M Kokko

I wish I loved it more because we drove an hour just to try this place. The pork and toppings on the ramen was very good but the broth was insanely salty. I thought it was just my bowl but every bowl in our group was the same. Jjajiang was also very very salty. Only good dish was the fried chicken.

If you’re looking for a meal that’ll make you wish you could eat the same thing every day, M Kokko is the place to be. We went with three people, and, as soon as the dishes hit the table, we were completely blown away. The menu is perfectly curated (thankfully, not overwhelming), and honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on it. We kicked things off with the Nashville hot chicken wings, which packed a punch but were perfectly crispy, followed by the pork belly bao—oh my—it was so tender and flavorful, it practically melted in your mouth. The beef noodles? Unfortunately, we got so caught up in devouring them, we forgot to take a picture, but let me just say they were divine. Tender beef, savory broth, and noodles that soaked up all the goodness—you can’t leave without trying them. We washed it all down with some sake and a beer, but at this point, we were eating so fast and in such bliss that we were already planning our next trip before we even finished our meal. The service was also top-notch, which only made the experience that much better. If you’re in Durham, you need to make M Kokko a priority. Trust me, it’s worth every bite. We’ll definitely be back.

Friendly staff and really good food! We got the Korean Fried Chicken (soy garlic!), Jia Jiang Noodles which were super good, and the Biang Biang Noodles. Also got the chocolate tart, which we really liked. Limited seating, so small parties (1-4 people) are best. Tucked behind M sushi.

I really love these "M" restaurants. The concept of small plate cooking is something fantastic. The chef gets to focus on very minimal dishes and they make sure those dishes are perfect. The lower rating is purely because of the small cramped up place. No way to make reservations ... waitlist is on an iPad. Now we don't mind that kind of an experience but that's usually at a fast food kind of a place with Fast food kinda prices. Please don't misunderstand, this is a fantastic place to have dinner. Great food with simple ambiance.

I only leave reviews when I think it's worth it, and M Kokko was worth every cent. I'm from Philadelphia, and M Kokko is the first place I've tried in RDU that matches the authenticity, flavor, and style of Korean and Asian inspired cuisine back home. My waitress, Ness, was kind and attentive, and felt like I was talking to a friend. Everyone there was really chill and down to earth. I'll definitely be back, especially for the banh mi and ramen.

Their ramen is the best in town, no ifs or buts about it, and all the food is delicious. And after I developed a soy and dairy allergy (long story), they’ve been incredibly lovely in accommodating it and making the dish work just as well, even though it required replacing a number of ingredients. Servers are always lovely and helpful. We come here a ton and after how they’ve handled the allergy, I’m a loyal costumer for life.

A small gem with outstanding food and excellent service. Their ramen and chicken dishes are absolutely top-notch, packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. The cozy, intimate atmosphere adds to the charm, making it perfect for a casual but memorable meal. Highly recommended!

One of the affordable M series restaurants with excellent food. We had the Hainan chicken and Biangbiang noodles, both of which were outstanding. Service is good.

This restaurant has to be one of the best ramen restaurants I've been to in the triangle. It only has about 10 tables in the entire place. When we walked in, we were told we could sit anywhere. And we were immediately greeted and walked through the menu. Now, it only has 8 things on the menu but with the items we tried, they do these items well. The server was patient and did a wonderful job of clearing out tables and pacing our meal. We started with the Perfect Snow sake, which was unfiltered and an acquired sip; unfiltered being that it still had rice particles in the sake. Good, slightly sweet, I'd definitely order it again. We ordered the Pork Buns to start and the char on the pork belly with the freshness of the shallots and cucumbers and the plushness of the bao bun. These were very enjoyable. The ramen we ordered with pork broth but no mushrooms or bamboo shoots due to a mushroom allergy at our table and it was a really good, deep broth. I adore that they give you the entire egg, instead of just half like, most ramen places. We couldn't finish it all and our server boxed it up to go, and packaged the noodles separately from the broth, to keep their integrity. I enjoyed this place and would return to try other items on their menu.

This place was pretty solid! We very much enjoyed the ambience and the speediness of the food that arrived! We had to wait awhile since this restaurant has the space that is basically the equivalent to a walk-in closet in comparison to the space that M Sushi enclosed. We got the hainanese chicken rice, ramen, korean fried chicken, and yuzu semifreddo. Tldr: the hainanese chicken and yuzu semifreddo was great, the ramen was good, and the KFC was tepid and soggy by the time it got to us. KFC: this was a solid appetizer... if it had come about 10-15 minutes prior to when it did because it was a bit soggy and somewhat warm by the time it got to our table. I felt the flavor was solid and penetrated through the large pieces of meat Hainanese chicken rice: this was great! The flavor was very good with the chicken and the fried scallions. I feel like the cucumber could have bit cut to smaller pieces though since they were very large but maybe the point was to bite through them? Definitely recommend giving this dish a try. Ramen: solid bowl of ramen! had all the elements needed for ramen with solid amount of toppings. nothing to complain about. Yuzu Semifreddo: This was a great one! I didn't know what semifreddo before this but it was not as cold as ice cream and the creaminess was balanced with the citrus taste of the yuzu. The red sauce was definitely a bit offputting but the flavor was good. Recommend giving a try. Overall, recommend giving this place a try. Definitely worth trying at least once

