Full disclosure: I'm usually the person side-eyeing "Asian fusion" on a menu. The genre has earned its skepticism (too often it's food sanded down into something more marketable, less itself). So when I say Nowon won me over, I mean it as a real compliment. The ambiance itself is intimate, fun, colorful. An experience. First visit, we went with the Classic Mixtape, which is essentially a prix fixe served family style at $49/person. Smart move for a first time in theory; you cover a lot of ground fast. Here's what that ground looked like: chilled cucumber kimchi, whipped yuzu ricotta toast, wok-charred lamb lettuce wraps, General Lee's Fried Chicken, the Legendary Cheeseburger, and truffle parm tots. Honest review of the Mixtape: uneven, but the highs are high enough to forgive it. The cucumber kimchi and ricotta toast didn't move me. The tots were fine...just tots. But the lamb lettuce wraps had real flavor and restraint, the fried chicken delivered exactly what its name promises (it's general tso's chicken so it can't really be bad), and the Legendary Cheeseburger is, in fact, kind of legendary. Worth noting that "half a burger per person" sounds stingy on paper and somehow still satisfies. My regret? Glancing at the tables around me mid-meal and watching Japchae and Spicy Buldak Chicken go by. Both looked like the right call. Next time I'm skipping the Mixtape and building my own plate around those two plus the fried chicken and burger. Sometimes the prix fixe teaches you exactly what to order à la carte. Nowon is the rare fusion spot that feels like it's adding something rather than diluting it. Come hungry, look at what your neighbors ordered, and adjust accordingly. read more

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I love how this place looks and feels, esp at night, but wow, it gets really busy. We were able to get seated outdoors pretty quick, but I will say the service... isn't great. We were forgotten once the food came out, so we had to go inside and wait until we can ask someone for the check. The food was good enough for me to return, and I really will need to try the mixtape next time. It's hard to go for a course tasting menu when there are dietary restrictions amongst a group of 5, but it should be easier with 2 people. I say this only because I really wanted to try the chopped cheese rice cakes but was not able to this visit. That's fine though because the garlic honey butter tots were really good! The legendary burger was good as well, but not the best smash burger I've had. The highlight is definitely the sauce. read more

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the food here wasn't bad but also wasn't incredible. nothing stood out to me besides the chopped cheese' rice cakes. yuzu toast was so interesting; i wasn't a huge fan of the chili oil but didn't hate the yuzu ricotta. i don't think i'd order it ever again. the legendary burger wasn't anything special honestly; the kimchi special sauce saved it but the meat was slightly charred/burnt. black sesame crème brûlée was good, just wish it had a thicker consistency! it was too watery for my liking service was fine, my waiter was attentive but wasn't exactly friendly. really liked the aesthetics of the place though! read more

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Kinda pricey for what it is, but I love the chopped cheese rice cakes. Interesting concept and love the fusion cuisine. Surprised it hasn't been more crowded on the instances I've gone. Location is kinda a pain to get to, but I would stop by if I were already in the area. read more

Nowon Seaport - Chopped cheese rice cakes - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place was so good. Heard the burger is a standout so ordered that. Came with this amazing sauce and the patty was crispy on the outside and seasoned so well. Cheese melty. Bun was great. Cucumbers were so refreshing and delicious. Fried chicken was good but a little too sweet for me. Food came fast. Really good ambiance in here. Trendy spot with great food, would recommend! read more

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Was seated promptly when I arrived for my reservation. The service was great all night. Waitress regularly checked in throughout our meal and ensured everything was okay. I got the Korean Born Star mocktail which was scrum (sweet and fruity). My friend got a white wine which she enjoyed. We shared the lamb lettuce wraps as a starter. They were okay but nothing to rave about. I got the legendary burger with an egg on the side. The burger was great. I was nervous I'd regret not trying something more exciting but it was truly a magnificent burger. I had the egg on the side so I could taste the burger on it's own (which was already amazing) then I added the egg in and it was even better. My friend got the kimchi fried rice which she enjoyed. Portion sizes were good value and overall thought price was fair. Definitely going back to try the Mixtape menu! Restaurant is in a great location. Would not recommend trying to drive in (I never do at least). Easily accessible from South station or courthouse station via red and silver lines. There's plenty to do around after eating: shopping, desserts, walking. Also right across from Cisco if you fancy a night out. read more

