Flip’s Griddle Burger at Kokyu – Anything Mac n’ Cheese

Plain Jane for the Kiddos:
Rating: 9/10| Price: $7.50| Portion: Large – for two or three|Cheese mixture: Pepper jack, cheddar, and other cheeses that they did not say| Cheesiness: 5/5| Noodles: Soft Cavatappi| Worth it? Yes

Flamin Mac and Cheetos:
Rating: 8.5/10| Price: $7.50| Portion: Large – for two| Cheese mixture: Pepper jack, cheddar, and other cheeses that they did not say| Cheesiness: 4/5| Noodles: Soft Cavatappi| Worth it? Yes

_______________________________________________________________

During the Coronavirus, I became desperate to go somewhere to eat. Making boxed mac and cheese at home became old, so I decided to visit Flip’s Griddle Burger and try their mac and cheese. Flip’s Griddle Burger is a restaurant in the Southpoint Professional Center located in Durham, North Carolina. Flip’s is in an unusual restaurant because it is a ghost kitchen that is part of a four-in-one restaurant called Kokyu, so there is no sign on the front of the restaurant saying Flip’s.

Because of COVID-19, Flip’s made sure that all their customers and staff were safe by setting clear rules. You can either eat at one of their four tables outside the restaurant or you can take your food to-go via curbside pickup. You had to order ahead online, but I was new to the restaurant, so I had no idea about that rule. I told them that, and they kindly took my order from outside their door and led me to one of their nicely shaded tables.

Flamin Mac and Cheetos

First, I got the Flamin Mac and Cheetos which was served in a silver to-go tin. The portion was perfect for two to share, and well priced for the amount they give you. I loved the Flamin Mac and Cheetos. I thought Flip’s did a really good job of coming up with a really good combination for mac and cheese. The cheese was a super thick, rich, and creamy mixture of pepper jack, cheddar, and other unnamed cheeses. Because of a layer of cheese skin stuck to the bottom of the tin, I knew the mac and cheese was baked. The cheese skin added a nice burnt-ish cheese flavor.

On top of the cheese, there was a mixture of Kokyu’s chili sauce and crumbles of Flamin Cheetos. The Cheetos were a little soggy from the cheese but still crispy, so it added a nice crunch to the incredibly soft Cavatappi noodles and creamy cheese. For me, the spiciness of the Cheetos with the chili sauce was just enough to make your nose run, but not enough to make your mouth burn because there was just the right amount of cheese to slightly put out the flame. I really appreciated that Flip’s put a lot of Cheetos on top so that the cheese did not overpower it and it did not overpower the cheese. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Flip’s added scallions. I thought that this was a very good addition because it created a Pad Thai flavor when mixed with a mouthful of Cheetos and cheese.

Plain Jane for the Kiddos

Like the Flamin Mac and Cheetos, the Plain Jane for the Kiddos was really good. It was the same portion size and price. I found the Plain Jane to be cheesier than the Flamin Mac and Cheetos. This time, there was a thin, crispy layer of baked cheese on top as well as the bottom. The noodles were super soft and, with every bite and chew, cheese oozed out of the noodles. I would definitely share this one with two to three people because this mac and cheese was extra rich compared to the Flamin Mac and Cheetos.

Restaurant Information

• Address/Directions: 245 E, NC-54 Ste 105, Durham, NC 27713
• Website: http://www.kokyubbq.com/
• Order online: https://www.toasttab.com/kokyu/v3

Social

• Instagram: @flipsgriddle | @ko_kyu
• Facebook: @kokyuBBQ