My first M restaurant experience! I got the Ramen, which was pretty standard & hit the spot on a cold day- good portion size with a good number of toppings (pork chashu, black garlic oil, bamboo shoots, woodear mushroom, scallions, soft boiled egg). I think the broth's depth of flavor could be improved; the chashu wasn't the most tender I've ever had, but it was good. It may be the best ramen in Durham, but that's relative when you don't have a lot of great ramen around lol. Service was great, but they did seem short-staffed so it took a while for our food to come out. The doors to M Kokko & M Sushi are v easy to confuse, so don't be embarrassed if you go to the wrong one haha, happened to me as well. As a lot of people have mentioned, seating is very limited so would recommend coming close to opening, especially if you have a large party (they do not take reservations). Otherwise, the ambiance is good. There was a parking lot next to it, but not sure if it's paid (there are a lot of City of Durham garages nearby that are free on weekends or weekdays after 7pm). 7/10 would recommend, may be a bit overhyped but definitely try for yourself.

I stopped here for a quick lunch with my son. It was close to the nearing close time so we were able to get in no problem. I will note this restaurant is so small, not at all a good place for a toddler who likes to move around. It had a very simple ambiance, with wooden tables and just a chalk board. Despite the tight corners and my son acting running around, the server was still patient and kind with us. The food was really good, I ordered the chicken wings and they were delicious, they were flavorful and saucy and crispy. I ordered a noodles dish as well but did not have time to eat it. My husband ate it later and he said it was tasty. I would recommend this place for a quick lunch if you don't mind being in close quarters.

Tucked away in the back of a building, M Kokko is a small yet inviting restaurant with just 20 seats for dining. Its casual, cozy vibe makes it a hidden gem, though the no-reservation policy means you may need to plan ahead. Luckily, my friend and I were seated immediately upon arrival, which was a nice surprise. The menu is intentionally limited, featuring just seven entrees and one appetizer, but each item felt carefully curated. We kicked off our meal with the pork buns and followed with ramen for our mains. The pork buns were a highlight--fluffy, freshly steamed bao buns filled with tender braised pork belly. The toppings, including arugula, pickles, and scallions, added a refreshing brightness that perfectly complemented the savory richness of the pork. Unfortunately, the ramen didn't quite live up to the same standard. While it was comforting and served piping hot--perfect for a chilly day--the broth lacked the deep, complex umami flavor I was craving. The toppings were well-prepared, but I found myself wishing for a more generous portion of bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms. Service was friendly but understandably slow, as only three servers seemed to be managing the entire restaurant. Despite the small space, the atmosphere was pleasant and not overly noisy, adding to the charm of the experience. I'm definitely planning to return to try more of M Kokko's offerings, and I'm curious to explore the other M restaurants in the area. For a cozy meal with quality bites, this spot is worth checking out!

After leaving Durham four years ago we were dying to visit M Kokko again once we got back into town. Got there right at opening to make sure we got a table since it's a super small dining room. M Sushi next door also had a line outside before opening on a Saturday night. We got our favorite chicken sandwich and Ramen. Amazing as always!

This used to be my favorite ramen place in the triangle. I went back for the first time in years and was devastated to find the ramen less flavorful than how I remembered it being. We got the cha shiu pork, which wasn't marinated very well. There was a little bamboo, but not substantially enough to add flavor to the ramen. The pork buns we got at the start of the meal were wonderful, though! I'm just disappointed by the quality of ramen. Service was a little slow getting us seated and they didn't check in frequently. But my boyfriend requested some chili oil for his ramen (maybe found it too bland without), and they brought it over fast. I think I had such glowing praise for this place in the past, but I'm really disappointed this time around.

Went here a few times, the taste is good, presentation is great. Service great. Place great, during the summers, the outdoor seatings are great.

