Reviews of M Kokko (Restaurant)

Reggie Strange

M Kokko is a small, 24-seat, hole-in-the-wall, blink-and-miss-it kinda place. But pass this place at your own regret! Definitely not suited for larger groups due to their limited capacity, so wait times can be a little longer than usual, but definitely recommended on week days!There are only about 9 items on the menu and 2 of which are vegan,

Grace Lutter

I went to M Kokko, because I've heard great things about it. I was not disappointed. The food was flavorful, fresh, and delicious. The items were reasonably priced and well portioned. The only downfall is the restaurant itself is very intimate and small, so there can be a bit of a wait. But I will be back to try the rest of the items.

Lauren N

The chicken sandwich was amazing! The other noodles that we had were pretty good too! The line is always long, but don't let it deter you. It's worth it :)

Gwendolyn Reilly

If you like ramen you have to try this place. It was great. A bit of a wait but it was Saturday evening and it's a small place. But aren't they always the best? Yes this was worth the wait!!

Ellen Sherrill

Best ramen I have ever had. We shared an order of the Garlic Soy Wings. Delicious! Good service and very reasonable prices.

Jordan Ellison

My ONLY ramen spot in this area. After trying the ramen noodles and broth here all the other ramen places pale in comparison. I think we've had everything on the menu. Everything's great, but the ramen, the soy garlic wings, jjiajangmen, and green tea tiramisu are our usual pick. We've never had a bad experience with the wait staff, and everyone has been courteous and friendly.

Ruisa Hinds

Had the vegan biang biang noodles, they were wonderful!

Deidre H. Gonzales

First time visiting and it wont be my last time. Service during lunch was great. Space is limited but the food was AMAZING. Tried the fried chicken sandwich and the JiaJang and they both were delicious. Will return.

Sleepy Teacher

The food was a stunner. I've chased ramen in a few areas of the US, standouts being Dashi and Chef Morimoto's place in NYC, but this is my new favorite. Hearty portions or pork belly, perfect broth to filling ratios, and WHAT A BROTH! I went with a new work colleague and warned them that I'm drinking this. I did not disappoint. We started with some of their sesame wings and they were nearly perfect. Great breading, hearty saucing, and well cooked. They were served with some pickled veg and collard greens that didn't necessarily compliment the wings, but were good nonetheless. My biggest complaint is that the space is very cramped. It made hearing difficult and you could feel claustrophobic. Also, they don't have menus and everything is written on a board. We were told to take a picture to make things easier. I'm all for conserving paper and resources, but this is a bit much. That being said, the food was amazing. Five-star takeout option, but 4-star dining experience.

Cecily Fung

I prefer the biang biang noodles, it was surprisingly good, it is a bit spicy in a good way.

Mike Watkins

First time eating here. Wow, food was awesome. Love the atmosphere, very simple, but pleasing. Homemade tiramisu was awesome as well. Great service. Great area to walk around before and after. Will be a regular!!!

peter bohlen

First of all the food is amazing. Can't say anything bad about that. Secondly the staff are very friendly when you actually get seated. My issue with this place is I'm currently in line, I've been waiting an hour and there are 4 open tables that they are not seating people at. Not sure why they cannot manage seating when they only have about 8 tables. Very frustrating.

Kevin Tran

it's good but dont kid yourself. you could definitely scale up and add some more seats. I'm talking to you owner guy person.

Angela Mcdonald

We love this restaurant! Best chicken sandwich we have ever had! Everything on the menu is awesome, including the service! John always takes good care of us and makes us feel welcome, just wanted to say thank you guys!

Shane Wang

M Kokko is a wonderful place to go on a weekend. The food is priced well and the quality is superb. However, be prepared to wait for your seat.

Amir

The food might good but kind of a joke to call this a restaurant. It's a closet at best.

Eileen-Margaret Churchill

This place lives up to the hype! Food was fantastic and the service was great. We went early and managed to avoid the lines that built up shortly after. They do not make reservations and if you are meeting up with someone, they will seat you once you are all together.

Kelly A. Calhoun

This place is so yummy and adorable! We stopped here on our self-guided "mini tour of downtown Durham" last night. I love the experimental concept of the restaurant from the food menu being written on a giant chalkboard for the customers to view and order from to the Japanese/Korean infusion. Definitely get a carafe of the hot sake (pictured). Ordered the chicken breast sandwich - the side salad was literally 100/100; so green and fresh and the house dressing was tasty and the portion was perfect. I have a distaste for salads that are overpowered with the dressing. Also pictured is the JJiang noodles in black bean sauce. Only reason I gave them a 4 instead of a 5 was the lack of gluten free options. Definitely make this a must stop on your downtown Durham tour!