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We tried the mixtape, a multi course tasting menu and we were not disappointed. In fact left quite satisfied. A seasoned cucumber, Caesar salad,spicy chicken, shrimp tacos 1/2 a smash burger, tater tots. All with Korean seasoning /sauces. Worth a return visit. read more

Nowon Seaport - Mixtape tasting menu - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my meal at nowon! This modern asian fusion spot has delicious takes on classic american and korean dishes. The chopped cheese rice cakes were insanely delicious- this dish takes all the best spicy sweet taste of the classic tkkeoboki and combines it with creamy flavorful chopped cheese meat to make a heavenly combo (get this!!). I also had the lunch special which comes with a smash burger, honey tots, and kimchi cucumbers. The smash burger was great, classic flavor. The honey tots were YUMMY - sweet, salty, crunchy, and paired well with the creamy sauce. The kimchi cucumbers were good nothing special. I also loved the ambiance of nowon - feels like an elevated restaurant with a fun playful feel. read more

Nowon Seaport - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I was really excited to try Nowon when I heard it first opened in the Seaport and I'm glad I got to check it out! We went for dinner and decided to try the family style mixtape to get a variety of options. I definitely recommend ordering like this because you get a ton of food! We had the caesar salad, shrimp skewers, general lee's fried chicken, chopped cheese rice cakes, legendary cheeseburger, and garlic honey tots. My personal favorites and must tries were the caesar salad and cheeseburger! While the chicken and tots were good, I didn't think they were anything special. I also wish they had included a dessert option at the end instead of one of the savory dishes. Overall, this was a really good meal and food came out quick which was great! The inside has a fun vibe so you will definitely have a great night out if you check this spot out. read more

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Went here after stopping into to Mai's sushi hand rolls down the street. Figure we try a couple spots in seaport we haven't been to. The vibe is fun, lighting is like being at a kings ambiance. Our server was nice, I did have to take initiative to grab my own utensils and condiments though. I would have filled my own waters if they let me get a pitcher haha. Then tots were nice and crispy and came out HOT which is appreciated! The shrimp skewers for me lacked flavor since you get 4 skewers maybe it was one but not for us that night and it was already cold by time we got it. The Jae's chicken sandwich had good balance of flavor, no heat of any sort. The temperature was like warm. It felt like the chicken wasn't freshly fried, not crispy and had a tough chew through it. The legendary burger was also luke warm but our friend enjoys that burger in general (she's been here before). All in all a chill spot to hang, I'd give it another try to see how the food is when HOT. The highlight for us was the taters. read more

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In Seaport for the afternoon and stumbled upon this spot for a tasty bite. The service was great! The restaurant and bathrooms were clean. The dishes were flavorful. Perfect blend of Korean fusion food! Prices were fair with decent portion sizes. read more

Nowon Seaport - The Legendary Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My friend and I tried out this place for brunch this past weekend. We got the lunch set which came with the legendary cheeseburger, cucumber kimchi, and honey garlic tater tots. The cheeseburger was a double patty cheeseburger. It was so delicious! It had a spicy kick too it The honey garlic tater tots were really good too. For dessert, we got the black sesame creme brulee. Good stuff! Hope to try the rice cakes and chicken sandwich next time! read more

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The vibes in this place are sooooo chill and just what I was looking for. The ambiance, the lights, the music, loved it. Now on to the food!! Wow wow wow. The chopped cheese rice cakes???? AMAZING. Now THAT is what I call a hybrid food gone great! General Lee's chicken--if you're a fan of soy sauce based food, then you'll love it! The soju flight was great too--you can just tell that they work hard in creating these delicious drinks. Check this place out if you're curious and take a lot of cute pictures inside because it's definitelyyyyy a wonderful vibe. read more

