Kukurukoo Express

Amazing authentic Mexican food! CASH only! Limited seating. Pork burrito is a MUST! Prices are reasonable. Long wait time for food but it’s worth it.

Today they don’t accept credit cards. It was just a month or so ago another reviewer was complaining about the convenience fee. If memory serves, this happened before and then all of a sudden they started taking cards again. Banking issues, maybe?
Food is still good, but not as fresh as it could’ve been because of having to make a special trip to tap an ATM, setting me back an additional 15 minutes which isn’t good when part of your order is a burrito and a torta. They really need to get it together cuz this is ridiculous.

OK food but can be better and please don’t charge customers extra money for use there cards that a rob

I like to think of myself as having a pretty hard to impress palette when it comes to Mexican food, growing up in Southern California will do that too you. I really liked this place, they do excellent pollo (chicken). The prices are fair and the portions are pretty big, I ordered a burrito (I know I know not authentic but I wasn’t feeling tacos) and the wife ordered a quesadilla on a corn tortilla, both of which came out quickly enough and were excellent. The shredded chicken is wonderful juicy with a good char. The quesadilla was made with very very fresh queso fresco. I really cant recommend this place enough. I want to go back and try some tacos. The hot sauces were good and I suspect homemade. Anyway, anyplace that blares durango while you eat has to be good.

I’m pretty sure once you enter the front door, you’re actually in Mexico. That’s all you need to know to make an informed decision.

Even with a waitstaff that is less than attentive (not to mention nowhere near fluent in English) and an outrageous $ 3 charge for using a credit card on bills over $ 50, I have always found Kukurukoo Express to be a charming little Mexican/​Colombian restaurant in the heart of Newport, Del.
Kukurukoo Express is one in a line of many Mexican restaurants that have come from this standalone, flashily painted bulding on Market Street. None of the previous occupants seemed to last more than six months or so; Kukurukoo has defied the odds and has been there for more than three years.
Upon entry, we were greeted by the kind woman who presumably owns the place. She recognized us even though it had probably been a year since we’d visited. But one thing hadn’t changed: The laptop atop the bar upon which she often whiles away her time while we wait — somewhat annoyed — for her to come take our roder. If service in restaurants is a uniquely American thing (as one who’s traveled to Europe, I kind of agree with that generalization), this woman does nothing to disprove that stereotype. It often takes upwards of five minutes to get her attention.
As a health-​conscious eater, I was throwing all caution to the wind last night. I decided I was going to do it up right! So, to get started, I enjoyed a watermelon agua fresca. For those unaware of this Mexican street drink, it’s a wholly intoxicating blend of fresh fruit, sugar, and water. That’s it. No alcohol. With a little bit of ice blended in, it was a refreshing foil to a warm summer day. My friend ordered the mango agua fresca, which was tasty, but not nearly as refreshing. Mango is a little thicker and more syrupy, so it doesn’t have that same absolute-​cooling effect like watermelon.
We ordered chips, salsa, and guacamole to get started. The corn tortillas for the chips are hand cut and fried and totally perfect. The salsa is unbelieveably savory and the heat is there, but not overwhelming. The guacamole was a little disappointing. Previous trips have been better, but my friend mentioned he thought they «diluted» it with a little too much pico de gallo, meaning someone in the kitchen was cutting back on the creamy avocado. My friend didn’t touch much of it because of the presence of cilantro, an herb I like.
For my main, I ordered the house’s specialty: roasted chicken. A half roasted chicken is only $ 5! A BIG score. And this is no ordinary roasted chicken. Rubbed with a magnificent blend of spices (cumin, pepper, cayenne, more?!?) and roasted, this bird is perfectly golden brown on the outside and the meat on the inside is ridiculously tender. For sides, I tried to keep it a little healthy. Nopales (cactus) salad with onions and the refried beans proved a perfect yin and yang of flavors to compliment the chicken.
But I didn’t stop there… I also ordered two chorizo tacos. Chorizo is a guilty pleasure of mine and these tacos did not disappoint. Spicy, meaty, and beautifully greasy are how I would describe the chorizo. Topped with some salsa verde and cilatro, and you have a perfect three-​bite taco. Times two!
I ended up saving most of the chicken and salad and beans for today’s lunch, so I’m quite pleased! Try out Kukurukoo Express. The service isn’t great and if you bring cash you won’t have to deal with that obnoxious fee.