Nowon sushi buffet weekend lunch with fast food turnover: Kuu Kuu

It had been a while since I went to Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch with my family. Honestly, I'd just gotten back from a trip where I stayed at a hotel for three nights and ate breakfast buffet every single morning. So I figured a buffet wouldn't excite me much for a while.

But wow — once I walked into Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch and took a lap around the food, my whole opinion changed. "Was there always this much variety?" The menu felt way more diverse than the last time I'd visited, and factoring in the price, it gave me a different kind of satisfaction than the hotel breakfast.

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch prices, hours and parking

• 📍 247 Nowon-ro, 6th floor, Nowon-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Mon–Fri 11:00–21:30
• ⏰ Sat–Sun 11:00–22:00
• 💰 Weekend/holiday adult ₩35,900
• 👧 Elementary school student, weekend/holiday ₩18,900
• 👶 Preschool child 36 months and up ₩9,900
• 🛝 Kids' play area available
• 🚗 Parking available

Based on what we were told when we visited, the underground lot allows 1.5 hours and the outdoor lot has no time limit. Parking conditions can change over time, so it's best to check with the staff once you park.

Why weekend lunch at Kuu Kuu Nowon never felt crowded

We visited during weekend lunch hours. As expected for a weekend, there were plenty of families and quite a lot of people inside, but it didn't feel as hectic as I'd braced for.

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch itself is simply spacious with a lot of seating, so even with a full house it never felt crowded. It seemed like a good spot for a family meal with kids, or for bringing parents along, or generally as a place to find for a Nowon family gathering with several people.

What's on the buffet: sushi, rolls, hot food and seafood

True to its reputation as a Nowon sushi buffet, the first thing that caught my eye was the long sushi counter. There were so many kinds of sushi and rolls that instead of piling everything onto one plate, it was more fun to try a little of each and go back for the ones I liked.

But this time, what surprised me wasn't just the sushi. The hot food, salads, seafood, and desserts had a lot more options too, which seemed great for coming with family members who aren't big sushi fans — everyone could find something they wanted.

I'd seen other recent reviews mention that beyond sushi and rolls, the hot food, seafood, and dessert selections had gotten more varied, and after visiting in person, I get why people were saying that.

How fast did the food turn over?

Personally, at a buffet I care about food turnover just as much as menu variety. No matter how many dishes there are, if food sits out too long or something that should be warm has gone cold, you just don't want to reach for it.

The day we went was weekend lunch with a lot of customers, and maybe because of that, food was going out and getting refilled quickly. Thanks to that, I could eat warm dishes while they were still warm, and it was nice to keep seeing freshly refilled trays. Having a lot of people around actually turned out to be a plus for food turnover.

The dessert corner and eating out with kids

Once you've eaten your fill, the dessert corner is not to be skipped. From ice cream to fruit, bread, cake, and drinks, it's enough that I ended up doing another lap even after the main meal.

Especially for families with kids, I imagine the dessert corner is where you'll spend quite a bit of time. Recent reviews also mentioned bead ice cream along with various other ice creams, fruit, bread, and cake. The store also has a play room, which seemed like an advantage when planning a family meal out with young kids.

Verdict after three nights of hotel breakfasts

Since I'd just eaten hotel breakfast several days in a row, I went in without big expectations at first — but maybe that's exactly why Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch's value for money hit me even harder. From sushi to a variety of other dishes and desserts to choose from, plus the fast food turnover, it was satisfying all around.

What I liked most was that the store is spacious enough that even with a lot of weekend customers, it never felt too crowded. The menu also seemed much more varied than I remembered from my last visit, which made this return visit feel worthwhile after so long.

If you're after a Nowon family gathering spot where kids and adults alike can each pick what they like, or you're looking for a Hagye sushi spot to enjoy a wide range of sushi to your heart's content, a weekend lunch visit here is well worth it.