Jason Xiao

Delicious food, and fast service. The chicken sandwich is a staple, and a must try for first timers! Their dishes are fresh, tasty, and satisfying!

Deb Hyson

The place is very small. Only sits 22 or so people - so be prepared to wait. Lots of spots to grab a drink while you wait & wait you should. The soups are absolutely delicious. This is not your college days ramen soup. If you haven't been to a noodle place - add this to the front of your list. Excellent service, excellent food.

A A

First time at here and I loved the experience. My server, Jon, was very helpful in explaining the items and spice levels from the menu (even though the menu is on the wall) he still took the time to make sure I would be satisfied. The other servers around made sure that if John has to step away that they took extra plates from the table and that my water cup remained full. I couldn’t have asked for better customer service and food! Def will recommend to a friend & def would recommend you sit with Jon!

Robert Berkowitz

Awesome food. Everything was really fresh. Small place that fills up fast. Good thing the service is fast and friendly! Great to have another fast lunch option in downtown Durham.

Mark Sfeir

Can't really make a bad decision on their menu, biang biang noodles and curry udon are solid vegetarian options, bibimbap and chicken sandwich are very good, $9-12 entrees all reasonably priced

Jim Hizer

I’m a huge Korean Friend Chicken aficionado and their wings are even better than some I’ve had in Seoul.

Matthew Tedesco

Have you eaten here yet? If so, then don't bother reading this review If not, then WHY HAVE YOU NOT COME HERE YET? M Kokko is a (literal) hole in the wall restaurant in downtown Durham, right next to M Sushi. They say it's an experiment, and if that is the case then the experiment was a rousing success. While cozy and busy, the servers run the small space well to keep things moving. The food is definately the star, however. I'd suggest getting the Ramen and sharing an order of the "KFC" wings. That alone will fill even the largest appetite, and for only a moderate price! Word of warning, while they move fast wait times can approach an hour or two at times. When that happens, head over to the Pour Taproom and get a pint, then come back when your table is ready.

Sandra Benton

Excellent chicken sandwich and the wings are just as good. All their food is good but those are my favorites

Keerthi Vignesh Kumar Jaya Sundara Ganesh

Really small place so finding a table might be difficult during weekends. Menu is simple and not overwhelming so you clearly know what you want. I had the Jjiajang men and it was really good. Had the spicy KFC as well and liked it as well. You surely can give this place a try.

Nate Larson

Incredibly yummy Asian hole-in-the-wal, tiny place with a menu to match, and fantastic flavors for the money! Whoever runs this place NEEDS to open a normal-sized (that is, not tiny) location in Raleigh a.s.a.p.

Dave Heumann

I've only had one dish, but it was great. Everything looked really good here, in fact.

Janine Chang

Highly recommend! M kokko is definitely one of the better places to get your ramen fix. Because they use a chicken broth, it isn't as rich as I'd like it to be, but it's still pretty darn good. The serving size is generous and really hits the spot. The main downside of this place is how small it is. Even for 4 ppl on a Saturday, I was 6th in line at 4:45pm before they open at 5pm, it was an hr wait, so come early!

Justin Klenke

Waited 30 minutes, at the door before opening, first in line.. when they opened for dinner they announced that if your full party isnt there you wont be seated. That info would have been helpful to ALOT of people in line before we all wasted half an hour. They took are number to let us know when they had open seats.. an hour and half later we get the call letting uae know they got the 5 seats available. So i just let them know that we "Mgogo" to doshi. Suggestion for Mkokko: put the "full party seating only" policy on the website and a plaque at the front door.

David Kleczek

Outstanding Korean food. Even has a vegetarian menu. Just wish the place was a little bigger so we could get in sooner

N T

M Kokko is practically a hole-in-the-wall with a speakeasy kind of feel to it. I never would have known it was there had it not been for my friend telling me about it. The limited menu means the kitchen can focus on making each dish great. The bibimbap, wings, and bao were all delicious on my visit. There's a wait to get a table, but it's worth it.

Brian Lin

M Kokko is my favorite restaurant ever. I've had plenty of ramen in Japan, even, and still their paitan chicken ramen is my favorite. Then there's the chicken sandwich. Absolutely amazing. This is where I would eat on my birthday if I could pick any place in the world.

Joey

Went for lunch today, ordered the chicken sandwich. Tables came in after us and were served, my dining partner was served, no food for me and our waiter disappeared. Was there 45 minutes and asked a different waiter to cancel my order since everyone was finished eating... and magically my waiter reappears with my food in a box and blames it on an issue next door at M Sushi. There are too many other good restaurants in the Triangle to fight through a small, cramped restaurant to not be served. In the end my reward was that I got to drive back to work and eat a cold, soggy chicken sandwich.