I give M Kokko a solid four stars. My wife and I really enjoyed the food, drink, and service here. M Kokko's Korean fried chicken is the best we've had to date in the Triangle. It was exceptional. And it looked much better than the versions we saw pictures of on Yelp that were posted in 2021. So if it was good then, then it's probably even better now (2024). M Restaurants is our favorite restaurant group in the area. They've set a standard of excellence in Durham. The M stands for Michael as in the founder, owner, and chef, Michael Lee. His wife brushed the "M" logo that represents their brand. M Kokko opened on September 27, 2016 as a Korean fried chicken joint. It's next door to M Sushi, the best sushi restaurant in the Triangle (in my opinion). M Kokko and M Sushi are hidden on the back corner of a brick building in downtown Durham. There's a small city-owned-and-operated parking lot next to the restaurants (Lot 32), but it only has 10 spaces and is often full. Alternatively, you can park on the street or in the nearby Durham Centre Parking Garage at 300 W Morgan St. For all of these options, hourly rates are enforced Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. M Kokko is first come, first served. Unlike the other M Restaurants, M Kokko doesn't take reservations. There's a touchpad at the entrance where you can sign your party up for the waitlist. My wife and I got lucky and were seated right away around 5:30pm on a Saturday. We got the second-to-last two-top. When we arrived, the dining room and uncovered makeshift patio were almost completely full. The restaurant is very small and the space is simple. I counted exactly 22 seats inside. I didn't count the outside seats, but if I had to guess, maybe 8-10. The patio was string-lit. Inside, the tables were small and placed closely together. The vibe was casual and the place was bustling. The restrooms are shared between M Kokko and M Sushi. The main food menu was limited to eight dishes plus four desserts. Beverage-wise, they offered cocktails, sake, beer, and wine. M Kokko and M Sushi share alcohol. One of the cocktails we got here was the same as what we got at M Sushi. Here's what we had: Cocktails * Ginger Peach Mule ($17) - Tito's Handmade Vodka, ginger, peach, lime, Fever-Tree Ginger Beer * Blueberry Ginger Smash ($18) - 1792 Bourbon, rosemary, lime, simple syrup Food * KFC Wings ($17) - Garlic Soy * Ramen ($17) - pork chashu, black garlic oil, bamboo shoots, soft-boiled egg * Hainan Chicken ($17) - poached chicken, cucumber salad, chili, and soy sauce; Singapore's national dish * Biang Biang Noodle ($15) - smoked tofu, yu choy, cilantro, crispy shallots, pickled mustard, black vinegar, and chili oil Dessert * Coconut Sorbet ($11) - served in a coconut shell with "tropical fruit" The Ginger Peach Mule was excellent. That's the cocktail we had before at M Sushi, except it was $14 there about a year-and-a-half ago and $17 here. The price difference wasn't too surprising given recent high inflation. This is one of those sneaky strong drinks. It was cold and refreshing. The Blueberry Ginger Smash immediately reminded me of another cocktail I had at M Sushi and didn't like, the Purple Haze Hot Sake & Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur. While fundamentally different ingredient-wise, both cocktails reminded me of Dimetapp cough medicine. My wife liked the Blueberry Ginger Smash though, so it wasn't all bad. One of the dishes we wanted to try here was the Jia Jiang Mian (zhajiangmian), Chinese noodles with fermented black bean sauce. Unfortunately, they were out. Since we were one of the first seatings of the day, I think they had been out of Jia Jiang Mian for multiple days. That was disappointing. The KFC Wings were outstanding and I have to admit, better than I expected. This was among the best Korean fried chicken I've had anywhere, that I can recall, and this includes a lot of the tried-and-true Korean fried chicken chains. Everything about them was perfect. They got the extra crispy and crunchy texture just right. The wings were nice and meaty *and* juicy. Overall, the wings were incredibly flavorful and well balanced. If I had to nitpick, there could've been a bit more sauce. Along with the Garlic Soy flavor we got, other KFC flavors here included Spicy and Nashville Hot. The Ramen was solid. In Durham, we still prefer the ramen at Rose's because the noodle quality and texture was better there (from our experience). Also, M Kokko's ramen broth isn't the richest nor the most complex. That said, I do think it's tasty and worth ordering. The Hainan Chicken was yummy as well. This is a staple, straightforward, comforting rice and chicken dish and M Kokko did a fine job with it. My wife liked the Biang Biang Noodle more than the Ramen, but I thought the opposite. The noodles were wide, appetizing, and had nice texture. The Coconut Sorbet was light and delicious. Recommended. Service was fantastic. Kailey was our server. Everyone we interacted with was great.

The crunch on this chicken sandwich is unrivaled. They also have black garlic oil with their ramen and though I have to admit I've yet to try their ramen, that tells me they know what they're doing. Everything I've had from here is top notch quality though.

3.5 stars. This was a small restaurant where the wait time could be one hour long Iike our wait time for a part of four. When you add your name to the wait list on the tablet inside, make sure you add your number and check that they will text you. The inside was cozy and might be enough to hold like 30 or less people. Their menu had food that sounded good. We ordered the Pork Buns, Biang Biang Noodles, Vegan Curry Udon Kokko, Jia Jiang, Ramen, and a Yukikage Shadow Snow bottle. We were going to share the food so it wasn't bad for all four of us. The Pork Buns were good and maybe we were hungry too. The Biang Biang Noodles was tasty, the Jia Jiang was good, and the Ramen was just okay (broth wasn't what I was expecting). I didn't try any of the Vegan Curry Udon Kokko. The portion for everything was just right for us and we were full after we finished everything. This restaurant was okay and might be worth checking out if you're in the area and don't mind the wait time.

We recently did takeout from here. We ended up going with the Ramen, the noodle bowl, and the pork belly buns. These were all really good. Can't comment on the service as we didn't eat in. When I was picking up the food, the restaurant was very intimate and nice. We will be looking to coming back this year.

