umbrellas but didn't quite keep the rain off. Food made up for it though, definitely will be back to explore some more of their pretty extensive menu. Staff were also very friendly and helpful. As a bonus, they also stock Black Widow Blackberry ciders which I haven't been able to find elsewhere.

I cannot say enough about KoKyu. I've been going here for years. My spider sense must have been tingling because I showed up today and they had inside seating back again! It is so pleasant inside and service was attentive and on point! And the food, as always, is so so good. Bright and bold flavors, always super fresh and quality. Omg the baht mi with the most soft and crusty bread, amazing homemade pickled veg, just the right amount of sweetness and spice. I die trying to eat the whole thing, this sandwich is huge. Ordered a side of seasoned fries that were crispy seasoned perfection, and the cabbage slaw style salad also so fresh and perfect. Right near Southport, don't you dare eat mall food when you come come here.

Great food. Service is excellent and the back patio is a great place to sit and eat.

I stopped in today for lunch and to see the new dining room. The ceiling is high and the surfaces are hard. The music made it a little hard to engage with the staff who frequently came by to check on me. The food has always been great with really unique flavors and combinations. The menu is vast, maybe a little too big, but the execution is on point. My one note would be to recognize that the prices are a bit high, but worth it.

We left before we even ordered food. We were told we could only sit outside even though the weather wasn't suitable. As well as being told we had to download their app to order. She hinted that tipping was mandatory. Rude and unwelcoming. The seating was bad enough with dusty tables. Not a place for a nice dinner.

Atmosphere: Kokyu is an outdoor dining/takeout restaurant serving unique Asian fusion dishes. Service: We ordered online and picked up our food relatively quickly. Everything was freshly made! Food: We tried their Honey Gochujang Chicken Sandwich, Crispy BBQ Shrimp, and Baht Mi. We were super impressed with all of them! The Honey Gochujang Chicken Sandwich was saucy and had a nice sweet glaze to it. The Crispy BBQ Shrimp was perfectly crispy and went well with the fresh vegetables. The Baht Mi was loaded with flavor and was quite filling. Overall: Kokyu was a great takeout date night spot. Though their prices were a bit steep, we enjoyed our food and would definitely come back to try more of their menu items!

This may be my new favorite spot!! First time I ordered one of their bowls... I believe it was the short rib kalbi which was delicious. My second visit I tried out the Apple Milkshake and Sorghum Chili Chicken Banh Mi with a side of sweet potato salad and kimchi daikon. Another hit! There are so many interesting dishes on the menu and I can't wait to go back. Just as an FYI, no indoor seating, but you can go inside to grab some water or go to the restroom!

The food and service were great! There is no longer an indoor space to eat, so you have to either eat outdoors or take your food to go. The only problem with sitting outside is that cars pull up to take out food and they tend to leave their engines on while waiting. It would be great if Kokyu asked them to turn off their engines while waiting. With that being said, we'll be back soon because the tofu bibimbap and the steak fries were so tasty!

Tired this place for the first time and I am looking forward to returning! Friends and I ordered take out and I was very happy with my meal. I got the shrimp tacos which were very good and flavorful! I also had the chance to sample two different types of French fries and loved both! The thin mint milkshake was pure bliss!!! I sadly cant comment on the inside, as they walked out to the car, got our name and then brought our food to us. They seemed efficient and friendly! Keep up the good work and I am very much looking forward to exploring more menu items as i continue to wash it down with that thin mint milk shake! Thank you!

Easy to order food via QR code. Outdoor seating and friendly service! The food is pretty tasty with a spin on traditional dishes. Great place to bring a date!

Tasty Asian/American fusion place in Durham area. Portion size is amazing (a lot for your money), I definitely felt filled up after my burger and so did my family after their meals like the bowls. Beware: only outdoor seating available, if you have a party bigger than 4 you're going to have to steal chairs from surrounding tables and squeeze in. The service was kind and the wait wasn't bad (10-15 mins for food). Nice woodsy area and tables have a sturdy umbrella cover. There was one small harmless fly that pestered us, though! Overall: a little pricey but got good value for your money. I would definitely recommend the jalapeño burger for its juiciness and how filling it was. We also ate the fries fast!