John Snowden

Delicious! I lived the chicken sandwich and the salad that came with it.

Summers Brennan

The wings here are the single best food item you can get in Durham (IMO). Also the ramen is the best in the triangle area. Beyond that the service is great. The only downside is the restaurant itself is small so be prepared to wait or put in a to go order.

Rob Woods

Every item on the menu is incredible. I would suggest getting here right at opening for lunch or come during off hours. They don’t have a wait lobby and the crowd grows fast into the alley. Worth the wait though. Both ramens are delicious, and while the wings will take longer to arrive than your main course, they are the only wings in Durham that beat Heavenly. A must visit restaurant if you want to see what Durham is capable of producing from a back alley and a hole in the wall.

Ryan Ingram

This place was incredibly uncomfortable. It’s a very small area with too many tables and it gets really busy. The prices are entirely too high for the portion size and quality. However, I imagine if you’re trendy or artsy, you’ll love it.

Aaron Weinbaum

The restaurant is small with a line outside. I tried the fried chicken sandwich to go. It was made fresh and I waited about 15-minutes. It's was a large portion of chicken and very tasty.

Nosakhere Walcott

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Indescribably deliciuos ramen. I've been on the hunt for good ramen here in North Carolina since trying it in Chicago. You will not be disappointed, unless you hate flavor and seasoning. Oh, and the sweet and savory pork buns are the truth.

Dillon Hulgan

There is literally nothing this restaurant serves that I do not enjoy. Do yourself a favor and slide in.

Jonathan Kim

One of the most frustrating experiences in recent memory. Came here at 5:30 with a group of friends (total 5). We were told to go have a drink and come back. After an hour and a half, we went back to check-in and told that they were waiting for two big groups to finish. "Okay cool" so we went to another bar and drank for another hour. When we checked back, one of the big groups left but the 4 seater table had 2 people sitting at it. Also, there were like 8 people that had skipped ahead in line. Our name was on an island by itself. We received a call an hour before they were about to close-- no apology, just a question as to whether or not we were still interested in dining. No thanks bro, taking my business elsewhere for what should've been a relatively quick eat.

Mayur Nag

I love that Ramen. also loved there veg option. I visit this place almost every weekend. Have to book and wait but its worth it.

Daleena Abraham

While the wait time is always a little bit of a pain - the food is SO WORTH IT! The ramen is the best I've ever had and the bibimbap is also amazing! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! (Try coming at lunch for a better chance at getting seated quicker)

Kristen

Absolutely phenomenal! The spicy ramen was out of this world, best broth ever. Spicy wings? KILLER. I think we found our new favorite place in Durham. FYI: we got there at 4:59 pm on a Thursday and it was waitlisted by 5:15. Go early and be patient. So worth it.

Eric H.

Best meal ever! Well...best chicken sandwich!

Patrick Edwards

Some of the best ramen around, M Kokko is a small restaurant with big taste. Sometimes you may have to wait, but is always easy to put your name on the list and go grab a quick drink somewhere nearby until they give you a call. Also try out their Korean fried chicken.

Zeke Hart

So good! The spicy wings were very tasty although not that hot, and the ramen was incredible! Nice small very personal feeling establishment.

Christina Zeno

Came for lunch and grabbed the last table for 2, score! They open at 11:30am and were completely packed by noon, so prepare for a wait. I ordered the ramen, which was amazing, it comes out mild and they have chili oil you can add to achieve your desired spiciness. My fiance ordered the bibimbap which he exchanged when it can out with only 2 chicken pieces. They were very understanding (agreed there was insufficient meat, explained they were training a new employee and apologized) and got his replacement chicken sandwich out fast. The sandwich was a massive chicken breast, he loved it. Overall very enjoyable experience!

Ziyun Huang

Ahhhh they have THE best Korean fried chicken. The jajeong mein and ramen are also pretty okay. But still the fried chicken is just too perfect. My favorite place to eat in all of Durham

Jesse Yoxheimer

Amazing Ramen but way too small of a place! If you do plan on going here reservations is a must!

K E

This is a small spot attached to M Sushi that does noodle bowls and rice bowls, along with wings and other small plates. I liked their vegan curry bowl and their rice bowl. I have not gotten a chance to try everything there but the black bean noodles look really good. I wish they offered more Veg and Vegan options. When I say this place is small I am not joking. It has the space of a two car garage and is not very comfortable. If you have a large party you have to go at down time or be prepared to wait. Another thing that I didn't like was the wait time for the wings. There were several posts that said wings take like 20 min cook time or something like that. I assume bc they do it fresh, but that is still a long time to wait for a few wings. Overall this is a nice place and they put a lot of effort into their food. Go and enjoy!

