Mami Nora’s

5 out of 5 stars

On yet another occasion, I am doing the hungry dance in front of Sharon’s desk. At 11:31pm. 11:31pm is generally as late as I can stand to wait to leave for lunch. Oatmeal for breakfast daily is only filling for about an hour, despite the fiber load. If you ask sometime, I can demo the hungry dance for you.

The Mami Nora’s in Durham is a bit hard to find. It’s by the intersection of Roxboro and 85, on the opposite side of the street from Los Comales hidden on the right down a little road. You’ll find a bright yellow and red building, one side the chicken rotisserie joint and the other side a little market. Of course the first time we went it was a Tuesday, and they were closed. Maybe Tuesday is a Peruvian holy day!

The ambiance is scarce, aside from the many menus on the wall, and the decorative camel hair tapestries. These are similar to those seen at Sarah’s Empanadas.

But you’re not here for the ambiance, dork. Place your order and make sure you pick up both sauces. The yellow sauce is awesome, it’s like a mayo-mustard hybrid. The green sauce is spicy. You could try mixing the two, also. I like dipping my fries in it and my chicken too. A good thing to try on your first visit is some of the wood-fired rotisserie chicken with some maduros (sweet friend plantains) and some rice or French fries. But I’ve also really enjoyed the Chipotle Mole chicken. A nice treat for dessert is one of the caramel-filled cookies. Or try a special purple drink called a Chi Cha Morada. It’s a bit fruity with hints of cinnamon and clove. Not like horchata, although they have that too.

Since my original post I’ve been here many, many times, and hit up all the locations! It’s reliable for great food and also a great idea for takeout. You can order a whole chicken and a few sides for your hungry family.

Mami Nora’s
320 Davidson Ave, Durham, NC 27704 | (919) 220-9028
2401 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608 | (919) 834-8572
4614 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27608 | (919) 713-0000
9575 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC 27560 | (919) 378-9259