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I think this was a creative concept with the Korean-American fusion. We got the chopped cheese rice cakes and the Legendary Burger. I appreciated how soft and chewy the rice cakes were, and was pleasantly surprised by the chopped cheese! The legendary burger was also pretty good, but honestly didn't really get a whole lot of Korean taste from it. The kimchi sauce wasn't very strong and it honestly didn't taste too different from an American burger. It was still good though, I will give it that. I just wish it were spicier. The service was also excellent even though it was pretty empty when we went. Our server was super attentive and patient while we ordered. I'd come back again and probably order something different. read more

Nowon Seaport - Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes & The Legendary Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Although I had a more positive experience on my second outing, I think I'll keep the rating the same. Finally brought my sister, even though she was the one that told me about NOWON. To get a better feel of their menu, we went with The Classic Mixtape. The irony is that it requires 2 people minimum, so we each get charged $55 for half of the 7 course meals. 1. Black Sesame Caesar Salad - sister loved it, pretty flavorful for a salad. 2. Grilled Shrimp Skewers - 2 and it was good while it lasted. 3. General Lee's Chicken - I LOVE this item and really made me hopeful about my future visits to NOWON. Could use rice to damper the flavor a bit. 4. Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes - okay, some things shouldn't mix. 5. Honey Garlic Butter Tots - simple, but our second favorite item. 6. Legendary Cheeseburger - my sister was very excited with everything until this point. She took one bite and put it down. That's 2 for 2 of the Legendary Cheeseburger, luckily we only had to finish half each. 7. Chef's Choice of Dessert - we were given the bill, no dessert ever appeared... read more

Burger was incredible, cucumber kimchi and tater tots were 10/10. Service was just odd, waiter wasn't attentive didn't know if he was the host or our waiter. read more

5 out of 5! Friday night with friends, we were looking for a new spot none of us had tried. Nowon is a New York joint that's recently expanded to Boston. We made a reservation and didn't know what to expect. Arriving, we discovered they have an outdoor patio, large bar, and a well-laid-out interior. Great place to go as a couple or with a group of friends. It's night-appointed. Good lighting. Comfortable seats. The music and music videos playing on the back wall above the open kitchen added to the vibe. The menu isn't huge but has enough to choose from. We all opted to go for the pre-fixe, which they call "mix tapes." They have two options. We went for the smaller option of 5 courses. It was more than enough food; we were all stuffed and struggling to finish the, spoiler, delicious tots by the end. This is what we had: - Black sesame Caesar salad - General's fried chicken - Rice cakes - Cheese burger - Honey butter tots The salad was a good portion, topped with a blizzard of grated cheese; it was very tasty. But the other dishes were so incredible I actually forgot how good the salad was by the end. It's hard to say which I liked more: the fried chicken or the rice cakes. They were both incredible. The chicken were big chunks of tender battered chicken in a perfectly sweet and spicy sauce. The rice cakes, though! Prepared in a way I haven't had anything before. They were in the most delicious sauce that almost tasted like a bolognese. Never have I had rice cakes side by side with fried chicken prepared in a way that made them more craveable than the chicken! By the time the burger came we were already feeling full. But the burger was delicious. A great example of a smash burger. Cheesy, saucy, with pickles. It was just the right amount of messy. Then came the tots. Served in a delicious garlic butter honey sauce. They kept getting better. That I mean is by the time you make it half way through the large mound of tots you find the sauce pooled on the bottom on the bowl. It's addicting and you can't stop dipping them. Our server was attentive. I saw her checking or progress without being invasive so that she could time the next course. She did a great job. As for drinks they have a full bar. They also offer soju and have two type of soju flights. I opted for the "original" flight. No mistakes made. It was great! Nowon is a great addition to the seaport. We will definitely be back. read more

