Nowon sushi buffet birthday meal for three: Kuu Kuu, plum juice

Why we chose Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch for mom's birthday dinner

For mom's birthday we finally had a family outing 😊 This time it was just the three of us — mom, my husband and me — at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch.

We went back and forth on where to eat for a birthday or anniversary, but on days when everyone wants something different, a buffet really is easiest. You can pick whatever you're in the mood for, and it works for all ages from grandparents to kids, so it's a solid option if you're looking for a family-gathering restaurant in Nowon. Since it was mom's birthday especially, I wanted her to eat as much of her favorite food as she liked, so we settled on Kuu Kuu. The three of us ate at a relaxed pace, celebrated her birthday, and caught up on all kinds of things we hadn't talked about in a while.

How long you get: the 90-minute limit at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch

They mention the time limit is 90 minutes. If there's no one waiting, you can take it easy and stay longer. Personally I think a buffet is best enjoyed slowly with family rather than rushed against a clock, and since it was mom's birthday, I especially wanted to take our time that day.

Sushi, rolls, salad and side dishes on the Kuu Kuu buffet line

When you think Kuu Kuu, sushi is the first thing that comes to mind. But beyond sushi and rolls, there's salad and all kinds of side dishes too, so it was easy to put together a good meal by picking a bit of this and that. I'm the type who doesn't pile my plate high right away at a buffet — I like tasting a little of everything — so that's what I did this time too.

Why a buffet works when family tastes don't match

Mom stuck to her usual favorites while my husband went off and picked whatever he was craving haha. Being able to eat exactly what you want feels like the biggest advantage of a buffet. Especially at a family meal, if one person says "I kind of want this…" choosing a place can get surprisingly tricky, but with a buffet there's no need to worry about that. That's why I think this kind of buffet style is a solid option when you're looking for a family-gathering restaurant in Nowon.

Honestly, even for a birthday, I think just sitting down to a meal together and talking is better than making a big fuss over anything fancy. The three of us sat there with good drinks, celebrated mom's birthday, and chatted about this and that — the time flew by.

Chocolate dessert, fruit and mae-sil (green plum) juice

My husband loves chocolate so he was super excited haha

The fruit and dessert drinks were really varied too!! I don't digest well so I had some mae-sil (green plum) juice alongside everything and it was so nice haha

Thanks to mom's birthday, I got to spend a fun, relaxed time with family again after a while!!

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch location, prices and parking

📍Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch 📌 Address: 247 Nowon-ro, 6F, Nowon-gu, Seoul (서울 노원구 노원로 247, 6층) ⏰ Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:30 / Sat–Sun 11:00–22:00, last order weekdays 20:00, weekends 20:30, closed September 24 🍣 Menu & prices: Weekday lunch adults/middle-high school students ₩27,900 / weekday dinner ₩31,900 / weekend & holiday ₩35,900 / elementary school weekday lunch ₩16,900, weekday dinner ₩17,900, weekend ₩18,900 / preschool ₩9,900 ✨ Notes: About 120 kinds of menu items, 90-minute time limit, group seating available, reservations available, high chairs, kids' play room, waiting area, gender-separated restrooms, wifi, easy payment, parking available 🚗 Parking: Free 2-hour parking in the building. Every Saturday, 4 hours free at the Hagye Techno Town underground lot

On a day when several people are moving together, like a birthday or family gathering, parking ends up mattering more than you'd think — checking this in advance makes things a lot easier and I think everyone will appreciate it haha