Excellent restaurant!! Went out to try this place and it exceeded by expectations. It's located in downtown Durham so there street parking go plan for. And it's not too far from the Carolina Theater. The inside of the restaurant is pretty small. There are about 10 tables. So definitely plan to come within the first hour of opening to avoid a wait. The service was great! We opted for the chilled raspberry tea. It was very good and refreshing but way too much ice. We barely got two glasses from the carafe. We both chose noodle dishes and they were delicious. Lots of freshness and flavor and a bit of heat for both. No food was left untouched. I look forward to visiting again and trying something new!

Went back two days in a row while in Durham for a conference. First time had the biang biang noodles which were absolutely delicious- the sauce was savory and so flavorful and I respected how much cilantro was on it. The noodles were also super tasty and just the right texture. during this dinner I tried my coworkers vegan curry and was so impressed I had to sneak out to get it the next day instead of the conference food. If you're in downtown Durham looking for vegan options - look no further. The curry noodles might be my favorite noodle dish I've had. The combination of all the different elements of tastes and textures was perfection! Staff is super kind.

Quality: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5 To this day, BEST ramen I've had. Their spicy pork ramen is my go to. The menu is relatively small such that all their options are amazing. One note, the restaurant fits 20-25 people max, so the line is long, and I suggest you show up before opening or early. You can only get on the waitlist when you show up at the restaurant. Because the restaurant is small, service is really fast. Usually, food comes out within 10-15 mins. Definitely a necessary spot in durham to visit!

The food is fine. The drinks are not worth the price. Went here for lunch today. We had the Korean Fried Chicken and the Biang Biang noodles. The KFC was probably the least flavorful I've ever had. They were beautiful but didn't taste as good as they looked. We got the spicy flavor. The Biang Biang noodles were good. I got the pear mule drink. It was horrible. It tasted like syrup and ginger. Even if the drink were great I wouldn't say it's worth the $18 they charge for a cocktail. Overall I've heard a lot of great things about M Kokko, so I was a little disappointed. The service was great!

This small place (true to the style in the origin country) is a great place to enjoy Asian fusion. Their pork buns are amazing. Their ramen bowls are how ramen is supposed to taste. It can get packed during peak hours so prepare to wait. It's worth it, I'll tell you. Try some of their other offerings! Park on the street or the adjacent lot.

***FOOD: everything has a zip. Limited menu. Everything on their menu is good. Wanted to try it all. VEGAN CURRY - very very good, hot spicy with udon noodles tofu and various vegetables BIANG BIANG NOODLES - not exactly like the ones in China or Taiwan, but it was good, I wish I had added some sort of protein would've been better didn't realize it didn't come with any protein, be careful because it is spicy hot; PORK BUN BAO - delicious, soft pillow buns enveloping one thick slice pork belly with some greens ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$ very reasonable almost cheap. Pretty much everything is under $20 ***DÉCOR: super small place, bare minimum, minimalistic to extreme. it may have 20 to 25 seats, really looks like they converted the small lobby of the building into a restaurant. Nevertheless, very cool. ***SERVICE: service was good food came out quick and hot. water glasses filled regularly; Limited parking and I would imagine since it beside the theater parking maybe an an issue if there is an event or movie going on at the theater, cool that it's on the backside of the building ***RECOMMEND: yes would RECOMMEND & would definitely come back if in the area

What's not to like? This tiny little space behind M Sushi often has a line out the door but service is quick, the staff is friendly, and the food is delicious. We were doing a staycation at the Durham Hotel and got in line a few minutes before they opened on a Saturday. We enjoyed bao buns, the (hot) chicken sandwich, and the hainan chicken, a Malaysian dish I had not tried before. We also had a great housemade tropical ice tea -- I think it was mango. All that and we were out in under an hour. We have yet to have a bad experience at any of the M restaurants in Durham.

We stopped in with a party of 5 around 7PM on a Saturday night. We were able to put our name down in the waitlist and explore nearby businesses downtown. I highly recommend getting a drink at Pour while you wait. Our wait was about 75 minutes but the food was absolutely worth it! The wait would likely be shorter with smaller parties or during weekdays. The restaurant is certainly small, with about 2 tables that can accommodate parties up to about 6 and several 2-seater tables indoors and outdoors. The interior is beautiful with the menu drawn out on a giant chalkboard with vividly accurate drawings of the food. The ramen broth was the best I have ever had. The boiled egg was perfectly done and there were huge pieces of pork to enjoy. We got spicy wings and pork buns for the table. The wings were delicious but definitely spicy so it is not for those with low spice tolerance. The pork buns came with a large piece of pork and had a unique crunch at the bottom of the bun that added a really unique and tasty texture. Service was quick, though we did have to ask for water refills several times which was especially inconvenient when our mouths were on fire from the spicy wings.

After visiting (and loving!) M Sushi, my boyfriend and I embarked on a mission to try the other 3 M restaurants in Durham. Next on our list was M Kokko. Situated just around the corner from its sister restaurant, it's a smaller building with a much more casual feel. It doesn't take reservations, so we had to hold our spot in line virtually (unfortunately, the iPad they used died, causing some confusion). We ordered pork buns as an appetizer, and wings and spicy ramen as our entrees. The buns and wings were solid, but we had to add quite a bit more chili oil to the ramen broth to give it a kick. But on the bright side, the prices felt very reasonable and the service was quick! We'll continue on our quest and check out M Pocha or M Tempura next.