J B

One of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve had.

Katie Taylor

This is far and away one of my favorite places in the triangle! Tucked away, you wouldn’t even know it was there. There are only like 10 tops in the whole restaurant, so it’s intimate and personal. There's not really a time that this place doesn't have a wait; however, it's so worth the wait. The wings are from another planet. So flavorful, so crispy, so good. See pictured. My group shared everything, and it was all amazing. There are limited food options, but you don’t need many when the few available are perfect.

Hongqiu Yang

It is an extremely small restaurant. Even if we were there first, and were seated but because my husband was parking, they could not wait for two minutes, and we were asked to give our seats to people who arrived later. If you would like to have some dignity, then do not come to this restaurant. In terms of civility and service, this place is the worst I have ever been to. The waiter was so rude. I suspect that there is some sort of racial discrimination in this place. I would like other people to test further and get more evidence.

Lisa Wheeler

Chef Mike Lee is to Durham what Ashley Christensen is to Raleigh (no disrespect to Matt Kelly) He sets a standard for Asian cuisine others strive for. With that said, out of the M Series, M Kokko is probably my least favorite. I am all about eating the best food. I do not come here for their KFC wings, I go to Aroma in Cary or Soo Café in Raleigh. I do not come here for their noddle/rice bowls; Bida Manda and Garland in Raleigh both do it better. When it comes to Ramen though, this is the place I like (Dashi does not come close). Do yourself a favor and pop over to the Durham Hotel and get a drink while you wait for your table. I will continue to wear out the M Series and wait for M Pocha to work out their kinks.

keith green

Probably the best place for ramen in Durham. Small, tends to have lines, but really fabulous food.

Ben Hay

Great food but really small, noisy venue. Worth the wait but there will be a wait.

Peter Robson

Really good ramen and the wings were nice and crunchy on the outside and the chicken was juicy. Looking forward to trying out the rest of the menu and trying out M Sushi next door.

Leandro de la Torriente

Good food. Too much rice in the Bibimpap IMO, but other than that it was delicious. I will definitely go back again and try something else.

Shikara Fraser

The food is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful. Staff are kind. Wonderful food!!!! Try this place at least once.

Trey Thompson

We have been long standing fans of M sushi. We had friends in town that wanted to try M Koko so we finally made a trip. We showed up at 8 and were told there would be no seats before closing. We ordered a gracious number of plates for take out. A variety of wings, Korean hamburgers, and maybe a soup. When we got home we were happy with the food. The $100 worth of food was more than 4 starving adults with vastly inflated appetites due to anticipation could manage. We had a solid two orders of wings extra after we all pronounced ourselves stuffed. Good alternative to M sushi, but small restaurant. Go early if you didn't book a table or get take out and save the tip.

Doug Zabor

Great vegan noodle dishes. 4 because very heavy on noodles light in the other great things listed, like smokey tofu.

gskms kk

I ordered a ramen and it was really yummy! I also asked for 2 extra bowls of noodles. Nice experience!

Precious-Jewel Akibon

Looove this place!! Ramen is oh so delicious! The Broth is out of this world. Very limited menu, but everything is so good! Left to right Ramen, Biang Biang Noodles (No Broth FYI), and the Pork Steamed Buns. This place is a must visit, you'll be happy you did.

Aaron Freeman

Can be a challenge to get a seat without a decent wait. Food is creative and I like the small menu size. I think the overall size of the restaurant is a little cramped and beer menu small. Food tasted great but some things like the chicken sandwich and pork belly rolls were a little sloppy (breading falling off chicken, pork belly can be challenging to eat gracefully etc) overall enjoyable meal and I will return to try some of the other dishes. The host at the time was kind of rude though for no reason. Didnt really enjoy his service

Jennifer McLaughlin

You have to try the Grilled Chicken Salad special! It is absolutely to die for and I hope it makes it to the menu board permanently!! Also John our server was awesome :)

richie rich

After months of anticipation and a hours wait, I was met with a hot bowl of pork flavored water. My boyfriends vegan udon was just okay. And this all made the awkaward waiter, high prices and cramped environment all the more unbearble.

Osmar Soto

An easy to miss location, it's very small if it weren't for the word to mouth that peaked my interest. The KFC is very crunchy, the sauce has a sweet and spicy kick to it. The wing take a bit to get here (about 20 mins) but the wait was worth it. Not suitable for a group larger than 4. Overall, a very pleasant experience.

Chancard 20

Amazing food, great service, fun date night. Only five stars because they don't give reservations or even time estimates. Do you wait 5 minutes or 3 hours? No one knows.

