Mangwon Market date lunch: 8-course fine dining by the window, Noju

Say Mangwon-dong and you probably think of Mangwon Market street food and the trendy Mangwon cafés and restaurants~ Today I'm introducing Noju (NOJU, 노주), a fine dining restaurant near Mangwon Market where you can enjoy a course meal in a really lovely atmosphere >_< It's close to Mangwon Station, so it works well as a date spot, and the lunch course was way more affordable than I expected, so I was very happy with it!

Where is Noju in Mangwon-dong, and what's the vibe?

Noju is a small, quiet dining restaurant on the second floor of a building on a Mangwon-dong side street. It's giving off that special Mangwon charm~

Noju is right next to Mangwon Market, so it was fun to wander around the market before and after the meal. Big recommendation as a date course~!

Where do you park for Noju?

Noju has no parking lot of its own, so I recommend the Mangwon 1 and 2 public parking lots! They're right next to Mangwon Market and about a 5-minute walk from Noju, so that's good.

Window seat with natural light

We sat down at a table by the window-☆ The sunlight came pouring in~ Thanks to the natural light, it felt like a perfect spot for a date or an anniversary meal!

What's in Noju's Lunch Chef's Choice course?

What we ordered at Noju was the Lunch Chef's Choice course, which came as 8 items in total.

Focaccia (yuzu, ricotta cheese)

The lunch course starts with focaccia and yuzu ricotta cheese. It's not just plain cheese: the fragrant yuzu (Korean citron) makes the very first bite feel fresh. Even though it's just the opener, the flavor was memorable.

Two bite-sized starters (beet tart, endive)

Of the two bites, I personally loved the beet tart!! (My number one pick.)

The fresh, tangy beet tart really woke up my appetite and got me excited for the next courses. The endive was also light and easy to enjoy.

Arancini (Popo Farm rice, sesame oil)

The arancini (fried rice ball), made with Popo Farm (포포농장) rice, was one of the most memorable dishes! Crispy outside, soft inside, that texture was so appealing.

The white rice melted in my mouth and the nutty aroma of sesame oil spread out, which made enjoying a course meal so much fun.

Jambon (zucchini, Emmental cheese)

I liked that Noju's jambon (Korean-style ham) wasn't too salty. The mild, nutty Emmental blended in nicely, and the red sprinkles on top (pink pepper?) made the dish suddenly so fragrant. That was really the kicker!

Anchovy pasta (anchovy, butter)

The anchovy pasta was packed with butter flavor! Combined with a fresh, bright aroma, it was well balanced. I think even people who usually don't like anchovies could enjoy it without any trouble.

Signature gnocchi (truffle, potato)

Next up is Noju's signature dish, the gnocchi.

As expected, the truffle aroma and the soft texture of the potato went together beautifully, and it felt like the centerpiece of the course.

Iberico pork (jalapeño, mashed potatoes)

The Iberico pork arrived as the main dish❤️ With its tender meat, the softness of the mashed potatoes and a little kick from the jalapeño, it made for a really satisfying finish.

My husband and I both gushed about how sooo delicious the Iberico was while eating it.

Lemon sorbet

The last dish of Noju's lunch course is lemon sorbet. Its fresh, tangy taste cleansed my palate and ended the meal on a happy note!!

How was Noju's lunch course overall?

Overall, Noju's lunch course felt like it was built around the natural flavor and aroma of the ingredients rather than anything heavy-handed. It uses a range of aromas, like yuzu, sesame oil, butter and truffle, without going overboard, so the whole course was really well balanced.

I'd recommend Noju to anyone looking for fine dining in Mangwon-dong, a nice date restaurant near Mangwon Station, or a special meal near Mangwon Market, haha. If you want to try good-value course dining in Mangwon-dong, Noju is worth a visit!🤍