Nowon pasta spot: brisket mala rosé & rosé risotto, Pasta Han Kki

I was looking for a place in Nowon with a nice atmosphere that wouldn't hurt my wallet, and that's how I ended up at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch (파스타한끼 노원본점). I love pasta, and it was better than I expected, so I'm writing a review right away! haha

Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch: location, hours and parking

• Address: 19 Sanggye-ro 5-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul (Daegwang Building, 1st floor), Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch
• Hours: daily 10:50–22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Parking: use the restaurant's parking lot

I'd heard Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch is great value, and after going myself I quickly saw why. Price, atmosphere, food quality — the balance was really good all around haha

The ₩9,900 all-pasta event at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch

When I visited, Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch was running an event with every pasta on the menu at ₩9,900. That made it even more satisfying. These days so many places charge well over ₩10,000 for a single bowl of pasta, and here you can get any pasta for ₩9,900!

Pretty great value among Nowon's Western restaurants haha. It runs until the 100th branch opens, they say, so head to Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch!!

Is Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch good for a date?

The interior of Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch feels bright and hip, but it isn't noisy, so it was easy to talk while eating. The atmosphere was the first thing I noticed when I walked in, and the trendy, stylish vibe made a good first impression.

And oddly enough, it wasn't too loud or chaotic, so it was comfortable to eat there.

At trendy restaurants the music can be loud or the place so crowded that it's hard to talk, but Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch felt relaxed overall, which I liked. It works with friends and for couples too, so I personally think it would make a great Nowon date spot.

Water, small plates, cutlery, pickles/jalapeños and other sauces are at the self-serve bar, so take as much as you need!

What we ordered at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch

• Mala rosé pasta
• Bacon mushroom rosé risotto
• Mini hash browns

This time at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch I ordered three things: mala rosé pasta, bacon mushroom rosé risotto and mini hash browns. The portions were generous overall, and each dish had a distinct personality, which made eating fun.

You order at the kiosk by the ordering area, and after you order they bring out garlic bread to start. It's delicious haha. It's a warm, crispy-yet-moist baguette with a subtle, sweet garlic aroma.

How spicy is the mala rosé pasta?

The mala rosé pasta at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch is strong in both mala aroma and heat, so I think spicy-food lovers will really like it. Even when something is called a mala dish, the aroma is often weak, but here the mala fragrance came through quite strongly.

The moment I started eating, that tingling, stimulating mala smell hit me.

The heat itself is also fairly strong, so people who usually handle spicy food well should be happy with it. Best of all, there's a really generous amount of beef brisket (usamgyeop), which is quite surprising for ₩9,900. The portion was big too, so one bowl alone was filling, and I'd personally love for you to try this when you come to Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch!

Bacon mushroom rosé risotto with a thick rosé sauce

The bacon mushroom rosé risotto at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch had a really good rosé sauce flavor. It's the thick, rich style, which I personally liked even more, and the cream flavor wasn't too heavy, so I kept eating.

There were also plenty of big chunks of bacon that were satisfying to chew, and a generous amount of mushrooms, so the overall balance was really good. Seeing this quality, I understood why people talk about this place when they talk about Western restaurants in Nowon.

Side dish: mini hash browns

The mini hash browns I ordered as a side at Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch were better than expected too! The moment I ate one, I thought of the potato balls I used to eat a lot as a kid. The outside is fried really crispy while the inside keeps a fluffy potato texture.

Fried food like this usually goes soggy quickly, but the mini hash browns stayed crispy for quite a long time, which I liked. They're easy to nibble one at a time between bites of the main dishes, so they make a really good side to order.

Overall verdict on Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch: a Nowon Western restaurant I'd happily revisit

Overall, Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch was a place with a really good balance of price, atmosphere and food quality. Thanks to the ₩9,900 all-menu event running now, the value was especially satisfying. The place feels hip and bright but is quiet, so eating there was comfortable, and all three dishes were satisfying.

Personally, I think it's good with friends, good for a family meal and really good for couples. So I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Nowon date spot, and to anyone who wants a light, tasty plate of pasta.

Honestly, if it were near my home I'd probably go two or three times a week... If you're looking for a good-value Western restaurant in Nowon with atmosphere to match, it's worth a visit. I'd really like to come back. If you want a no-fail pasta recommendation in Nowon, Pasta Han Kki Nowon Main Branch, highly recommended!!