DJ Neon

You can read all about how amazing their food is in all the other post but I was particularly impressed by the North Carolina handmade ceramic Pottery plates that our appetizers were given to us on. A lot of restaurants claim that they're about local everything and then have mass-produced and made in Taiwan or Japan plates and glasses.

Xinyi Wu

Ramen in Durham: M Kokko > Dashi > Rose’s

Mike Brannon

We had the Chicken Sandwich and a Ramen bowl - both were really excellent. My son spent part of school days in S Korea and he said he would be heading back here soon and often! Service was great, tiny place so expect to converse with your fellow diners!

Slawek Pruchnik

Great ramen, highly recommend. Note the seating is very limited and the restaurant is super busy during lunch, plan ahead.

Amanda Isbell

3.5 stars. The chicken sandwich was pretty good. Unfortunately, nothing else really stood out. The drink list wasn't interesting. Cute ambiance.

Jeffer Ddk

If you go at the right time when it’s not busy you’ll get great attentive service and a great atmosphere. Other times you won’t be able to get through the door. The small menu is amazing and each item has a great unique taste. I recommend all first timers try their buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, it’s hard for your mouth to not fall in love with this crispy flavorful delight.

Allison Bateman

To say I'm obsessed with M Kokko is an understatement. I have no words for how I feel about this restaurant, but the emotion that immediately comes to mind is pure joy. The ramen here is unlike anything I've ever had in my life. I've traveled to New York City and Los Angeles to try new foods (especially ramen) and I can honestly say that M Kokko is the best in my opinion. The broth is incomparable, the pork belly melts in your mouth, the bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms are to die for. Wow, just thinking about it makes me want to cry. A few people complain that the restaurant itself is small, and it is first come first serve. Yes it is small, but the concept began as an experiment. It is unlike any other restaurant in the Triangle - street food restaurants in much bigger cities have a similar layout - the menu is on the wall, it has a very intimate yet casual feel, and the service is extremely fast. So it isn't like you'll be here for hours having a four course meal (for that you can try M Sushi, literally in the same building - just as amazing). Another thing that makes the entire experience great is the service. The servers here (shoutout to Jon!!!) are phenomenal! They're always extremely fast, everything is fresh, and they will go out of their way to make sure you're having a great experience every time. This is easily in my top 5 favorite restaurants in the Triangle, definitely one of the best in Durham. I strongly encourage everyone to check it out! Expect a wait on Fridays and Saturdays, otherwise it isn't too bad at dinnertime through the week.

W. Daniel Lee

The ramen here is good. Other food options are nice as well. Biang Biang noodles and KFC Wings. Definitely worth coming here for the food but it is difficult to get a table. We did have to wait quite a bit (2 hours) but we came in from out of town so we had to make it this time.

Melissa Arnstein

Expect a wait time for a table... But it is well worth it. Good food and very pleasant, attentive staff.

Shane Butler

Certainly the best ramen I've had in the area.

Thiem Huynh

Best Ramen I've ever had in the South East. Simple place with a simple menu

Angie Shen

Very authentic noodles! My favorite ramen place in the triangle area!!! Their ramen is even better than what I had in Japan. A bit expensive and some wait time but understandable!

John Marsh

Have been here several times. I love the chicken sandwich, as do several of my coworkers. Today I tried the ramen, and it was really good. Potion sizes are large. It is a small place, so it's best to get there before they open for lunch.

Sun Moon Kim

Phenomenal food! Small fixed menu in a small restaurant with small tables. Expect a short wait given its popularity.

eli b

Great little “hole in the wall” restaurant. Great food!

ethan good

This has got to be among the best (and cheapest?) Places to eat in Durham. Entrees range from $9-$13 and you’ll be absolutely full. You will NOT be disappointed!

Millie Kwan

Great meal with an emphasis on chicken specifically KFC (Korean fried chicken) which is delicious. The sandwich and wings are both tasty. Also a number of noodles (ramen, udon, jjiajang and one other) with at least 2-3 vegan choices. Chicken bibimbap is also tasty from what I'm told. The pork belly buns were also delicious as are sides such as pickled daikon, pork belly braised kale. Also nice wine, beer, and sake selection. No reservations and first come first serve. Park at one of the parking garages.

Katelyn Ehle

Great food! Service was pretty good.

Ziyad Al Obaidi

Top favorite. Can't go wrong with this place!

Nicole

If your looking for the TRUE ramen.... don't go to Dashi's or Rose's noodle house.. this is the place your looking for. Noodles are spot on, yellow and Bundy as they should be, marinated ramen egg

Hunter Dorsey

Fantastic place. Food was so fresh and good. Customer service was great too.

