Hope Cafe — Restaurant in Durham

Update: Owner replied to this review, claiming I did not pay for my meal, so I had to check my debit card records, and it shows that I paid on Feb. 13. I've attached a screenshot from my bank to prove. The owner accused me of not paying probably in an effort to discredit my review. I'm just doing my best to serve the community with my honest review here, and I get slandered with that claim? That's giving me a reason to contact a lawyer for slander.

| Overview

Easily customize spice levels with available sauces Chicken in Drunken Noodle is tender Authentic Thai noodle dishes Owner claimed I did not pay in reply to the original draft of this review but I paid (I can prove with debit card records) Menu is limited; no Thai curries Drunken noodle is not worth $16+ in my book Thai tea is served in cheap glass

| Full Review

Hope Cafe is a newly-opened mom-and-pop Thai restaurant located in the Woodcroft shopping complex. The owner was super-friendly; we had a good conversation about Thailand.

Sadly, I was surprised to see how limited Hope Cafe's menu was - just mostly Thai noodle dishes headlined by Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. When I asked the owner if they have any Thai curry dishes, he said they are planning to eventually add them, but I was upset that they didn't have them when I went. To me, having at least 2 choices of Thai curry dishes should be a standard in any authentic Thai restaurant, and the best ones I've been to, serve them delightfully. This is the first purely Thai restaurant I've been to that doesn't offer curry dishes.

I went during weekday lunch time; there was one other customer there, and I noticed the small ambiance lacked decor; no visuals to remind me of Thailand's rich culture. This restaurant didn't have any lunch specials.

I asked the owner his recommendation; he said the Drunken Noodle, so I ordered that with chicken as my protein choice ($16) and a glass of iced Thai tea ($4). Other protein choices for the noodles are beef or shrimp ($17), and mixed vegetable or tofu ($15).

Thai Iced Tea

The glass of iced Thai tea arrived to my table right away. I've seen taller glasses with more Thai tea in other restaurants that are worth about the same price; the taste of this one was typical and balanced with the right amount of sweetness and ice. The cheap-looking glass kind of ruined my mood to enjoy one of my favorite drinks. Compare that to Thai Station's slender glass (which I previously reviewed with 5 stars), and it just made me think that Hope Cafe didn't seem to care about the visual details of a customer's dine-in experience.

Drunken Noodle

As someone who's tried a good amount of pad thai and drunken noodles from various Thai restaurants, Hope Cafe's version failed to meet my expectations for a $16 noodle dish. The serving amount was surprisingly little; there was no complimentary appetizer or soup, and the taste wasn't special to justify that amount for that price. I liked how the chicken was tender and the flavors were well-balanced. I got more value from a $12+ lamb & chicken over rice from the Tasty Halal food truck (I know totally different types of food but this comparison proves a fair point).

The owner placed 4 small sauce containers for me to adjust my Drunken Noodles' taste: chili, chili sauce, vinegar, and sugar. I added a bit of chili sauce, but didn't use any of the other ones.

If you really enjoy eating drunken noodles or pad Thai and don't mind the lack of value from Hope Cafe's noodle dishes, you might think this is acceptable, but I'd rather spend that amount in a Thai restaurant that could offer more in terms of both quality, quantity, and menu choices.

As much as I wanted to spread the word about a new Thai restaurant in Durham, this one failed to give me hope to return.

| Overall...

I really love Pad See Eew at Hope cafe. Also the coconut ice cream is very delicious. Will definitely come back. So happy to stop by and eat here.

Second time at Hope Cafe

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Hidden Gem in Durham!

Hope Cafe in Durham is one of those special places you can’t stop thinking about after your first visit. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff are genuinely friendly and welcoming. But what really blew me away was the Yen-Ta-Four—the pink noodle soup.

It’s hard to find this dish done right outside of Thailand, but Hope Cafe absolutely nails it. The broth is rich, slightly sweet, tangy, and uniquely savory from the fermented bean paste. Every bite is packed with flavor! The toppings were fresh and generous—crispy tofu, tender squid, fish balls, and crunchy veggies—served over perfectly chewy noodles. It’s comforting, bold, and authentic.

If you’re in Durham and looking for something beyond the usual Thai fare, try the Yen-Ta-Four. It’s a rare find and absolutely delicious. Hope Cafe has definitely earned a spot on my...

My friend and I were driving back to WNC from Duke Medical and we both wanted Thai food for lunch. We googled Thai restaurants in Durham, near I-40 and this came up. Since they had great reviews, we put it in navigation. This place did not disappoint! The food was amazing! But even as important was the service we received. My friend is on a scooter with a large boot on her foot and lower leg from surgery. The owner (?) greeted us, recommended a table up front to make it easier for her to maneuver and park the scooter. He was so kind and attentive! We had a Pad Thai with chicken and Drunken noodles with chicken. We shared so we could try both- both meals were full of delicious flavors! And the meals are large enough to take some home. I will be dreaming of this meal for a long time. And it's now in my navigation for the next time I'm in the area. Thank you for such a...