Nowon first-birthday party venue: 400-seat sushi buffet, Kuu Kuu

If you're browsing all-you-can-eat spots in Nowon and trying to figure out a family gathering venue, take a look at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch. I've been here a few times before, but when I heard the sushi lineup got upgraded, I went back — and was surprised at how much more solid the whole setup felt! Today I'll cover everything from the basics to pricing to an honest review of Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch.

Where is Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, and how do you book a table?

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet on the 6th floor of the Seoul Oncheon building in Hagye-dong. It's an 8-minute walk from Exit 2 of Hagye Station, so it's easy to reach by public transit, and since the building has 2 hours of free basement parking, it's also a great Hagye-dong spot to visit by car.

You can visit as a walk-in or after booking through Naver Reservation, but every time I've come here it's been waiting-list hell. Weekend waits are basically guaranteed, so I'd recommend booking ahead (same-day reservations are possible).

Where to park at Kuu Kuu Nowon: 4 free hours on Saturdays

I mentioned parking info above, but since Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is in the Seoul Oncheon Building, you can use the building's basement lot. You get 2 hours free, and just tell the staff your plate number at checkout.

That said, the building also has a wedding hall and a church, so weekends get crowded and the parking lot fills up fast. Here's a tip: every Saturday, you can use the nearby Hagye Technotown basement parking lot free for up to 4 hours. Keep that in mind if the building lot is full on a Saturday visit!

400 seats and a kids' playroom for first-birthday parties

The interior of Kuu Kuu is massive — the space is laid out generously enough to seat over 400 people, so even if there's a wait, it clears fast. There's even a separate playroom, so families with kids can eat with peace of mind while the little ones run around and have fun.

Prices and the 10,000-won-per-bottle corkage rule

Pricing is split into weekday (lunch/dinner) and weekend. For adults, weekday lunch is ₩27,900, weekday dinner is ₩31,900, and weekends are ₩35,900. Corkage is also available — ₩10,000 per bottle regardless of drink type, with no bottle limit! Since the corkage price is so reasonable, Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch seems like a great option if you're looking for a Nowon dol janchi (first birthday party) or banquet venue.

Upgraded sushi and Norwegian fresh salmon sashimi

I mentioned I visited after hearing the flounder and salmon sushi got upgraded. Compared to my visit back in July, the sushi and roll lineup was noticeably more solid.

The fish pieces were bigger and softer in texture! The shrimp sushi reportedly now uses botan shrimp too — overall the fish quality had clearly gone up, noticeable even to someone as unobservant as me!

With Norwegian fresh salmon sashimi added here, it's not just the sushi that's good anymore — the lineup has shifted to let you enjoy hearty sashimi too.

Honestly, the quality of the sushi, sashimi, crab, and rolls was good enough to rival most standalone sashimi restaurants — that's really all I can say about that day.

Unlimited draft beer: 5,900 won or free with the review event

For reference, you'd normally pay an extra ₩5,900 for unlimited draft beer (Terra/Kelly), but apparently if you join the review event, you can enjoy unlimited draft beer for free! I visited for brunch so beer felt like a lot for a first meal, and I skipped it, but if you're visiting in the evening, it might be worth joining.

Korean, Western and Chinese dishes, plus the new smoked duck

It's not just sushi, rolls, and sashimi — having Korean, Western, and Chinese dishes all covered is another strength of Kuu Kuu!

In particular, smoked duck is a new addition this time — the chewy duck texture paired with mustard just melted softly in my mouth! On top of that, the BBQ and lamb chops were fantastic too.

Beyond that, there's soup, spaghetti, pizza, steamed blue crab, butter grilled corn, cheese-baked oysters, and even mala tang — basically everything I'd been craving, all in one visit.

It's a lineup where the whole family, regardless of age, can pick and choose whatever suits their taste — which makes it a great fit for a family gathering spot.

Also, with a space of over 400 seats and staff quickly clearing empty plates, I keep saying this: I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a Nowon dol janchi or banquet venue!

Factor in the playroom too, and it's hard to find a comparable place in Nowon. Worth visiting at least once.

Is Kuu Kuu Nowon worth it? Key takeaways

• 8-minute walk from Hagye Station Exit 2, 6th floor of the Seoul Oncheon Building
• 2 hours of free parking in the building's basement lot
• Over 400 seats plus a separate kids' playroom
• Upgraded sushi and Norwegian salmon sashimi
• Korean, Western, and Chinese dishes all covered — a great fit for a Nowon dol janchi venue