Nowon sushi buffet: raw salmon sashimi and bead ice cream, Kuu Kuu

What's new at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch?

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) has added new dishes and upgraded some popular existing ones, so there is a lot more to eat. New items arrive every season, but this time the additions, like raw salmon sashimi, smoked duck and lamb chops, are the kind that make a meal properly satisfying.

There was also an event offering unlimited free draft beer at the time of the visit, which caught my eye. The flatfish, salmon and shrimp sushi have better ingredients and composition, and bead ice cream is available at lunchtime for dessert, so you can enjoy everything from start to finish.

With so many dishes, don't just pile up your plate. Start with the raw salmon sashimi and sushi, try meats like smoked duck and lamb chops, then finish with dessert. Get greedy and the regret hits the moment you walk out!

What can you eat besides sushi at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch?

Besides sushi, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch has sashimi, rolls, meat, fried food, noodles, salads, fruit and ice cream all in one place. Kuu Kuu is known as a sushi buffet, but walk around the restaurant and you'll see it's not only sushi.

With new dishes added and existing ones upgraded, the choice is wider than before. Even in a big group, everyone can easily pick what they like.

If you like raw fish, I'd recommend the upgraded raw salmon sashimi and the flatfish sushi. If you'd rather skip raw fish, go for smoked duck, lamb chops, hot dishes and sides. That's why it works well for family or friend gatherings where tastes differ.

How does the free unlimited draft beer work at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch?

At the time of my visit, Kelly and Terra real draft beer was free and unlimited, and it was the first change I noticed. You do have to join a review event, but it's not much hassle, so almost anyone who wants it can get it.

At a buffet you taste lots of different foods in small bites, and cold, fizzy draft beer cleansed the palate between sushi and meat. It went fine with light dishes like salmon and shrimp sushi, and with rich ones like smoked duck and lamb chops. It was also good alongside fried and grilled food.

Being able to enjoy draft beer with the meal without worrying about a separate drink bill was a definite plus.

Is the new raw salmon sashimi a good first plate?

Before any sushi, the first thing I picked up at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch was the new raw salmon sashimi. You can enjoy the salmon itself without rice, so it suits a first plate. The soft texture and signature nutty richness make it hard to pass up if you like salmon.

A little soy sauce and wasabi cut the greasiness and bring out the salmon's clean taste. Rather than using lots of sauce, putting a bit of wasabi on top is the better way to check the salmon's flavor.

At a buffet, eating lots of rice-based sushi first fills you up fast. Start light with the raw salmon sashimi, then move on to salmon and flatfish sushi, and the differences in texture and taste come through more clearly.

What's better about the upgraded flatfish sushi?

The flatfish (gwangeo) sushi at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a staple that got bigger this time, which makes it more satisfying. It keeps the flatfish's clean taste and chewy texture, so it was nice to eat between heavily seasoned rolls and meat dishes.

As an upgraded item, the topping has a clearer presence. With a better balance of fish and rice, you don't just taste rice; you get the texture of the fish too. The quality was already good, and now the flatfish sushi is bigger, so I'm even happier.

With flatfish sushi, don't soak it in soy sauce; just dab the tip of the fish. Adding wasabi sharpens the clean flavor and resets your palate before the next dish.

Salmon sushi vs. raw salmon sashimi: what's the difference?

The salmon sushi at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, along with the raw salmon sashimi, was one of the most satisfying dishes of this meal. Sashimi lets you focus on the salmon's soft texture, while the sushi is about the salmon blending with the tang of the sushi rice.

The more you chew, the more the salmon's richness spreads, and the rice supports it, so it's easy to eat. Try the sashimi first and then the sushi, and you can feel how the same salmon tastes different depending on how it's served.

If you love salmon, I recommend this order: raw salmon sashimi, plain salmon sushi, then salmon dishes with sauce. Starting with the plain ones lets you compare each without the sauce masking them.

Is the shrimp sushi good for kids?

The shrimp sushi at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is easy to eat even for people or kids who dislike the smell of raw fish, and it felt like a step up from the old version. The springy shrimp texture and subtle sweetness blended naturally with the rice.