I had such a positive dining experience at M Sushi that I couldn't leave Durham without at least trying another of the "M" restaurants. Earlier in the evening I had appetizers and a glass of wine at The Roof at The Durham Hotel, followed by an ice cream cone at The Parlour, so it decided to order a take out item from M Kokko for my real dinner. M Kokko is in the same building as M Sushi and is just the around the corner. The restaurant itself is tiny and can probably seat 30 people max. The menu is a large chalk wall that has chalk illustrations of each item. There were no available tables, so I ordered take out. The waitlist for dine in was long, but the wait for take out was no better. The gal who took my order said it would take 30 minutes to prepare my Biang Biang noodles. After waiting outside for 30 minutes, I checked in on my order only to find out it had been sitting there. No one bothered to let me know my food was ready. I paid for my food and took it to my hotel room next door, only to discover it was cold and clumpy. I'm sure the noodles would've tasted better had it been hot when I got my order. Flavor wise, I thought it was a bit funky. It wasn't bad, but just not what I expected Biang Biang noodles to taste like. I wasn't able to pinpoint the flavor that threw me off. It wasn't the Biang Biang noodles I was accustomed to. I wasn't particularly impressed with the service at M Kokko, which was in complete contrast with the excellent service I received at M Sushi, their sister restaurant. There were 2 gals working, and they covered the tables and take out orders. They weren't as approachable and friendly, but it could be attributed to them running around, doing their best at keeping up with the volume of a small yet incredibly busy restaurant. I'm hoping the restaurant just had an off night. I look forward to trying the other M restaurants next time I'm in town, but will probably pass on revisiting this one.

We ordered the Ramen (spicy), KFC (soy garlic), and chicken sandwich (spicy). The chicken sandwich was ordered to go, everything else was eaten at the restaurant. The absolute best item I had was the pork in the Ramen. It was tender and smoky. The grill marks added texture to the pork and I thought it was absolutely delicious. This was my first restaurant Ramen experience. It was good but not what I expected, perhaps they add coconut milk to the broth? Wasn't very spicy. Noodles will soften, but reheats well. The pork was the star. The KFC was really good. Sweet and savory is a delicate balance for me. I often don't like Korean Fried Chicken, as I find it too sweet. Not the case here, the sauce was well balanced and the chicken maintained the traditional crispness we all know and love. Reheats well in the oven or air fryer. I sampled a small portion of the sandwich several hours after it was purchased. The batter held up amazingly well. It was packaged with the pickles and sauce on the side. Very good! The restaurant size can make it a bit challenging. The waitress was quick and efficient. Would recommend

Visited M Kokko for dinner on a recent trip to Durham. The space is small. I would describe the decor as industrial. The floors are polished concrete, the tables and chairs are painted black metal and wood. The menu is written in colorful chalk on the wall covered in chalkboard paint. We were seated immediately, even though they were a bit busy. For an appetizer, we got the KFC (Korean fried chicken) wings, in soy garlic. They were good, but a little more heavily battered/breaded than I usually like. For my entree, I got the spicy ramen, which came with pork chasu, wood ear mushrooms, black garlic oil, menma, a soft boiled egg, and cilantro. The broth seemed like a rich, creamy tonkotsu, and it was surprisingly not very salty. The spicy chili oil could be seen floating atop the creamy white broth. The noodles were a little bit overcooked, and the cilantro was an unexpected topping, but otherwise it was a decent bowl of ramen. Not my first choice for Korean fried chicken or ramen, but not the last choice either.

Despite what your GPS may or may not tell you, the door is right around the corner from M Sushi (same building). In fact, you have the option of waiting inside of M Sushi (or outside the shared building) after you join the waitlist. After joining the waitlist, you will receive a text with a link to view your spot. Once you are at the top, you will receive a text stating you have 5 minutes to check in. I'm not sure of the specifics, but when I refreshed the waitlist while waiting it seemed like large parties waited much longer than small parties (1-2 people). This makes sense given the small dining area of M Kokko (primarily two seat tables that can be combined for larger groups). A party of five that waited much longer than me got seated after me. While my friend and I were waiting in M Sushi, we were offered a drink menu. After looking at M Kokkos drink and dessert menu, it looks like they share the same as M Sushi. Both indoor and outdoor seating was available at M Kokko. After being seated at M Kokko, we ended up ordering the Ramen (spicy) and the Biang Biang Noodle with pork (server offered since only chicken available on menu). We also requested additional bowls to share the entrees. The ramen only had a few pieces of meat. The overall taste for the ramen was good, but it definitely wasn't spicy. We ended up mixing the sauce from the Biang Biang Noodles to add some spice to the ramen. The Biang Biang Noodles tasted good too. A bottle of water was provided at the table for self serving. The meals was okay overall but a little pricy considering what was provided. I would come again if I was in the immediate area and wanted some noodles.

