Suwon Haenggung-dong steak dinner, 2-person 3-course plate: Nonchalant

Why I picked Nonchalant Lounge for a Haenggung-dong dinner date

It was a day for a cute little date around Haenggung-dong in Suwon. For dinner I wanted somewhere with great atmosphere, and if possible, somewhere really tasty too... after searching around here and there, I found Nonchalant Lounge!

Nonchalant Lounge is located in Haenggung-dong, Suwon. The access is great, so it was perfect for visiting after wandering around the area. It's across from the Suwon Traditional Culture Center and near Janganmun Gate.

Before visiting I looked up what "Nonchalant" means. The English word 'Nonchalant' means casual, calm, unbothered. Carefree... worry-free... comfortable... maybe that's the feeling they wanted guests to have while eating here?

No reservation means a wait — 5pm Naver reservation

I booked through Naver reservation for 5pm. This place gets so busy that if you don't reserve, you're guaranteed to wait. Definitely book on Naver!

On weekends they run straight through with no break time, so it's great for a late lunch or early dinner too.

Interior vibe and seating — a photo spot everywhere

The exterior is pretty, but the interior of Nonchalant Lounge was even, even, even prettier. Every corner is decorated with cute little aesthetic pieces, and every corner is a photo spot.

They have seating for 2, seating for 4, and even group seating.

Overall the place has a dim, moody atmosphere decorated with all kinds of lighting fixtures — the interior is so completely my style!

With the open kitchen, hygiene and cleanliness at Nonchalant Lounge also seem like they'd be perfect. Even if your purpose isn't purely to eat, the coziness of the place makes it a great spot to just stop and rest for a while.

Two people, three dishes — ordering via QR code

You order through the QR code set up at each table. We ordered the beef chuck steak platter, bisque rosé pasta, and truffle bulgogi risotto. We tried to keep it to two dishes for two people, but couldn't let go of our greed (?) — everything looked too delicious to give up even one.

First, our dinner table greeted us with beautiful plating. Ooh — good-looking food tastes good too.

Steak, pasta, and risotto — I couldn't miss out on a single one. The reviews were great, but just looking at other people's photos, I couldn't give any of them up either.

Beef chuck steak platter, medium

First up to review: the beef chuck steak (salchisal)! Among beef cuts, chuck flap is my favorite. But steak, you ask? I can't sleep at night if I don't eat it. It comes cooked medium, deliciously charred, served alongside grilled vegetables.

The properly cooked meat has a hearty texture, each bite feeling satisfying. Eating it with the asparagus, tomatoes, and mushrooms alongside, before you know it the steak is gone...

I dipped it in the special sauce too, but a steak this good is delicious even just dipped in salt.

Truffle bulgogi risotto, the white garlic sauce is my top pick

Next, my personal number one: the truffle bulgogi risotto. It's topped with thinly shredded perilla leaves, bulgogi (marinated beef), and a generous helping of special white garlic sauce, with creamy risotto underneath.

Instead of mixing it all together, I ate the risotto together with the toppings bite by bite. What even is that white sauce, why is it so good...? Onion, garlic, white sauce — they combined all the delicious things. This is a flavor you really can't get anywhere but Nonchalant! I scraped the hot plate completely clean.

Bisque rosé pasta, a deep shellfish base

Last to review: the bisque rosé pasta. Even if you don't know what the dish is, one bite and you'll go "ah, so this is what bisque tastes like" — it's packed full of seafood and shrimp flavor. It really feels like pasta made from a concentrated essence... I'm so happy I don't have a shellfish allergy. Being able to enjoy this delicious flavor!

I added a drop of refreshing lemon and stirred it all evenly. The shellfish flavor and aroma are so intense that you'd swear this was bisque even blindfolded from 30 meters away.

Beyond the plump shrimp on top, there are finely diced shrimp mixed through the noodles too, giving little bursts of texture with every bite.

How was it as a date or blind date spot?

The atmosphere needs no explanation, and the food is amazing. It's such a great setting for a blind date too — actually, the table next to us felt like they were on one, so I kept half an ear open and ate with great interest. If you're looking for a date spot in Haenggung-dong, book Nonchalant Lounge without a second thought!!