Service here is prompt and friendly. The food is good. I didn't realize, however, that this place focuses on takeout. They have metal tables outside if you want to stay to eat. You can not dine inside. Luckily, the weather was comfortable enough to dine outside the day we visited. Prices & food: For takeout, I find the prices a bit high. My asian style lunch bowl was $16.99. Other entrees were $20 or more. I found it was more expensive than a typical lunch place, but we enjoyed our choices. I ordered an Asian bowl of spicy chicken, rice, and snow peas. Simple but tasty. My date enjoyed his spicy chicken sandwich. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I would recommend it if you don't mind a lack of ambiance because you will dine while watching the parking lot activity. That said, yummy, easy food and quick service.

Kokyu is on of our favorite places to eat. Love that there are different specials and new options on the menu. Everything that we have eaten here has been amazing. The people that bring food out have always been so kind.

A very interesting fusion restaurant with some unique flavor profiles. Currently there's only outdoor seating available, so you can eat at the tables outside or carry out. Service was a little slow moving but the food was very fresh. A little on the pricier side, but the food portions are filling!

Second time here. Still good, friendly service. Got a chicken peach bowl, but wasn't as good as the first time here. Kinda dry and the whole dish just wasn't very flavorful for the price.

This was our first experience at Kokyu. We had been to another Korean BBQ place before so wanted to compare. At Kokyu, the staff were very friendly and helpful since we weren't sure about the online ordering protocol. We decided to eat outside since the indoor dining was small and a bit crowded at 12:30 PM for lunch. No one was outside so we had our choice of seats in the long mostly shady balcony facing the woods. It was hot but they had fans mounted to the side of the building that kept the air flowing. The building created the shade until 1 PM when the sun crested the roofline and it was quite hot. I thought that the native flowers in the planters was a bonus. Also note that the roar of I40 could be heard but it was not obtrusive. Our food was a bit of a disappointment though. The BBQ sauce on the meat could have been thicker and more flavorful. The bowl had a lot of rice with some veggies. There was a dark green wilted veggie that was quite sour. We had something similar at Bulkogi at Boxyard RTP and it was way better and a few dollars lower in price. This would be a nice place to eat when the weather is cooler. Perhaps we will come again and try a different dish.

Good food and super friendly service. This establishment only has outdoor seating and you can either order through the QR code at your table or through the waitress/hostess. Food came out very quickly and super fresh. We got the KO F.C (Korean fried chicken sandwich) and which had good flavor but lacked the Korean spiciness that I was expecting. The bread was yummy though being perfectly crispy. The Ko Jangles fries were crispy and good. And the fish tacos were a total win. Spicy yumminess jam packed with flavor and good texture. First time here and definitely not my last. Eagerly looking forward to trying out their other menu items.

Firstly, I absolutely hate dining like this. I don't so much mind the online ordering, or the clunky social media, but the outdoor dining/seating is ROUGH....especially with the heat. This place is half ghost kitchen/takeout, but will absolutely be super accommodating if you order when you get there. Walked us through the process. 3 ice cold waters while we waited. Continued to check on us throughout the meal even though they were technically not our "servers". Thankfully sun was down when we got our food, but still not the most comfortable. This is a big menu and based on our experience tonight I wish we lived closer to be able to run through it little by little. I don't love the word "fusion" from a culinary standpoint, but there's so much going on here it's hard to avoid it. And if this is the next generation of "fusion" I guess I'll have to suck it up because it's AMAZING. Our slightly less adventurous eater (our daughter) got Mac and cheese (and we finished it). Restaurant mac and cheese is far from my favorite, but I would have eaten this off the ground. Little saucy. Kinda baked. Great texture. Really tasty. Wife and I split Crispy Shrimp Tacos, a Nước Chấm Banh Mi, and Szechuan Cashew Broccoli. Shrimp on the tacos were crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. Cabbage slaw and Thai basil added freshness and brightness. Cashews for the crunch. So good. I think there are a few places trying to pass off Banh Mi or other variations of Vietnamese sandwiches with sub par bread. No matter how great the sandwich could be, if you're not getting the bread right, it's just blah. This bread is PERFECT. Might be the best I've ever had and the boys and I over the years have had quite a few. The pork cutlet was thin, seasoned, crispy, and tender. Pretty much a perfect sandwich. The Szechuan broccoli was familiar yet completely new at the same time. I've had variations of this before but this is the best version we've ever had. We took ZERO pictures and ate every bite. I'm jealous of people that get to call this a local spot. If you're visiting, don't be discouraged by the non traditional setup and get to ordering.