Small cozy place , good service and great food. Enjoyed the pork buns and the Ramein. They did not have some items on the menu.

My classmates and I came on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. The interior was quite small and we were told that they don't seat parties of over 5 people together, so our 6-person party was split into 2 groups. I ordered the ramen (not spicy) and pork buns. The pork belly slices were not as thick as I was expecting, but the flavor tasted great! I really enjoyed the ramen! At first I was a little confused by the black broth, which just ended up being the black garlic oil. But wow, everything about the ramen tasted so good! The portion was really big for me so I couldn't even finish! Overall, we had a great experience and I would definitely come back for more ramen!

Food was delicious. The mixed drink wasn't my fave, but the pork buns were so delicious that it almost made up for it. Friendly service and a great view from the window for people-watching in downtown.

I'd love to rate 6 stars out of 5 stars!!!!! I ordered a Ramen with no spicy. It was amaaaaaazing!!!!! I would say that it is the best Ramen I've ever had. The egg, the vegetables, the soup, the meat, and the scallions, everything made the Ramen perfect. Their service speed was very fast, and they were super friendly! The environment was cozy and clean, and the menu was simple but had their own characters. However, it may be quite difficult to park right outside since there parking space here is limited and up to 2 hrs. Maybe you can go to park some garages nearby if you go there during rush hours. Good luck! I highly recommend this place to anyone who is visiting the research triangle here!!!

Limited menu, but everything is SO good! The Ramen is by far my favorite, the best in Durham. The house made peach tea is another winner. The only downside is the place is really small not really aesthetically pleasing, and there may be a long wait on a busy day. Service is OK. Our waitresses have been pleasant, but when the place is busy you really notice it with the service. Highly recommend if you're in Durham- a hidden gem for sure.

Very tiny little spot. Down the cobble stone alley and around the back of the building. Best only for dates/duos, or four people at most. There were maybe five or six two-tops and two four-tops inside and maybe two four-tops outside. It's tight, and I would not call it child friendly. We lucked into an open table upon arrival, but otherwise you can check into the iPad to join the waitlist. There were two servers who kind of tag teamed all the tables. No discernible music playing, so we could hear other tables conversations quite clearly, since it is a bit cramped in there, but big windows gave some great light. The small but delectable menu is on the wall, but the drink/dessert menu located on each table has a QR code for more convenience. We started with the steamed pork belly buns, and my husband had draft Asahi while I tried the Yuzu Collins (it was fine but I would try something else next time). The buns were decent, lacking a bit on the pickles, the sauce was uninspired, but the cut of pork belly was good size. The fried shallots added a delightful and flavorful crunch. For the main course he did the ramen, and I did the biang biang noodles, which the server up sold me on adding chicken to, but then it came without the chicken or the normally included tofu, so that was a bit disappointing (they didn't charge me though, so I let it go). They were spicy, but flavorful, albeit topped with an excess amount of cilantro. The noodle consistency was perfect. My husband's ramen was silky smooth and delicious, but pretty lacking in the chasu pork, and the egg was over cooked. He said it wasn't the best he'd ever had, but it was in the top five. For dessert, we did the coconut sorbet which was divine. Came in half a coconut shell and had fresh fruit on top. The coconut flavor was outstanding with little chunks of coconut flesh. Multiple of the items on their menu can be vegan and/or gluten free. Which makes it more inclusive. We spent $103 all things considered. A lovely date night.

Love the atmosphere here...cozy but modern. Not a lot of selections, which is why everything is delicately made, and they are delicious! Highly recommend the pork buns and kfc fried chicken wing (that's what they call it here).

I went there yesterday. Restaurant was full...we are on waitlisted for about 1 hour. You just put all your name, phone number and how many people in your group in that little tablet. They not give you approximate time of waiting as they said in the paper hanging on the wall. So we are listed on number 10....so we walk to the tap room nearby...enjoying some beer while waiting...not that long tho'...the text message beeping, we were on number 2 on the list. So we start walking back...just 5 minutes walk, maybe less... The things I hate is only, this restaurant is way to small for a popular ramen place like them. Next, not take us to long to order, since they only have few menus to choose. The reason I gave them 3 stars because our waiter, a white guy with glasses and long hair, not even care to asked his name, is not so friendly and make me afraid to ask more....he scared me already . So I just quickly order, without question anything . Next my porkbelly bun, is not look like porkbelly but shredded pork...and for me is underseasoned. And my spicy wing also underseasoned, though it's tender and juicy but need more seasoning. So those 3 things that get them 3 stars from me... Ramen is great. Noodle texture was super. The Thai Curry rice also great. Coconut sorbet is so refreshing. I need to try their Hainan Chicken Rice next time. They are sold out of this menu this time. Waiter and waitress need to be more friendly...I know you are busy but still friendliness add something to people's dining experience. That's make me drop 1 star!

