Nowon Bushwick — Restaurant in New York

Discovering Nowon Bushwick was an adventure that seamlessly blended modern Korean tastes with a touch of the past. Stepping into the restaurant, the vibrant ambiance set the stage – a mix of modern coolness and nostalgic tunes spun by a DJ, weaving 90s hip-hop and pop hits into the evening's backdrop.

Embarking on our culinary journey, we dived into the Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes. This dish was an imaginative fusion of textures and flavors, intertwining tender rice cakes with the bold essence of chopped cheese. While the marriage was intriguing, the richness of the cheese sauce sometimes overshadowed the overall harmony. Adding a heavier sprinkle of green onions or a touch of acidity could have balanced the intense creaminess of the cheese and beef. Despite this, the dish exuded a comforting nostalgia, reminiscent of flavors akin to hamburger helper – a nostalgic and enjoyable venture that's worth a try at least once.

For the main course, we ventured into the realm of "Nowon Fried Chicken," opting for both the soy garlic and spicy gochujang versions. While both renditions pleased our palates, the spicy gochujang variation stole the spotlight. Its well-crafted blend of heat and sweetness heightened the succulence of the chicken, making every bite a savory delight.

A hidden gem emerged in the form of their cucumber and tofu dish – a surprising standout that delivered a spicy and savory punch while offering a refreshing contrast to the indulgence of the fried chicken.

The cocktails at Nowon Bushwick deserve a special mention. A testament to mixology mastery, they were crafted with meticulous care, serving as the perfect companions to our dining experience and adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the evening.

An unexpected delight was the manager's offering of sample pizzas, an ingenious fusion of Korean flavors and classic Italian comfort. This bold experimentation showcased the restaurant's willingness to push culinary boundaries and embrace the unexpected.

In the end, Nowon Bushwick left an indelibly positive impression. With its contemporary take on Korean cuisine, the restaurant remained authentic while introducing a modern twist. The culinary journey was complemented by a dynamic atmosphere, making it an enticing destination for those who seek a fusion of nostalgia and modernity. While minor nuances existed, Nowon Bushwick is a dining establishment worth exploring for its inventive approach to Korean flavors and its...

I hate leaving a bad review especially when it seems that so many people love this place! I was stoked to try it but damn, it was unbelievably overrated for food quality and price. Had the eggplant focaccia which was totally fine. The shrimp Mandu was the best part of the meal, flavors were the most coherent and the dumpling texture was great. The kind of Korean margherita was okay but so soggy / oily, we were all a little grossed out by it by the end. I see a lot of others have left similar comments. The chicken bun was also super soggy and the chicken was so chewy I couldn’t finish it. I agree with someone else who wrote before me that it was an absolute texture nightmare. 😩 and for the price? It’s hard to believe.

The best thing I think we had was the garlic honey butter tots but honestly, it’s kind of hard to mess up tots. Overall, everything we ordered was just a little to oily and a little too sweet. The vegetarian options are limited (we couldn’t get the mixtape options because they all had meat and we had mostly vegetarians in the party.)

The hostess must have been working her first shift because when we got there, it was practically empty but she looked very concerned / overwhelmed / had to go to the back to ask if she could sit us at one of the many available tables outside.

The overall vibes inside were fun. Love the branding and the ambiance. One note is that the music in the bathroom was unreasonably loud—every single person in our party was disturbed by it and made a comment when they came back to the table. To me, this is an accessibility issue for those with autism or sensory sensitivities. So often hip restaurants are inaccessible to those with sensory sensitivities and a clean, quiet bathroom is a respite from a loud restaurant. Here, the music was intentionally louder than in the restaurant itself. Nowon, if anything, please address this.

I would try anything twice but I will definitely be lowering my...

Drinks are good, food is overrated. TL;DR

I was so excited to try this place. I saw some tik toks and I wanted to try fusion Korean American food in the neighborhood.

Decided to come on a Friday night which was my first mistake. Got here at 7pm and asked how long the wait was. The hostess said about 40 minutes and to make sure I was nearby because they wouldn’t hold it. She suggested to stay at the bar for a drink so I could get seated right away. We decided to leave and came back 35 minutes later. Was told that they still had a little wait so we got drinks. After an 1.5 hour wait, we decided to just order take out cause I really wanted to try the food. Honestly, I should have just left then.

After I ordered, the hostess said she’d expedite my order since I was waiting so long, but still waited long time for my order. When I finally got my order and tried the food, I was underwhelmed.

We ordered the soy garlic fried chicken, Bushwick Buldak pizza, the chicken sandwich, the legendary burger & whipped ricotta toast. Everything was just fine. The burger and chicken sandwich were just okay. The soy garlic chicken were boneless and just fine. The Korean pizza was good, but nothing to write home about. The whipped ricotta was probably the best, but very small portions. Honestly, I feel like I should have just ordered from Abe’s Pagoda. Wait less time and had a better Friday night dinner for less. Now that’s a burger and chicken sandwich to write home about.

I did give 2 stars because the bartender was great. We ordered some drinks (frap star, crazy rich Asian and sparking rose) when we waited the first hour and he was super nice and even gave the rosé for free. He also checked in on us after a while and said he would check on our order.

Regardless of the wait, the food wasn’t worth the hype. I...