Likes and dislikes don't vary much from kids to adults, so it's handy when you visit as a family.

It's fun to choose among the shrimp sushi types, from plain ones to those with sauce. Start with the plain shrimp sushi and then pick the sauced ones, and the taste of the shrimp itself and the differences between items are clearer.

How are the smoked duck and lamb chops?

Smoked duck for a more filling plate

After a fair amount of sushi at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, I picked up the new smoked duck. It's tender yet chewy with a distinct aroma, creating a completely different flow of flavor from sushi.

It also relieves the monotony of eating only raw fish and sushi. Eat the warm smoked duck with vegetables and you enjoy the meat's flavor while it still feels relatively fresh.

Using a mustard-type sauce or some side vegetables in moderation brings the smoky aroma and saltiness together nicely. It pairs well with draft beer too, so if you're having beer, one plate is worth trying.

Lamb chops added to the meat lineup

Among the meat dishes at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, the lamb chops stood out. Lamb divides opinion because of its distinct smell, but properly grilled lamb chops are juicy and rich, boosting the satisfaction of a buffet meal.

It's important to eat lamb chops while they're warm, before they cool. Rather than taking a lot at once, take only what you can eat right away to keep the texture and flavor.

Depending on taste, a little salt or spice makes the lamb's character easier to enjoy. Being able to choose lamb chops at a sushi-focused buffet widens the menu.

The sake-steamed clams (baji-rak sul-jjim) are my regular order. You have to eat them.

What order should you eat in at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch?

At a buffet with this many kinds of food, deciding the order changes how satisfied you are. It's best to start the first plate with relatively light dishes like raw salmon sashimi and salad.

• First plate: light dishes such as raw salmon sashimi and salad
• Second plate: a little each of flatfish, salmon and shrimp sushi
• Next: meats like smoked duck and lamb chops, with a hot dish or soup in between for a change
• Finish: desserts such as bead ice cream and fruit

Rather than bringing too much sushi at once, check which dishes you like and then go back for more; that way you waste no food and enjoy it more. If you're drinking draft beer, sip it with the sushi and meat rather than gulping it from the start.

What is the new bead ice cream dessert like?

After the meal at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, I cooled my mouth with the new dessert, bead ice cream (gu-seul ice cream). Unlike ordinary soft serve, it comes as tiny pellets, so it's fun to look at and fun to eat.

The pellets melt softly in your mouth, spreading a sweet, cold taste. It was a good dessert after eating foods as different as sushi, lamb chops and smoked duck.

Kids will especially love the bead ice cream, but adults can easily enjoy it as a light dessert too. Add a little fruit or other desserts and the buffet ends on a happy note.

Bead ice cream costs quite a lot at cafés, but at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch you can eat as much as you like, so families with kids should definitely take note.

Why Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch works for family meals and group gatherings

The strength of Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch isn't one or two dishes but the wide range of choices. You can enjoy seafood like raw salmon sashimi and flatfish sushi, and also fill up on meat with smoked duck and lamb chops.

Even if someone who doesn't like raw fish or sushi comes along, it's not hard to find something to eat. Kids can pick shrimp sushi, hot dishes and dessert, while adults enjoy sashimi, lamb chops and draft beer together.

It's a comfortable choice for family meals, friend gatherings and group outings where tastes differ. With the new dishes and upgraded sushi, there are more reasons to visit than before.

Final verdict on Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch

With free unlimited draft beer through the review event, plus new items like raw salmon sashimi, smoked duck, lamb chops and bead ice cream, a meal at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is richer than before. The basic sushi, including flatfish, salmon and shrimp, has been upgraded too, so you still get the core satisfaction of a sushi buffet.

The course worked well: start light with raw salmon sashimi, try the upgraded sushi, fill up on smoked duck and lamb chops, then finish with bead ice cream. It's a good fit when you want sushi and sashimi, meat and dessert all in one place.

In short, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch has widened the choice by adding raw salmon sashimi, meat dishes and a novel dessert to its already varied sushi lineup. Everything tastes good, so rather than loading up at once, take a little of each kind and go back for what you liked. That is, if you don't want to lie awake cringing in regret later!