M Kokko gave me a very great first ramen experience! I am obsessed. I hope my next ramen experiences are the same or I'll have to be back here very soon. The restaurant is small but cute, and I love the way their menu is drawn out and written on the chalkboard in detail. You go in and check in on their screen then you wait outside or next door at their other restaurant, M sushi. Try not to get tempted by their menu as well while you wait for your table. The restaurant was filled as there are only around 8 tables inside and there was only one server but he was kind and efficient. We got two plates of "KFC" wings (soy garlic and spicy) and ramen noodles, one with chicken and one with pork and both semi-spicy. The KFC wings need to be called better than KFC because they are AMAZING. The chicken itself tasted SUPER fresh which is rare to me when eating fried chicken or any meat out. The meat just felt very clean. Not to mention it was super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. We got the soy garlic and spicy and ended up loving the spicy more because it was not spicy at all and had more of a sweet and sour taste. The ramen was indescribable. Super flavorful, creamy, mouth-watering, and filling. I used to always be skeptical about the egg in ramen but I had no idea it was that good and wanted to ask for an extra one. My friend and I both loved this place and left very satisfied.

Loved it. Very small hole-in-the-wall Korean place. Good variety. Good value. Delicious. Could be better if it was a little bigger with better furniture. I'll be back for sure.

Restaurant atmosphere- 4/5 very tight space, but to be expected since it's in downtown Durham. Cute interior design where menus are hand painted portraits hung up on the wall (there are only ~8 items total on menu) Food-5/5 I got the ramen, and I was blown away. I have tried ramen from around the world, including san francisco, Tokyo/japan, Korea, and New York. While the ramen wasn't exactly "authentic", the taste was delicious and very rich, creamy broth. You can request to make it spicy, but to be honest it's not really spicy (maybe a little less spicier than sriracha?) My partner got the biang biang noodles, which were some flat hand made noodles with cumin lamb. I thought the flavors were alright, but they claimed it was the best noodles they've had in all of North Carolina. Service- 3/5 although there was only 1 server for all tables (maybe around 12?) it was still somewhat slow and felt like he was purposely avoiding eye contact while passing by us. After finishing eating, we patiently waited for over 15 mins for the check, before we finally flagged down the water to which he retorted "wait a moment I'm the only 1 working", even though it was the 1st time we requested the check. Despite all these drawbacks, still a 5/5 overall score since the food is probably one of the best in North Carolina.

I can't believe it's been 4 years since I reviewed M Kokko. I've had a love - not love (def not hate) relationship with M Kokko. For a while, it was my husbands favorite restaurant but then we had 2 meh experiences there and backed off. We've been back 2ce recently and the food was phenomenal so we're back no the bandwagon! The chili oil is still A++ - I put it on everything. My husband still says it's the best ramen in Durham. I love their curry udon - amazing flavor and rich stewy dish, the tempura veggies are yummy - though if I'm being extra/healthy, I'll ask for no veggies and add chicken. The pork buns are yumskies. It's tiny - which adds to its vibe and hype. But def not kid friendly place and hard to have more than 4 people. Also long wait and no reservations can be tough now that Durham is hoppin. But I guess good problems for a place to have?

Visiting from Nashville & I absolutely LOVED this place. Pork buns were amazing, must order. Ramen was great & even the side salad was perfect. Service was quick & our server was extremely nice. No wait for us either which was great due to their limited seating. Super chill & great place. I'd wait in hours for those pork buns. Definitely will be coming back.

Such a cute restaurant ... the menu is written on a chalkboard and the service is friendly and fast. It's a small place with probably less than 10 tables so you are cozy in there. The food is wonderful asian fusion. Got the singaporean classic - hainan chicken which was absolutely wonderful. The chicken was perfectly cooked ... tender and moist. The accompanied sauce was sweet and salty and spicy and worked perfectly together. Can't wait to come back and tried the fried chicken wings and ramen. YUM!

This restaurant is fantastic! Went here on a Thursday night, barely a wait while still popular. Every dish we ordered was so good. I highly recommend getting the fried chicken sandwich and coconut curry. Truly unique. Ramen was bomb too! Great service and great flavors. You will not regret it.

Thai vegetable curry is delicious. the staff is very kind and welcoming. we will return

First M restaurant I tried out of the M series! M Kokko is a hole in the wall spot that serves fusion Korean & Japanese chicken dishes and are pretty well known for their ramen so that's what I ordered. Ramen ($16) - Paitan chicken broth with mushroom, pork chashu, garlic oil, bamboo shoots and soft boiled egg! So flavorful and I love the texture of the egg, however, the pork was kind of bland. The staff were so accomodating - we arrived at 1:59 PM and they close at 2 PM BUT they were still willing to seat us!

What a bowl of Ramen. We loved this place. They are known for their wings. The wings were good but the ramen was great. Sitting there eating the that ramen and then slurping that broth. You got to go here.