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We chose to order à la carte since the whole table has to do the 5-course EP, and we wanted some different items. Price-wise, ordering separately came out to only about $3 more than the pre-fixe, so it was worth it. Nowon has since updated their menu, but when we visited we had the Kimchi Fried Rice (minus bacon), The Legendary burger, shrimp mandu with chili oil, and the tofu sandwich. We would get everything but the tofu sandwich again. The fried rice and mandu were excellent! The space is vibrant and fun, with movies playing and great music. It is a bit loud and the tables are close together, but overall the vibe is great and I'm excited to go back and try more. read more

Nowon Seaport - Kimchi Fried Rice - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect but Nowon Seaport wasn't half bad! Definitely exceeded my expectations, in a way. They offer classic American food with a Korean twist. This is their 3rd & newest location, with two other locations in NY (East Village NYC is the original flagship & 2nd in Brooklyn). OMG! If there's one dish on the menu you must get, please let it be the honey garlic butter extraordinary tots. They are phenomenal & the perfect appetizer. We came here after having dinner down the street actually lol, and still felt a little hungry so we ordered the following dishes to try: -honey garlic butter extraordinary tots -seared shrimp skewers -Jae's chicken bun -the legendary burger Honey garlic tots, A MUST order! Seared shrimp skewers, meh. I honestly wasn't too much of a fan, though that could be because they arrived to the table a little cold & I like my food hot. I also felt like the shrimp was missing something in flavor? The Jae's chicken bun had nice flavor + seasoned well but could've been better if it was crispier & like the shrimp, the sandwich was lukewarm upon arrival. The legendary burger was flavorful and looked pretty (oopsies, I guess I forgot to capture a photo of it hahaha) but like the other dishes, came lukewarm. I feel like since most of the dishes, with the exception of the tots, came warm & not hot, we didn't get the full experience? I think perhaps we would've liked Nowon more if the food was hot. Another thing I want to mention is that the service isn't great. It's difficult to get the attention of the staff. We found ourselves having to grab utensils & napkins, since no one was really attending to us... With this all being said, I would say 3/5 is a fair & definitely reasonable rating for our experience at Nowon Seaport. read more

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Nowon absolutely delivered on every front! The food was everything it was hyped up to be--bold, flavorful, and executed to perfection. From the first bite to the last, every dish hit the mark. What really took the night to another level, though, was the energy behind the bar. The young brotha holding it down there was phenomenal--super welcoming, full of personality, and his deep knowledge of the menu made the whole experience feel curated just for us. His recommendations were spot on and added so much to our evening. Vibes, food, service--top tier. read more

Nowon Seaport - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The legendary cheeseburger is really delicious! Went back twice and had the same experience.

Nice food and the service was quick! Bit pricey for what it is. We tried the cheeseburger, chopped cheese rice cakes, tater tots and the mushroom noodles. Would have liked the noodles to have more flavour, tasted oily but needed something else. Tater tots were great, crispy and a nice honey sauce! Best thing for me was the rice cakes with spicy beef! Dessert option was just a panna cotta. Won't rush back, mainly because of the price and there was no standout dish read more

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Stopped by Nowon to grab a quick bite while in the area and they delivered just two absolute banger dishes. I ordered the burger and the kimchi friend rice (no pork) and was blown away by both. Really cool interior, busy place but decent amount of seating and wasn't too difficult to secure a last minute Resy. Definitely recommend, great Korean gastropub! read more

Nowon Seaport - Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My friend and I luckily got two seats at the bar on a Friday night. The drinks were delicious. Overall, the menu seemed limited to me, but we ended up ordering the burger and it was delicious. It was the perfect size and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is quite small. The tables are very close to one another, so if that isn't your vibe, you might want to try and sit at the bar. We'd definitely come back for the burger and drinks again! read more

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" Best fried chicken & vibe " The vibe is upbeat and positive. The fried chicken is absolutely delicious. Taste fresh and on point . We absolutely had a great time on our dinner date . We definitely will be back . The service was great. read more