Got this with my fam and we got the tofu lettuce wraps to share, and then a mix of rice bowls. Everything is fresh and BRIMMING with flavor. Absolute fire!

Two questions: Is KoKyu in the top five best places to eat in Durham? Are birds real? This might be a hard worm for other restaurants to Swallow, but KoKyu does fast-casual Korean food egg-ceptionally well, and the answer to question one is a h-Owl-ing, resounding YES! Jury is still out on question 2. You will love KoKyu so much you might be singing like a Warbler about it to all your friends and Flock. I can guarantee you will go Cuckoo for their Furikake Steak Fries. Seaweed fries Dove-tailed with the spicy mayo is a no-brainer, silly Goose! When I brought my partner here for the first time, he was so happy to have Korean Fried Chicken and quality Bahn Mi. He loved the variety of sauces that went along with his meal. I'm pretty sure he would Swan-dive into a bucket of Gochujang sauce given the opportunity. I definitely agree that flavor and quality go hand in Talon at KoKyu! Long story short, KoKyu is worth the trip. Can't wait to fly back!!

The baht mi and kim cheeseburger was delicious, but oh so filling! There are covered patio tables outside. It was chill.

Had a couple of the Korean bowls. Did not taste Korean. Small amount of protein. A good amount and variety of veggies. Would not recommend. The kids meal fried fish was tasty and enjoyed by my kiddos.

Are you kidding, you can't find a better burger and fries anywhere, the Korean slaw in the bowls is amazing, the service is great and food is prepared quickly, the fish and shrimp tacos are great too

KoKyu serves yummy Korean and Vietnamese fusion rice bowls, tacos, and sandwiches! They only have take out or outdoor seating, which is very limited. We ordered: Burnt End Nachos ($18.50) - Beef brisket burnt ends with ghost cheese sauce and other nacho toppings! My friend's favorite dish here! Super loaded and generous portion Korean Fried Chicken Banh Mi ($14) - Very vibrant colors, but just meh :/ Chicken Banh Mi ($13.75) - Chicken was surprisingly juicy and tender! Didn't taste like an authentic banh mi but pretty good for a sandwich

I am a regular here. Always takeout. The quantities of the Veggie Bibimbap is very good. Very filling and extremely tasty.

If I could give more than five stars I would... This is one of the best meals I've ever had. The sandwich was so fresh! I can't wait to try the rest of the menu. The staff was so kind! One of the workers even brought us a free milkshake because we were celebrating our anniversary. So nice!!! I loved how creative they were with the food! Can't wait to go back!

KoKyu is conveniently located off the interstate on the outskirts of Durham. It's an order online food place which we didn't realize, but you can eat along the outside of the restaurant on patio furniture. This was my first time visiting their newer moved facility from its previous location. The service was nice and pleasant. I personally think it's a shame with what looks like a creative menu to not have an inside facility is a miss, especially in North Carolina's humid weather conditions. Lucky for us it was a mild day. I had the Bánh Mì sandwich and the kimchi potato salad. The bread on the Bánh Mì sandwich was tuff to chew through. Now, I understand the bread has to hold up to what's on the sandwich and juices. So I ate the ingredients inside the sandwich without the bread and it's was good. I also opted for no hot peppers, so I could taste it without a lot of heat interference. The kimchi potato salad was a hit it's very kimchi spicy like and with a funky potato mix. I would like to try some of the other dishes on the menu next time but it will be to go. My old review of this place was five stars.

Great Asian / Korean cuisine. Food, Service, and Ambiance are awesome! Cool outdoor ambiance next to tall trees by the deck. My favorites, Spicy Pork Bulgogi and Roasted Belly Bowl.

Please bring the Jerk Turkey Tacos back! My go-to is always the Baht Mi sandwich but this special caught my eye and boy am I glad I tried it. I haven't found an amazing jerk dish in the triangle but this knocked my socks off! I hope I'll see it again. Easily a top contender on the menu!