M Kokko is one of my favorite M restaurants in Durham. My boyfriend and I showed up a little past 5 PM, which is when they open, so we didn't have to wait. The restaurant was a lot smaller than we expected, but it felt was very homey and quaint. The service was great -- very quick and friendly. The menu has around 10 things on the menu, but it was so difficult to choose what to eat because everything looked delicious. We ended up ordering a three-course meal: 1) Kokkonut Curry; 2) Biang biang noodles; 3) Curry udon. The kokkonut curry is definitely the best curry we've had. It was perfectly flavorful, creamy, and delicious! 10/10 would recommend. The second dish was the biang biang noodles . They were unique and delicious -- tangy and well-seasoned. The curry udon was a little watery but it tasted fine and it definitely hit the spot, especially on a rainy day.

Tl;dr: A busy little hole in the wall with dishes that are bursting at the seams with flavor. One little qualm regarding dessert. Went to downtown Durham after our work/school day on Friday unsurprised to see a 4-party deep waitlist already. No biggie, we waited outside since the air was cool and the brick walkway is great people watching if they try to walk on it with heels. Our wait was about 15 minutes. Got seated near the door, but since the space was small, each table seemed equally tight so that wasn't a problem. We ordered the curry udon, ramen, and the green tea crepe cake. The curry udon was PACKED with flavor! The curry itself was perfect in its consistency and flavor. Rich in its spices but sweet to ease itself onto the palate. The carrots stewed in the curry were soft but held together nicely. The fried onions on top were a heavenly addition that gave a crisp contrast of texture with the silky curry and the soft noodles. The ramen had IMMENSE flavor in the broth. I was apprehensive ordering ramen (traditionally Japanese) at a korean-influenced restaurant but the waitress helped persuade me since I wanted something brothy. The tonkotsu broth was creamy and carried the essence of bright aromatics, while the black garlic oil helped scent every bite of noodle as it gets slurped up (and yes, you're SUPPOSED to slurp ramen noodles). The pork belly was SO tender that it fell apart as soon as I tried lifting it with my chopsticks, however the char they got on the pork belly added a solid element of smokiness to the ramen that only increased its depth of flavor. The only place where this restaurant lost a star was in the dessert. I get it, crepe cakes are delicate and time consuming so making it ahead of time and keeping it in the fridge is totally fair game and expected. However: the texture of this cake was not great. It seemed frozen at its middle, and by the time it softened up, the layers of crepe seemed to mush together. The green tea spread was delicious and sweet while still holding that deep matcha flavor without being bitter, however the actual crepes tasted bitter. Typically crepes aren't made with a substantial rising agent because they're meant to be thin, but it tasted like they added baking soda to the mix because the bitterness lingered heavily on our palates. Overall, this is a must visit "M" restaurant if you like the feeling of small hole-in-the-walls with fantastic entrees. Unless they fix the crepe cake, I'd absolutely skip it.

finally visited m kokko for the first time after having wanting to try it for forever! we decided to meet right when they opened for dinner around 5. the parking definitely was crazy, even for a thursday evening but it was a hidden gem. once you walk in, you're greeted with an ipad and if it's busy or you have a larger party, you'll be put on a waitlist but thankfully we got there early and we're seated immediately. since it's a relatively small place, we wanted to make sure we were able to dine in with no issue. i would recommend going early if you have a larger party size! the menu is on large plates on the wall and was so hard to choose from! our server told us his favorites which was the ramen and chicken sandwich. my date and i were interested in the biang biang noodle but a friend also told me that the chicken sandwich was super good so we decided to get one of each and share some bites for best of both worlds! we placed our orders and chatted for 5-10 minutes before our pork buns came (apologies for no photos) and they were so flavorful and juicy! the bun was warm and fluffy, the pulled pork was so tender and sauce was so delicious. before i could finish my bun, our dishes came in shortly after! the presentation was gorgeous and the portions were perfect. you can taste the chili oil in the biang biang noodles but the cucumber and radish helped cool down the heat (my spice tolerance is almost floor level). for the chicken sandwich, you were able to choose between normal, hot or super hot and he chose hot (which was a good spice level). the chicken was so juicy and full, the salad on the side was portioned well too! overall, the food was a very delicious and there were so many customers trickling in throughout the hours we spent there. the music and noise level were a bit high and we had a hard time speaking over it sometimes but definitely a cute date spot! there are a few outdoor seating, but the weathers been so hot so possibly during the cooler season would be perfect!

Best ramen in the south eastern United States. The broth is rich, creamy, and incredibly flavorful. The pork belly was perfectly tender too. It's small on the inside and very causal. My friend and I were the only ones in there on a early Saturday night. I wouldn't come here with a group. Service is quick.

The food is always amazing and fresh and prepared with a taste of perfection. The food comes to the table with an knowledgeable wait staff and the cook behind the scenes must be magical

Nom nom. Been in the squad for years, but I guess not anymore due to Covid restrictions. At any rate, go see Jefferson or the others. Check hours, and try to get here early. This place is awesome, but a small but targeted menus. Start with the hot chicken wings or the pork buns, or both. They are great. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich is perfect, or the ramen. Totally worth it, and the peeps are great. Get there before 1145, though, no reservations. Parties of 4 or less are best. You won't regret it!