Lei Zhao

Hard to find but you gotta try this place for its unique take on Korean.

Ted Nono

Found Another good ramen restaurant! Noodle itself good, Chashu pork is thick enough, all delicious. I only felt regret though that the egg tasted somewhat sweet which I don’t like, and the soup temperature is not warm enough. Overall I’m very glad we now have another good taste ramen place in RTP:-)

Lawrence Evans

We'd been there twice before and while the food can be flavorful, they tend to make things surprisingly oily given their reputation as one of Durham's better restaurants. Either way, in the middle of last week, we were across the street having a drink and I called to ask how busy they where (knowing you can only get on 'the list' if you are there in person) and whoever I spoke to was hilariously rude: I simply wanted to know how busy they were and how much of a lead time to plan for the evening. (It was my wife's birthday) I mentioned that I KNOW I have to be there in person to be put on the waiting list, just wanted a rough idea of how long we might wait. Again this was a special night out, and I wanted my wife to have a good time, and I didn't want her to feel rushed. So this person interrupts me to state I'd need to be there in person to get on 'the list' (which I had already stated I knew), and would not tell me anything about a wait time. As I was saying thank you, and about to say "I'll be right over" she hung up on me. Yeah, never again. I grew up working customer service jobs and that's unacceptable. Get off your high horse; your food is not that good.

Laura Duran

Sometimes there is wait but it is absolutely worth it. The Raman and Sandwich are super good. I always leave well feed and we’ll attend. It is also a bang for your buck!

Alvin H

Came early on a rainy Wednesday and didn't need to wait very long at all. Great fried chicken sandwich, and probably some of the best ramen I've had anywhere, definitely the best in the research triangle as far as I'm concerned.

Vincent Ikeagu

Great Menu. Few tables but worth the wait every time.

Braeden Earp

Had the wings, and they were amazing!!!!

Karen Rojas-Martinez

The menu is small, but that's because you don't *need* options here. Every dish is fantastic, you really can't go wrong. My favorite is the spicy Korean fried chicken (not very spicy, just good flavor) but the pork buns and the ramen are to die for. Still working my way through the menu because I keep going back to these three favorites. Only slight negative is that there's always a wait time for dinner (and lunch on weekends) but rarely more than an hour, typically 30 minutes. No reservations, so maybe reserve your spot on the list and have dessert first at the Parlour down the street?

Kerry Graham

Step aside, Dashi. Get your ramen fix at M Kokko, I beg you! If you are not familiar with M Restaurants, they are a collection by chef Michael Lee. He has a big vision for the Durham food scene, and BOY is it ever a delightfully tasty vision! He has 5 other restaurants in the works and I can not wait.

Kelly Chtcheprov

One of the best meals in Durham. Reasonably priced, fun atmosphere. No reservations, though.

Aadith Penmetsa

Waited for over 3 hours for a call from them. 2 hours of which they claimed we were "next in line", and yet seated several people ahead of us. One of the worst waiting experiences I've had, and no apology when they called over 3 hours later.

Jerry Liao

The KFC wings are awesome. Jie Juan mien is great, and Biang Biang mien is very special!

Graeme Standing

Fantastic little place that makes amazing chicken wings and pork buns. The chicken in the chicken sandwich is perfectly battered. Highly recommended. And if you're up for sharing, get the ramen as well.

Boyce Currance

This is without a doubt our favorite noodle spot in the whole of NC! Started as an offshoot from M Sushi, this little pop-up spot has more or less become a mainstay in the Durham area and I pray it remains so.M Kokko is a small, 24-seat, hole-in-the-wall, blink-and-miss-it kinda place. But pass this place at your own regret! Definitely not suited for larger groups due to their limited capacity, so wait times can be a little longer than usual, but definitely recommended on week days!

Anthony Rosado

Food was fresh and tasty, staff was pleasant and helpful. Menu is written on the wall and service is fast. Small location but comfortable.

Akshay Banker

The ramen was definitely on point, but the best thing on the menu was the pork belly bun!! Those things melted in my mouth and was amazing. Come for the ramen, stay for the pork belly..

Dong Zhang

ramen is great, especially with the spicy oil. the korean chicken wings are ok, lets say 3 of 5. the pork bun is great.

Stephanie Miller

Well worth the wait. The wings are some of best I have ever had. The staff was helpful and friendly too.

