Abigail Sears

in the last week

"I went to Nowon after seeing this restaurant listed as one of the top burger places in the world (#15). I tried the legendary burger, the chicken burger and the black sesame caesar salad. The legendary burger, which was smashburger style, was just okay. The bun was way too thick for the amount of meat served and could have also been toasted, the 'New American' cheese had no taste, there was no taste from the kimchi, and the pickle didn't add anything to the burger either. Overall, it was very underwhelming and not a burger I would be eager to eat again. The chicken sandwich, however, was a lot more flavorful and one I would recommend. The sandwich had a nice soy and sweet glaze to it which paired nicely with the jalapeños. The only thing to note with this sandwich was that the chicken was a little too tough and it made eating it difficult - it kept falling apart after each bite. Despite that, I would say the chicken sandwich and the black sesame caesar salad saved the meal. With those two items, it made the experience notable. But I wouldn't order that 'legendary' burger from Nowon again. 7/10 overall."

Vaso Platis

a week ago

"I will never get tired of this place. My #1 recommended NYC restaurant to anyone who asks. I am a GM at a restaurant in Astoria, Queens and I’ve been in the restaurant industry for over 13 years. This place is hands down my favorite. Their dining area is not that large so you must make a reservation. Their waitstaff is so friendly, funny and knowledgeable about their menu. I didn’t get our servers name but shoutout to him for recommending we add bacon to our burgers it was definitely a must, and elevated our burgers. If you come here you 10000% MUST get the chopped cheese rice cakes. I dream about these things. Also garlic parm tots are insane.. I’ve been here a handful of times and cannot wait to come back!"

Liam Henry-Tan

a week ago

"We went to Nowon for dinner to celebrate our anniversary and had a fantastic first experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the host and shown to our table, where Ashley took great care of us throughout the night! We ordered the 6-course Mixtape, which was an excellent way to experience the menu. The lamb skewers were tender, juicy, and nicely spiced. The General Lee’s fried chicken was a standout. Incredibly crunchy with tender meat, a sauce that balanced sweet heat beautifully, and peanuts for extra texture. The pickled daikon was a smart addition, cutting through the richness and spice perfectly. The yuzu focaccia was memorable: sweet and tart candied rind, super-light whipped ricotta, and a subtle background heat from the chili oil that tied everything together. The chopped cheese rice cakes were another highlight, great chew from the rice cakes, a creamy meat sauce, and breadcrumbs that added just enough contrast so the dish never felt one-note. We decided to supplement with the dry aged truffle burger, which was cooked exactly to our liking and incredibly tender. The mushrooms added an earthy umami depth that played really well with the beef, and the truffle sauce was present without being overpowering. We also added Jae’s Chicken Bun, which was pretty damn amazing. Essentially a larger version of the General Lee’s chicken on a bun: same great crunch, nutty peanut notes, and a sauce that was sweet, spicy, and tangy. A bit of a carb overload, but absolutely worth it. The final dish was the tater tots with garlic honey butter. We’re not usually big tater tot people, but these were solid. All the honey butter was pooled at the bottom, and we think tossing them would have helped. They were quite sweet and buttery and could have used just a touch more salt, though that’s only noticeable because every other dish was so well balanced! The vibe at Nowon is lively while still feeling warm and intimate. We only had Diet Coke and lemonade, but when Ashley found out it was our anniversary, she offered us a glass of champagne (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) which was such a thoughtful touch, especially since she seemed to notice we weren’t drinking. The entire staff was warm and welcoming, and the service really elevated the evening. Overall, it was a wonderful first visit and a great night out. We’ll absolutely be back!"

Bear Judkins

2 months ago

"We loved it! We had the 6 course meal for 2 and it was a lot of food! Great flavors from the incredible Korean style Caesar salad, crispy fried chicken, truffle tots, and an absolutely amazing and unique Burger. Really great and can’t wait to go back to go deeper into the menu. Great bartenders and cocktails too. 🙏"

Global Luxury Review

2 months ago

"Lots of news around the famous burger and I would say it was good but not great. The rice cakes with beef and cheese were excellent. Wish they carried more hot sauce options. Service was a bit off with appetizers before drinks and it was a very dark / bar type atmosphere. Was worth the trip, but would not rush back / come back unless somebody was keen to try it. That being said, kudos to the restaurant for the excellent smash burger but the lights and night made the ambience feel “interesting”"