I was very excited to try Nowon as I have heard a lot about this place. I visited on a weeknight around 7pm for dinner. The place was decently full. I didn't have any reservations and was dining solo. I was seated at the bar. Immediately the vibe was a little cold, the bartenders attending to other folks around, not making any eye contact or small talk with their new customer. Sadly this here is a test of customer service - how restaurants treat solo diners. Someone finally handed me the menu. The menu is not extensive. Based on the bartender's recommendation I got the cheeseburger and the curried tots. Note that the burger doesn't come with any sides so you will have to order a full sized side. My food came out fast, with no cutlery which I had to ask for. I also got a sake. The food was great, well seasoned. But honestly it wasn't worth the hype of price tag. Perhaps it's the location that you're paying for. After tax and tip I paid around $56 which felt very overpriced. read more

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We came in with a reservation for an early weekend dinner, but it wasn't busy inside. And definitely not busy enough to charge a fee for a no show if your plans change (at last for our time). We each got a Legendary Cheeseburger. I liked the 2 patties, while my partner would've preferred 1. The burger itself was a bit dry and could've used more of the fixings that come with it, especially the kimchi sauce. The General Lee's Chicken was fine, but wasn't all that special. We didn't get any drinks, so no comment on that. The interior, ambiance, and design of everything, were great! I agree with another review that said the service was nice, but generally hands-off, but they did check on us once after the food was served. In all, even though the place looks good and is in a nice pocation, there's many other Boston-area places that will do a better burger for me (including Asian-inspired burgers) or have chicken that I would've liked more (plenty of spots for that as well). I suspect that for most of their other dishes, another place would execute them better too, so I can't really see myself coming back here. read more

Nowon Seaport - Legendary Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We arrived on a Saturday night and were seated quickly in time for our reservation, which was a great start to the evening. Space felt much smaller than expected, and the tables are extremely close together. The dining area felt tight and very loud as a result. One thing that stood out was the placement of the single bathrooms. They are right near the dining area. If someone forgets to close the door, the smell carries over to nearby tables, which is not ideal in such a compact space. Of course, that is largely due to the layout, so it is not necessarily anyone's fault. That said, some type of diffuser and space separator might help. The bathrooms themselves could also use some attention, as they felt quite unkempt and gave off more of a club bathroom vibe than a restaurant. Our table for 2 had a large cylinder filled with chopsticks, which felt unnecessary and took up valuable table space given how small the tables are. Unfortunately, the water glasses we were initially given were visibly dirty, though they were promptly replaced once we mentioned it. While the staff was cleaning a nearby table, cleaning spray was used and some of it drifted onto us. Given how close the tables are, it might be better to spray the cloth first and then wipe the tables to avoid overspray. There were also long gaps between dishes coming out, which made it difficult to enjoy the meal together since items arrived at very different times. One of our dishes was forgotten entirely, though to the server's credit they quickly corrected the mistake. They also comped part of the bill, which was not necessary but was a very kind gesture and much appreciated. Overall, the drinks are strong and the food is decent if you enjoy fusion style dishes. While the tight layout made table dining less comfortable, I would consider coming back and sitting at the bar next time for a different experience. As a millennial, I did enjoy the music videos and playlist playing in the background. It added a fun, nostalgic vibe to the night. read more

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Nowon, the newest arrival to the neighborhood, brings bold NYC-Korean energy with plates that don't hold back. The General Lee's Chicken: no frills, no apologies, just perfect execution; a golden crackle with every bite. The Extraordinary Tots: drenched in honey garlic butter, they blur the line between indulgence and obsession. Obviously, we had to try both of their burgers: Legendary Cheeseburger vs. Dry Aged Steak Burger Legendary Cheeseburger: this one's a full blown flavor throwback. It had thin, griddled patties with deep sear, stacked with New School American Cheese (I had the chance to try this cheese last year when I met Chef Eric Greenspan at a Mike and Patt's tasting event; so much better than the American cheese that we are used to) that melts cleaner and creamier than the classic slice. Add tangy pickles (everyone who knows me personally knows that I hate pickles, but these were different), caramelized onions, and house sauce that clings to the bun just right. It's nostalgic, but elevated. Dry Aged Steak Burger: this one's the grown up. A dry aged blend that's funky, beefy, and complex. The patty has a firmer bite, a deeper umami pull, and it's still wrapped in that same New School American Cheese, which adds just enough creaminess to balance the richness. Every dish is deliberate, confident, and built to stand out, just like the neighborhood it landed in. The decor inside is facinating as well! I definitely recommend making a reservation for this one. This place fills up fast! Thank you for this great meal, Nowon! read more

