Italian restaurant in Mangwon: lunch with Mom, upgraded mid-meal, Noju

I went on a Mangwon date with my mom! I'd been looking for a nice fine-dining spot lately and found this place, an Italian course restaurant that nails both value and satisfaction, and I really wanted to take Mom. It's a tiny hidden gem on the second floor of a Mangwon alley: Noju! We booked the seasonal lunch course, 6 courses for ₩38,000. Here's my honest review of a meal that delighted both the eyes and the mouth!

Noju's opening hours and parking in Mangwon

Noju is at 56 Donggyo-ro 9-gil, 2F, Mapo-gu, Seoul, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Break time is 3 to 5 p.m., and last order is 9:30 p.m.

• Address: 56 Donggyo-ro 9-gil, 2F, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: daily 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Break time: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Last order: 9:30 p.m.
• Parking: not available; use Mangwon Public Parking Lot, a 5-minute walk

Noju course menu and prices

Noju's courses are split into Signature Dinner, Lunch and Seasonal Lunch, with prices ranging from about ₩38,000 to ₩89,000.

This is what they show you when you visit at lunch.

Noju keeps a wide selection of wines.

Noju's corkage and rules for kids

According to the in-store notice, corkage at Noju is ₩20,000 per bottle, and for group gatherings or corkage-free terms you can ask via Noju's Instagram DM. It's generally a no-kids zone, but children who can handle the course are welcome, so keep that in mind.

What is Noju's atmosphere and seating like?

Noju is on the second floor of a Mangwon alley, so it might be a little hard to find the first time. The natural light is really lovely. Wood tones mixed with black give it a calm, upscale feel.

If you sit at Noju's bar table, you can watch all the cooking. The window tables look great too!

Can you switch to the Signature Course mid-meal?

At Noju, you can change courses in the middle of the meal. We started with the Chef's Choice (6 dishes), but it was so good that... I asked if we could switch to the Signature (8 dishes), they said yes, and we ended up with the ₩55,000 Signature Course. Totally, totally satisfied...!

Bread: focaccia and homemade yuja ricotta

The Signature Course at Noju opened with focaccia and homemade yuja (citron) ricotta. Spreading the cheese, with its fresh citron aroma, on the fluffy bread really got my appetite going.

Bite-sized dishes: truffle ricotta beet and endive shrimp

Of the two bites, the one on the left was pickled beet over truffle sauce, ricotta, honey and vinegar. A faint truffle aroma with the pleasantly tangy beet was a great combo. The one on the right had crunchy endive with shrimp, mushroom, olive oil and even caviar, lightly seasoned and appetite-awakening.

Zucchini, jambon and Emmental

The third was a dish of zucchini, jambon (ham) and Emmental. Tender zucchini, salty jambon and nutty Emmental, nicely balanced. The cheese flavor isn't strong, so the combination works.

Pasta: anchovy breadcrumb chitarra

The pasta in Noju's course was chitarra noodles with anchovy and breadcrumbs. The savory depth of the salty anchovy with the crunchy breadcrumbs was the best. With a faint cheese aroma too...!

Sesame oil arancini, the best I've had

This was the Noju dish I enjoyed most. It comes with a sesame oil sauce and a powder made from sesame oil, and it's honestly amazing. The best arancini (fried rice ball) I've ever had. Even with so many ingredients inside, each flavor stays distinct. What would I have done if we hadn't gone with the Signature Course...

Noju's signature truffle potato gnocchi

Noju's pride, the signature gnocchi, arrives! Made with truffle and potato, with a chewy potato texture and a rich truffle flavor filling the mouth, so good that both Mom and I got the "truth furrow" between our brows. I've never had a truffle dish this good. By this point I was starting to feel full.

Main: gabrisal with jalapeño and paprika sauce

The main dish of Noju's Signature Course is gabrisal (pork jowl-adjacent cut, from the shoulder end of the loin) with jalapeño and paprika sauce. The moderately cooked gabrisal comes with spicy jalapeño that cuts the richness of the meat. The gabrisal is juicy and delicious too.

Dessert: walnut ice cream

For dessert, a nutty, sweet walnut ice cream wrapped things up neatly. This one was just so-so!

Is Noju's Signature Course worth trying with Mom?

An 8-course meal this high in quality for around ₩55,000... If you're looking for a varied lunch course with a nice atmosphere to enjoy with your parents in Mangwon, I highly recommend Noju! It's on my list to come back with my husband next time.