Daniel Swagcliffe

Let me tell you I have been ALL AROUND DURHAM and Chapel Hill. But NONE have made such an impression. I came with my sister and ordered 3 dishes. The buttermilk sandwich, the lettuce wraps, and the korean fried chicken. At this price point, this is one of THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK LOCATIONS. Despite quaint, “hole in the wall” perceptions, the kitchen CLEARLY respects the food they provide to a contemplative degree. We waited almost 20 minutes for the sandwich, and this would have been the item to drop this review to a 4 star. But believe me, despite being one of the cheapest items on the menu, the sheer CALIBER of the depth of its flavor between, sweet and savory MORE than made up for the wait. Everything on the menu is between $9-$13. Though there are few options, they have perfected these options to a level MUCH beyond their retail price. Do NOT miss this place on your next after work get-together.

Matthew

If there's something on the menu you like it's going to be absolutely fantastic. The menu is limited and there's not always something that you really want.

Kyle Wray

This place is hands down some of the best food I have ever had. Mike and his team are awesome. Mike is also not to bad at BJJ!!

Clara Xu

Best ramen I've ever had. Soup is amazing and I love the cilantro, mushroom, bamboo shoots and egg in the ramen! Fried chicken crispy and juicy!

Keith MacKay

Really really good food. If your party is 4 or higher, the wait is going to be worse than is worth it on any night other than Tuesday or Wednesday. Other than that, its a great little hole in the wall next to MSushi with amazing good for a really reasonable price

PJ

Looove this place!! Ramen is oh so delicious! The Broth is out of this world. Very limited menu, but everything is so good! Left to right Ramen, Biang Biang Noodles (No Broth FYI), and the Pork Steamed Buns. This place is a must visit, you'll be happy you did.

Daniel Heo

Good Korean style fried chicken, and I like their kale side dish. Not a huge fan of the other stuff on the menu though. *Place is pretty small, and gets packed; so either call for takeout, or be prepared to wait.

Tony Khara

Great Korean chicken wings, Ramen was really good also, Udon was ok

Billy Greenfield

One of the best ramen bowls I've ever had. Fast friendly service and reasonably priced. I'll be back tomorrow to try more. I walked into the sushi bar accidentally when I first arrived. Be aware that they are technically two separated restaurants so mind which door you enter.

John Hanks

First time eating here. We enjoyed the food (Lettuce Wrap and Biang Biang Bowl), however we got caught in one of those unfortunate situations where several tables that were seated after us all got their food before we did. I don't think our dishes required any more prep, in fact some of those tables had ordered the same items. Took about 40 minutes to get served. It made for a bit of a negative experience overall.

Xixi Yi

Get there early, because it gets packed fast! Delicious ramen, hope to try more of their food next time! Very cute space, if not a little cramped. Great service!

Tim McKeoun

Absolutely amazing food in a little hole in the wall place. The curry udon was phenomenal, and tasted just like Japan. I didn't get the chicken sandwich myself, but I tasted a friend's and it was delicious. Worth the wait, if there is one!

Bo Wang

Best ramen in the triangle area. The wait was worth it.

Isabel Dahl

To be fair, I only got take-out, but it was very disappointing. Got the famous fried chicken sandwich and it didn’t really taste like anything, as it was rather bland. Next time I want a fried chicken sandwich, I’ll go to chick-fil-a and spend a quarter of the price for something much more delicious.

Uniqueka Jenkins

My husband wrote his review at the table before we could finish closing out or chrck. I highly recommend this place and making reservations. I almost gave up on finding ramen in the RDU that didn't make me wish I still lived in DC or in another major city. They did it! I will be back to get more.

Chelsey R

Excellent dining experience

Miguel Torres

Definitely my preferred ramen in the triangle. They have limited seating and no reservations, so I recommend appearing right when they open or soon after.

Vi Phung

Tiny restaurant so there is usually a wait. The menu is written on the wall with some fun drawings. The tonkotsu ramen was great! So flavorful and the pork belly was so tender. I'm interested in coming back to try the wings but will probably wait until school's out to avoid to crowd.

Aaron Nail

The service was slightly lacking, but the food made up for it. It was amazing! Great space, small but efficient.

FEASTS & SPIRITS

I arrived a few minutes before opening and was shocked to see a line start to form for M Kokko & sister restaurant M sushi. Since I'm not familiar with Durham, you can get easily confused on the right location by GPS. As soon as doors opened M Kokko was packed. The Menu is on the wall as I find that awkward for some to see due to the sitting arrangements. I was sat off to the side and had to stand to read the menu since this was my first time. If you want to take some photos of your food, this may not be the place to go as there isn't much wiggle room in between tables. It's very small inside. M Kokko shares a kitchen with M sushi. I got the garlic wings & buns, no complaints there, food was delicious! Our server wasn't too thrilled with us wanting to take photos, you can tell they are a fast service sit down, they want to maximize the profits by having you come & go somewhat quickly. I would not bring my kids here as it is not a kid friendly eatery. Feasts & Spirits gives M Kokko a 4 Pepper rating.