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First visit to Nowon, a sort-of-Korean import from New York City. Upbeat modern design with Asian art and signage. The main draw for me was their dry aged burger, but it turned out not to be offered during brunch. My choice of side was curry tots, a ho-hum presentation but plenty of them. "Legendary" Burger: Very solid for a double smash, coming in crispy as per the style without sacrificing tenderness and juiciness, as happens too often with that style. Nice beef flavor, complemented and not upstaged by the toppings, which include kimchi. General Lee's Chicken: Very impressive fried chicken appetizer as well. Crisp, spicy, tender. Compelling sweet and spicy flavors, with peanut and scallion to dress things up. Good portion and value for the price, which I can't really say for the rest. Tofu Burger: My wife's order had good thickness and tenderness. Her choice of side was a Caesar salad; another large portion. Eggplant Toast: Decent, though on barely toasted bread and a tiny portion. Prices were not only high, but $3 per sandwich higher than on the website menu, even though they've only been open a short time. Service: Very hands-off even though it wasn't busy. The server seemed to be looking in any direction BUT the table. The food was mostly good, but kinda undecided on whether to return for the dry aged burger. Probably a one-time splurge, but there are plenty of places with better value. read more

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Excuse me -- there is some hibiscus and wasabi in my mezcal. Oh wait -- that was intentional...and it's good. It's sometimes hard to square Boston with diversity, particularly in the food scene. Nowon is a great addition to helping make the case though -- even if it is as a transplant from New York (as a transplant myself I don't mind!). The "Evil Eye" drink was balanced -- not too sweet with a bit of kick, but not quite as much as I would have expected. If I get it again, I may ask the bartender to kick up the spice. As it was my first time, I had to try the legendary. The carmelization on the beef of the burger was spot on and the american cheese added creaminess without interfering with the flavor of the kimchi, which shown through. I was seated at the bar, as I tend to be -- but dimly lit place was giving off hangout vibes, so next time I'm bringing a friend. Thank you, Jae Lee (and Babu Koganti)! I'll be back. Love your story and hopefully we can meet someday soon. read more

Nowon Seaport - "Evil eye" - mezcal and hibiscus - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Ambiance for a Korean fusion is pretty nice and service was good and up to par. We did the prefixed menu to try a number of their dishes. Everything was tasty and tho the burger is listed as "legendary" we thought it was our least favorite thing although that doesn't still mean it wasn't good. It just speaks to their other menu items that were all delish. I'd stop by again and it didn't seem too hard these days to grab a resy, but when that would be, can't really tell and wouldn't be in much of a hurry. Overall it's a place worth checking out for comfort food, but nothing notable that was a high wow factor for us. read more

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We tried for a resy for 6:00 on a Sunday, but it was full, so we chose for 5:30. This wouldn't have been a problem, but upon arriving, the restaurant remained half empty throughout the entire evening. Not sure why they were so adamant that we choose a different time... We decided to try the black sesame caesar salad, chopped cheese rice cakes, and honey garlic butter extraordinary tots. The salad was basically a regular caesar salad with a hint of black sesame; I do wish there was more black sesame flavor. The chopped cheese rice cakes were good but nothing to rave about IMO. We really enjoyed the tots though. To be honest, I was expecting vibes similar to that of a pocha, but the limited and overpriced menu was giving white-washed Korean food rather than Asian fusion (if that's what they were even going for). Service was mostly good. I asked for a side of kimchi to go along with the rice cakes, and the waiter was quick to bring us a small side (though the kimchi they brought us was not your typical kimchi; more like a chopped tuna/kimchi mix). I read some reviews that mentioned the music being too loud, but I didn't really notice this problem. They must have fixed the volume recently. read more

