Boricua Soul at American Tobacco Campus
A vibrant fusion of Puerto Rican and Southern soul food, offering a unique culinary journey with bold flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Boricua Soul at American Tobacco Campus
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A vibrant fusion of Puerto Rican and Southern soul food, offering a unique culinary journey with bold flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.
"Every single thing was flavorful, cooked to perfection, and delicious!"
Order a Soul Bowl
Try the Boricua Soul Bowl with Chicharonnes de Pollo or The Platter for a variety of flavors.
Weekend Vibes
Visit on weekends to potentially enjoy live music performances.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Puerto Rican, Soul Food
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Puerto Rican & Southern Fusion
Experience a vibrant blend of African and Caribbean flavors with Southern soul food staples.
Must-Try Empanadas
Don't miss the incredibly delicious empanadas, especially the sweet potato cheesecake variety.
Flavorful Pernil and Collard Greens
Savor the slow-roasted Pernil (pork) and uniquely spiced collard greens that diners rave about.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Order a Soul Bowl
Try the Boricua Soul Bowl with Chicharonnes de Pollo or The Platter for a variety of flavors.
Weekend Vibes
Visit on weekends to potentially enjoy live music performances.
Sweet Potato Empanada
Opt for the sweet potato empanada for a delightful, lighter, yet flavorful treat when available.
Outdoor Seating
Consider dining outdoors at American Tobacco Campus for a pleasant experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Order a Soul Bowl
Try the Boricua Soul Bowl with Chicharonnes de Pollo or The Platter for a variety of flavors.
Weekend Vibes
Visit on weekends to potentially enjoy live music performances.
Sweet Potato Empanada
Opt for the sweet potato empanada for a delightful, lighter, yet flavorful treat when available.
Outdoor Seating
Consider dining outdoors at American Tobacco Campus for a pleasant experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Boricua Soul is highly praised for its authentic Puerto Rican and Southern soul food fusion, with many highlighting the flavorful empanadas, slow-roasted pork, and uniquely spiced collard greens. While the food is consistently a hit, some minor critiques mention occasional unavailability of certain items or seasoning inconsistencies on specific dishes. The lively atmosphere and friendly service contribute to a positive overall dining experience, making it a must-visit for those seeking bold flavors.
"I cannot say enough good things about this place, yall. My husband and I ate here for the first time tonight and it was the BEST meal I’ve had in a long time. It’s small inside but plenty of outdoor seating at American Tobacco. We ordered 2 empanadas (1 beef, 1 chicken), the Boricua Soul Bowl with Chicharonnes de pollo, a half order of the mac fry pile with Pernil (pork) and shared everything. I can’t even pick a favorite. Every single thing was flavorful, cooked to perfection, and delicious. As in, I have never enjoyed collards despite trying them every time my husband orders them - and I ate half of our serving this time. The Pernil with the fries was perfection, but if you aren’t feeling something that heavy/loaded the bowl was also super good. AND, the people were SO nice y’all. That food would bring me back but the service/obvious joy they had for serving people their food makes me want to tell literally everyone."
Danielle Reyner
"The food and atmosphere is PERFECT! We went on a Friday night and the owners were actually in there working and acknowledging customers ! The food was a 10 out of 10. We had 5 wings and the basket with the pork, greens and the Mac and cheese (and maybe it had rice also) everything was so flavorful. I love that the restaurant is modern, tap to pay and you can order from the kiosk or the QR code on the table . The location is great and very lively!"
Ajada Williams
"The place is a little bit tricky to find but the street signage does what it can to try and navigate you to the establishment. Inside is a cozy vibe with nice murals and enough seating to enjoy dining in.
I tried The Platter (Chicharonnes de Pollo and Pernil) and empanadas. The collard greens were spicy which I liked, plantains were cooked to perfection, and the beef empanadas were delicious, crispy, and not too greasy. The Chicharonnes de Pollo and Pernil lacked some seasoning in my opinion but weren’t terrible.
The service was great and didn’t take long. I’d come back to try the sweet potato empanada since they were sold out the night I visited. 7/10 overall."
Jamaal Washburn
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Boricua Soul is famous for its fusion of Puerto Rican and Southern soul food, especially their empanadas, Pernil (slow-roasted pork), and collard greens. [^M3]
Yes, the menu includes vegetarian options like collard greens, maduros (fried plantains), and the sweet potato cheesecake empanada.
Yes, you can order online for curbside pickup or delivery within 15 miles. Check their website for details. [^M9]
Boricua Soul offers both indoor seating with a cozy vibe and murals, as well as ample outdoor seating at the American Tobacco Campus. +1
Consider ordering The Platter or the Boricua Soul Bowl for a sampling of various flavors.
The restaurant sometimes features live music, particularly jazz on Sunday late mornings. [^M1]
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Several locally-owned restaurants and bars are located near DPAC in the American Tobacco district, including NanaSteak, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Boricua Soul, Ekhaya, QueenBurger, Seraphine and The Waiting Room. Durham also has a social district, “The Bullpen,” where visitors can enjoy alcoholic beverages served to-go at participating businesses while walking outside, and at retail businesses allowing open containers. Discover more downtown Durham Restaurants and learn more about the Bullpen social district.
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The insignia on the outside of the Boricua Soul truck (or the “Soul Patrol,” as it’s known) is based on the African symbol Sankofa, which means “go back and get it.” This represents the truck’s personal approach to cooking and its ethos of drawing from the past—Southern soul with a Caribbean flair—but the motto is also a nod to Boricua Soul’s loyal fan base. Look for empanadas, pork platters, and tostones, along with veggie-friendly options.
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From their food truck and pop-up beginnings, Boricua Soul has mixed traditional African and Caribbean ingredients with Southern staples like collards and mac and cheese to form uniquely delicious concoctions. The menu includes Chicharonnes, Pernil (Puerto Rican roasted pork shoulder), and Tostones. Both owners Toriano and Serena have Puerto Rican heritage and the Southern influence comes from Toriano’s grandparents.
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This restaurant combines African and Caribbean-based ingredients with Southern-Latino methods of cooking. It started as a food truck but grew to a storefront shortly after in the American Tobacco Campus. The menu isn’t big but their pernil bowl with arroz con gandules (rice and peas) is really all you need.
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Phenomenal fusion cuisine awaits at the heart of Durham’s historic American Tobacco Campus. Boricua Soul combines a Euro-African foundation, born of the slave trade, with savory Southern soul food and a generous helping of Caribbean flair. At this no-frills eatery, everyone can find something to love.
Restaurants, bars, places to eat nearby DPAC in Durham NC
Over on the American Tobacco Campus, across the street from DPAC, Boricua Soul serves a Caribbean-Southern menu with famous collard greens and slow roasted pork and mac and cheese that diners order by the sheetpan on holidays.
Restaurants & Retail
Boricua Soul is a Puerto Rican/Soul Food Fusion restaurant located in the heart of the American Tobacco Campus. Specializing in fast, casual and comfortable dining and catering. Please be sure to check our events calendar.
Best Restaurants in Durham, North Carolina for Food Lovers (With Map!)
That’s what you’ll find at Boricua Soul, a locally owned restaurant that has taken downtown Durham by storm. They have dishes like chopped BBQ filled empanadas and recently started serving at local ball games.
Durham Delivery, To-Go, and Curbside During Covid-19
Making family-style take-and-bake favorites and bowls, platters, etc. available for pre-order online by 2pm for curbside pickup or delivery (within 15 miles) Tues.-Sat.
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