My family and I decided to try this place since we had a gift certificate for Christmas. I had high hopes after seeing the reviews and looking at the pictures online. I understand this isn't your traditional Mexican food, so I wasn't expecting that. However I was hoping for something that made me want to come back, and I did not get that. It's on 9th street in Durham, so I figured it would be fairly busy, upon entering there was very few people in there. That should have been our first indication that it wouldn't be that good. I noticed the health sanitation score was a 91!! My husband has worked in the food industry for many years so while to some this may seem like a decent score, it is NOT! Especially in Durham, so that immediately raised some red flags. We ordered some regular cheese dip for our daughter and chorizo cheese dip for me and my husband. Wasn't a huge fan of the cheese, or the salsa they served. The salsa had a funky after taste, almost like a tomato sauce? It was odd. However, this was probably the best thing we ordered. My husband got the barbacoa, I got the Chicken Tinga tacos, and my daughter just got a regular beef taco with rice & beans. The Chicken Tinga tacos are overpowered by the citrus cabbage slaw. It was very sweet. The chicken was OK, but I wouldn't call them chicken Tinga though - had very little seasoning and no spice to them. The black beans were the best thing on my plate. My husband's barbacoa was okay, but not very seasoned and he was immediately done when he felt the middle of his meat at colder temperature. My daughter didn't even touch her food. Which I know kids are pickier, and trying new things can be a challenge. However, her first bite was of the refried beans, which I took a bite of them as well..and let me just say.. NO. They were so gross. I am not sure what they use to season them, but there is an odd taste to them that almost tastes like garbage. Nobody completely finished their meal.. I did leave a decent tip for the waitress, because she was kind. However, the food is just mediocre, under seasoned, or oddly seasoned. I wouldn't take anybody there. You have so many better options on 9th street. I would avoid this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Sean Donehoo
My girlfriend and I were really excited to try the food here because it can be hard to find a place that serves plantains and a lot of the reviews were positive.We ordered takeout and literally ended up throwing away our food because we could not bring ourselves to eat it. We got plain queso with no additions and when we got home there was a large piece of spinach inside. Beyond that the cheese dip tasted sour and smelled off but we were told there was no way it was sour because they just made it.We also ordered chicken tinga tacos and plantain stuffed chicken, the tacos tasted like the contents of a cookout barbecue sandwich with no spice to it, and the “stuffed” chicken was actually 2 barely seasoned thin chicken breasts placed on top of each other with some plantains in the middle.Even the salsa tasted like a combination of ketchup and cold tomato soup.We brought up these concerns to a manager and were basically told we were crazy and there was nothing wrong with the food. We spent $50 to throw the food away after a few bites and were offered no recourse. I cannot reccomend this place at all
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dayana Pomares
Beautiful place. Incredible food and excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ropa Vieja, Tres Leches
Jeff
A bit pricey and load but delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos
Jules Perry
Very tasty food in a feminine atmosphere. We had spinach enchiladas and chicken Avocado salad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ron Weyersberg
I absolutely love this place!Food seems to get better every time.Great salsa selection too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shawn Williams
Food was very good and reasonably priced. The Cuban sandwich was not what I am used too. It was not pressed and there was no mustard. That being said, it was still very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Cuban, Cuban Sandwich
LKNC
Our server was delightful, helpful not intrusive. Food was delicious- 4 star because the chicken on the chipotle was a little too sweet for my tastes. Very low key cozy vibe, I definitely recommend it!!
holisticman
Surprised by the ambiance and vibe. Fun and classy place. Very tasty food and generous portions. The owner served us and Daniele was lovely. Easy to tell she is just naturally a generous and nice person. Fun lunch and will be back with a bigger appetite!
Neil
An interesting selection of traditional and unusual Mexican and South American food in a relaxed environment. We had very pleasant attentive service and the food was surprisingly good. This was our first visit and we'll be back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
“Paella” was passably cooked, under seasoned seafood over mushy rice that had obviously never seen a pan. Stuffed poblanos were lukewarm and bland. Mojitos tasted like they were made with ginger ale. Service was good enough, but the food was terrible.
Courtney O'Keefe
Literally, the worst food I’ve had in Durham. My Cuban sandwich tasted like a dirty griddle and it had mayo and lettuce on it. Weird vibe inside the joint, so I asked to dine outside. The beans and rice were even gross. I couldn’t eat most of the food on my plate, so I just covered it with a napkin. How is this place still in business? ??
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Patty Yost
Best cuban sandwich we have had in years and outstanding and attentive as well. We will return for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cuban Sandwich
Janosch Rumpf
Delicious food and some of the nicest service I’ve ever had - even though we couldn’t spend much. They were also approachable and accommodating about vegan choices. Would 100% come here again!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
kwixote
I recently returned to Blue Corn after many years, and found it to be even better than I remembered. It's sort of a Mexican-inspired bistro and a neighborhood gem. The food is very good, the service is even better, the atmosphere is pleasant, and it is conveniently located on Ninth Street. This is not a fancy place, but their dishes are thoughtful. The menu offers variety without trying to be everything to everyone so they can focus on doing what they do very well. Best of all, they have many gluten-free options (I suffer from celiac disease), which you cannot say about most places in Durham. (Even though they make their chips in-house, they fry them in a fresh batch of oil before they fry anything with gluten, so the chips are even gluten free!) They have a good wine and beer list. They make excellent salsa and excellent guac. I definitely recommend the bean cakes, which are hearty and come with a very good salsa, slaw and a few salad greens. The prices aren't cheap, but seem reasonable, while the portions are generous.