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Made a last minute reservation the first week Nowon opened and it was very busy. It has a great vibe for drinks or a date night because it was dark and had good music, but I think they were working through some of the opening challenges that week. The server we had was great, but it was very slow. It almost seemed like they were understaffed for the night because it took a while to get our drinks the second time. The drinks were also inconsistent. The first lychee drink we got was really good, but the second drink barely tasted like lychee. There are also too many tables in the restaurant. You're very close to the next party over because there's less than a foot of space between the tables. The food itself was okay. I think the best item we got was the burger. Overall, I think this would be a fun place to get a drink and light apps. read more

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Based on all the videos I'd seen about Nowon and how well it was received in NYC I was excited to check it out. From the get-go things weren't great. We had a reservation and had to wait 10 minutes to be seated and weren't really told what was going on. I hope they figured out their seating situation because we were seriously packed in there like sardines, which clearly made everyone uncomfortable. We were so close to each other and the music was playing so loud i could hear what the guy next to me was saying better than my partner sitting across me. Our server was pretty nice, but we could barely hear a thing she said. The table on the other side of us was jutting out to the point where every party that was seated there complained and requested to be moved to another table, which was pretty distracting the whole time we were there. For food, we got the pre fixe which gives you all the trending items. Definitely a better deal than a la carte, but for what basically equates to drunchies you're going to pay a hefty dollar. All in all, a pretty disappointing experience. Felt like they tried too hard to bring NYC to Boston. read more

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I was very excited to try Nowon's new Boston location as I've heard great things about the restaurant in NYC. I got to my reservation early and sat at the bar to order a Lychee Keen. It was sweet and so delicious! The bartenders were all super friendly and personable. Once my friend arrived, we sat at our table and ordered an Open Sesame (espresso martini) and mocktail called Respect Your Elders. Both were great and all the cocktails were BEAUTIFUL. As for food, they have 2 options called "Mixtapes" in which you can get 5 or 7 courses of their most popular dishes. We weren't too hungry so we ordered a la carte but will definitely come back to try more! The Grilled Shrimp Skewers were good but nothing special. The Legendary Cheeseburger was in fact delicious. I wish I could've tasted alittle bit more kimchi though. And the Honey Garlic Butter Tots absolutely melted in our mouths YUM. The vibes here are fun, rap/hip hop music videos were playing but I will say it was LOUD. I couldn barely hear my friend across the table and voice was hoarse after. I'd definitely come back here and try out more dishes! read more

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I had the cucumber kimchi, which had a slightly spicy and sweet combination in flavors. A nice start to our dinner. We followed it up with the Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes. ABSOLUTELY make sure to have this. Since the menu is meant to be shared, we also had just one burger with tots. They happily offered to cut in half for us. It was early dinner so the manager (I believe his name was Boris) came by to chat us up after I told him I've been to the NYC locations. The Boston location is apparently the newest so they really made the atmosphere fit the Seaport neighborhood. A must visit for me when I'm in Boston as I come here often. read more

Went to Nowon recently and honestly it exceeded my expectations across the board. For about $55 a person you get a solid variety of plates which already feels like a great deal in Boston. The famous burger lives up to the hype, but what actually surprised me was how good everything was. The chopped cheese rice cakes, the black sesame Caesar salad ( both dishes I wouldn't have necessarily picked on their own) were all phenomenal. Nothing felt like filler. Highly recommend if you haven't been read more