MacRae Vallery

Make sure you get a reservation-- we waited a little before being seated, and it was well worth it! But next time I will call ahead.

Xi Zhang

Do not trust the reviews here from those so-called local guides. I doubt if they receive some compliments from the owner of this restaurant. The service is so terrible that you can not even imagine what they did. We four waited for a table over 2 hours and, meanwhile, there were over 20 guys sat down and finished their dinner. When we asked the waiter why this happened and he told us that you are not next. So rude. Even no sorry and no excuses. When we wanted to split and use two separated table, the waiter told us that you should be the last in the queue. I trusted in the google reviews, but this horrible case happened to me. Thus, I write down what my experience was and give out a big WARNING.

Leighann Breeze

The garlic sesame wings were amazing and ramen was also great (and wasn’t served boiling hot - so it was good to eat right away). The guy working at the door was also totally helpful and really nice. My only complaint was that the timing of the food coming to the table was a bit weird: we ordered wings and pork buns as appetizers but we got all of our noodle dishes first (ramen and black bean noddles), then one person at our table had to wait for his chicken sandwich after everything else had been served. The reason is that the chicken, cooked fresh to order I guess, takes a long time to prepare. Probably wouldn’t have gotten the “apps” if I knew that would happen. To be fair, they’re not called appetizers on the menu: maybe that’s why.

Phani Bodd

Menu choice is very limited, but tastes great. Service can be more attentive, and faster.

Brian Jordan

Be prepared to wait, but the food is great. We put our names on the list for a table for two at 7pm and were seated at 8:30pm. John is an exceptionally friendly waiter, and all of our food was excellent.

Sophia F

Got the kale side and pork buns (gua bao). These were significantly better than dashi’s lamb buns. Definitely not an authentic Taiwanese flavor, but they still tasted great. Pork belly is tender, bun is soft. Would come again to try their ramen! Servers were kind and attentive

Andrew Cates

Went here for the first time recently. It's a very small space and the wait was maybe 70 minutes, after we put our names in at 530 on a Saturday night. We had been warned this would be the case so we weren't upset. It's downtown, so easy to walk around while you wait and they'll call your phone when it's your turn. We got the ramen, lettuce wraps, chicken sandwich, and Biang Biang noodles. Everything was very good and fresh. I think the ramen was my favorite. The broth was magical. The service was good as well. The portion sizes we're pretty generous for the price. Recommended!

Jordan Cornille

Great food and staff. Super small dining area, which is nice when you're there, but this can cause really long wait times.

Sanghee Moon

Another M restaurant in downtown Durham. Most likely you will need to wait during lunch. Food quality is very good. I tried multiple dishes, ramens (regular and spicy), curry noodles, and jiajiangmyun (black noodles). Everything was yummy!

justin mcnamara

Chicken sandwich was really good. Can't wait to go back and try the ramen!

Evan Azzinaro

Good food at a good price, but the interior is way to small, the seating is somewhat uncomfortable, the website needs some work, and I would love to see a better selection of beverages, but I still highly recommend it for the food alone.

Pulkit Misra

Albeit small, the food here is amazing! You really have to strategize on when go since wait times can be upwards of an hour. The pork bun and fried chicken sandwich are my default choice, they are outstanding!!

Roy C

My wife and I got chicken sandwich and ramen noodle from here. Chicken sandwich was out of the world and ramen noodle was really good. Only downside is that place is really small. Will go eat here again.

Elika Emerick

Yummy!!!! This place lives up to it's hype. Small menu, large portions, absolutely phenomenal taste.

YL

Pretty good for Durham since there's not a lot of Asian options but it's not memorable. The pork in the ramen was all fat. Overall flavors were good. I would have enjoyed the chicken sandwich more if it had sour pickles instead of sweet

J P

The best Asian noodles in the Triangle area.

Dina Yamaleyeva

my favorite ramen place! everything is delicious from the chicken sandwich, to the wings, to the ramen, to the noodle dishes. come early, put your name on the list, and be prepared to wait at least 20-30 min. if its a peak time (weekend evening) then you will wait more like 30-45 min. but its absolutely worth the wait

Beverly Martyn

It was my first time at Mkoko. I knew to be early but alas, I ended up ordering To Go. I ordered the chicken sandwich, and the wings for my friend. When I opened my food a plain chicken sandwich looked back at me. No pickles, no sauce. Just a plain sandwich. I get it, you guys are busy. But dang...I can't get no sauce?? Mind you I ate the sandwich (ya girl was HUNGRY). I was able to spruce it up and enjoy the sandwich though. Next time I'll get there early and dine in.