My family and I decided to try this place since we had a gift certificate for Christmas. I had high hopes after seeing the reviews and looking at the pictures online. I understand this isn't your traditional Mexican food, so I wasn't expecting that. However I was hoping for something that made me want to come back, and I did not get that. It's on 9th street in Durham, so I figured it would be fairly busy, upon entering there was very few people in there. That should have been our first indication that it wouldn't be that good. I noticed the health sanitation score was a 91!! My husband has worked in the food industry for many years so while to some this may seem like a decent score, it is NOT! Especially in Durham, so that immediately raised some red flags. We ordered some regular cheese dip for our daughter and chorizo cheese dip for me and my husband. Wasn't a huge fan of the cheese, or the salsa they served. The salsa had a funky after taste, almost like a tomato sauce? It was odd. However, this was probably the best thing we ordered. My husband got the barbacoa, I got the Chicken Tinga tacos, and my daughter just got a regular beef taco with rice & beans. The Chicken Tinga tacos are overpowered by the citrus cabbage slaw. It was very sweet. The chicken was OK, but I wouldn't call them chicken Tinga though - had very little seasoning and no spice to them. The black beans were the best thing on my plate. My husband's barbacoa was okay, but not very seasoned and he was immediately done when he felt the middle of his meat at colder temperature. My daughter didn't even touch her food. Which I know kids are pickier, and trying new things can be a challenge. However, her first bite was of the refried beans, which I took a bite of them as well..and let me just say.. NO. They were so gross. I am not sure what they use to season them, but there is an odd taste to them that almost tastes like garbage. Nobody completely finished their meal.. I did leave a decent tip for the waitress, because she was kind. However, the food is just mediocre, under seasoned, or oddly seasoned. I wouldn't take anybody there. You have so many better options on 9th street. I would avoid this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
My girlfriend and I were really excited to try the food here because it can be hard to find a place that serves plantains and a lot of the reviews were positive.We ordered takeout and literally ended up throwing away our food because we could not bring ourselves to eat it. We got plain queso with no additions and when we got home there was a large piece of spinach inside. Beyond that the cheese dip tasted sour and smelled off but we were told there was no way it was sour because they just made it.We also ordered chicken tinga tacos and plantain stuffed chicken, the tacos tasted like the contents of a cookout barbecue sandwich with no spice to it, and the “stuffed” chicken was actually 2 barely seasoned thin chicken breasts placed on top of each other with some plantains in the middle.Even the salsa tasted like a combination of ketchup and cold tomato soup.We brought up these concerns to a manager and were basically told we were crazy and there was nothing wrong with the food. We spent $50 to throw the food away after a few bites and were offered no recourse. I cannot reccomend this place at all
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Beautiful place. Incredible food and excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ropa Vieja, Tres Leches
A bit pricey and load but delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos
Very tasty food in a feminine atmosphere. We had spinach enchiladas and chicken Avocado salad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I absolutely love this place!Food seems to get better every time.Great salsa selection too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was very good and reasonably priced. The Cuban sandwich was not what I am used too. It was not pressed and there was no mustard. That being said, it was still very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Cuban, Cuban Sandwich
Our server was delightful, helpful not intrusive. Food was delicious- 4 star because the chicken on the chipotle was a little too sweet for my tastes. Very low key cozy vibe, I definitely recommend it!!
Surprised by the ambiance and vibe. Fun and classy place. Very tasty food and generous portions. The owner served us and Daniele was lovely. Easy to tell she is just naturally a generous and nice person. Fun lunch and will be back with a bigger appetite!
An interesting selection of traditional and unusual Mexican and South American food in a relaxed environment. We had very pleasant attentive service and the food was surprisingly good. This was our first visit and we'll be back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
Restaurantji Recommends
“Paella” was passably cooked, under seasoned seafood over mushy rice that had obviously never seen a pan. Stuffed poblanos were lukewarm and bland. Mojitos tasted like they were made with ginger ale. Service was good enough, but the food was terrible.
Literally, the worst food I’ve had in Durham. My Cuban sandwich tasted like a dirty griddle and it had mayo and lettuce on it. Weird vibe inside the joint, so I asked to dine outside. The beans and rice were even gross. I couldn’t eat most of the food on my plate, so I just covered it with a napkin. How is this place still in business? ??
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Best cuban sandwich we have had in years and outstanding and attentive as well. We will return for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cuban Sandwich
Delicious food and some of the nicest service I’ve ever had - even though we couldn’t spend much. They were also approachable and accommodating about vegan choices. Would 100% come here again!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I recently returned to Blue Corn after many years, and found it to be even better than I remembered. It's sort of a Mexican-inspired bistro and a neighborhood gem. The food is very good, the service is even better, the atmosphere is pleasant, and it is conveniently located on Ninth Street. This is not a fancy place, but their dishes are thoughtful. The menu offers variety without trying to be everything to everyone so they can focus on doing what they do very well. Best of all, they have many gluten-free options (I suffer from celiac disease), which you cannot say about most places in Durham. (Even though they make their chips in-house, they fry them in a fresh batch of oil before they fry anything with gluten, so the chips are even gluten free!) They have a good wine and beer list. They make excellent salsa and excellent guac. I definitely recommend the bean cakes, which are hearty and come with a very good salsa, slaw and a few salad greens. The prices aren't cheap, but seem reasonable, while the portions are generous.