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My partner and I got the marinated eggplant toast, fried chicken & matcha waffles, and legendary cheeseburger w curry spiced tots - TASTE: 4/5 - my favorite was the chicken & waffles dish w its hot honey butter, savory maple syrup, and strong matcha taste in the waffles. Otherwise, classic eggplant flavors in the toast and the burger's well seasoned patty, kimchi special sauce, and curry tots were tasty TEXTURE: 5/5 - was not expecting the matcha to be a mochi filling in the waffles -- wow, genius! I was truly blown away by that lol. Also enjoyed the burger's sesame-topped bun, combo of the tender eggplant w crisp toast, and both the fried chicken and tots were fried nicely PRICE: 4/5 - expect to splurge a little for brunch, total came to $84 SERVING SIZE: 3/5 - wish the appetizer and my chicken & waffles were a bit bigger SERVICE: 4/5 - made a reservation through OpenTable and arrived at 1:15pm on a Sunday. Plenty of tables were available if we had wanted to walk in. Food came out 15min later ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - lively, hip, and well-decorated space! Also learned that Nowon is pronounced "now on" (vs "no one") lol PARKING: 4/5 - got a street spot on a Harborview Ln and walked 10min over read more

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There's something about a place that hits you the second you walk in, the smell of frying oil, a low thump of bass, and the faint chaos of people doing something they actually care about. Nowon has that. It's got an edge, even in Boston's polished Seaport, where everything else seems designed for people afraid to spill sauce on their shirts. But when we walked in, it wasn't the scene you might expect. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and they sat us right by the front door, the kind of seat that makes you feel like part of the décor. I asked to move, and they handled it kindly. Once we settled, the room started to hum the way it should, laughter in the distance, the soft sizzle of the kitchen, the sense that something good was coming. We went for The E.P., a five-course tasting that's basically the story of Nowon told through food. It began with the ricotta toast, a perfect first act, rich but light, a bite that doesn't knock you over the head but tells you the chef knows what he's doing. Then came General Lee's Chicken, and this is where things got serious. Tender, beautifully fried, a little spicy for me, but full of flavor. The vegetables added a crunch that gave the whole thing rhythm, and the peanuts made it sing. You could eat this at midnight, standing up, and still feel happy about your choices. The Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes might be one of the most inventive dishes I've had in a while. It's that perfect collision of the familiar and the strange, chewy Korean rice cakes swimming in a cheesy, beefy sauce that tastes like late-night comfort wrapped in skill. It's the kind of dish that could fool you into thinking you were somewhere else, somewhere louder, like the North End after one too many beers. Then came the Honey Garlic Butter Tots, crispy, fluffy, and borderline addictive. They're the kind of side that shouldn't be as good as it is. The seaweed sprinkle sets it apart, giving that salty, savory pop that wakes up your taste buds and makes you reach for another even when you know you're full. Finally, the Legendary Cheeseburger, and it earns the title. Half a burger each, which feels cruel until you realize it's the perfect amount. The kimchi sauce ties the whole thing together, giving it a subtle tang that cuts through the richness. It's not a fancy burger, it's just a right one, beef cooked properly, cheese melted where it should be, and that saucy mess that gets on your fingers and makes you not care. We paired it all with a strawberry soju infused Jinro bottle, my first real taste of Soju. We made a bit of an occasion out of it, a small celebratory shot, a quiet toast, and slow pours through the meal. It was sweet, dangerously easy to drink, and did what good alcohol should do, relax you, loosen the night, make the food a little brighter and the conversation a little slower. By the end, I understood what Nowon is really about. It's not trying to be perfect. It's trying to be alive. A place where flavors have weight, where fusion isn't a gimmick, and where a bottle of Soju can turn a Wednesday night into something that feels a little bit like a celebration. Forty-five dollars for five courses that swing between comfort and creativity is more than fair. Nowon isn't Boston fancy. It's the kind of place that reminds you why you go out to eat in the first place, to taste something new, to talk too long, to walk out a little buzzed, a little full, and a little happier than when you came in. In a city that sometimes forgets how to loosen its collar, Nowon remembers. read more

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