First-time waiting at Kuu Kuu, a Nowon sushi buffet, weekend lunch

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch

Address | 247 Nowon-ro, 6th floor, Nowon-gu, Seoul

Hours | Mon–Fri 11:00–21:30, Sat–Sun 11:00–22:00

Parking | Available, 2 hours free

Amenities | Corkage (paid), birthday perks, kids' chairs, kids' facilities, wheelchair accessible

First-time waiting at Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch on a weekend lunch

I visit Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch regularly. With our wedding photoshoot finally done, I let loose a bit and went for a hearty meal with my partner.

We came during weekend lunch hours. The building also has a wedding hall and a church, so it gets seriously crowded at peak times — be warned!! Since we come often, we're used to it by now.

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch prices differ between weekday lunch, dinner, and weekend.

I'd never had to wait before, but this time was the first. True to its reputation as a family-gathering spot in Nowon, there were definitely a lot of family groups.

The sushi corner — raw salmon, amberjack, tuna belly

The sushi corner is what I always look forward to most at Kuu Kuu. This time they had the new raw salmon along with premium cuts like amberjack and tuna belly, all properly stocked — my eyes went wide. The lineup of pricier, high-end seafood was so solid I was 100% satisfied. Beyond fresh raw fish sushi, there's an incredible variety of rolls, gunkan, and fusion sushi, so people who aren't great with raw fish, or even young kids, can all enjoy it to their taste — a certified family-gathering spot in Nowon.

The hot grill corner and salad corner

The hot grill corner was just as flashy as the sushi. There are tender pork ribs that are fun to pull apart, lamb chops with their distinctive flavor intact, and hot pizza and pasta straight off the grill. With high-quality Japanese, Western, and barbecue dishes all in one place, even people who aren't into sushi should be fully satisfied here.

Salad is usually something you breeze past at a buffet, but here the speed of restocking and the freshness of the vegetables are next level. From mushroom, yukhoe (raw beef), and imitation crab salads to spicy jjolmyeon noodles, there's such a wide range of toppings and dressings that it's fun to pick and choose. It did a great job refreshing the palate in between the heavy sushi and meat.

Drinks and the unlimited draft beer perk

The drinks lineup, from soft drinks to teas and slushies, was just right for cleansing the palate. But the tip you absolutely cannot miss is the unlimited draft beer perk. Not some knockoff — real Terra and Kelly draft beer, free (normally worth ₩5,900) just for writing a review.

The dessert corner — marble ice cream now available at weekday lunch too

The dessert corner brought the meal to a perfect close. There's everything from fresh seasonal fruit to sweet cakes and bakery items. What made me happiest of all was the marble ice cream. It used to only be offered at weekday dinner or on weekends, but now the system's changed so you can enjoy it at weekday lunch too.

From the first plate to the last

We went hard from the first plate to the last. It started cleanly with fresh raw salmon, amberjack, and tuna belly sushi, then filled us up solidly with juicy lamb chops and pork ribs from the hot grill corner. From Japanese to Western to barbecue, it felt like we really got our money's worth all in one spot. With such a wide variety of dishes, we never got tired of it and kept trying new combinations.

Even full, there's always room for dessert. We grabbed sweet slices of cake, fresh seasonal fruit, and tangy yogurt to finish things off. From sushi to hot grill to dessert, nothing was lacking — this was a satisfying visit to Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch, a great spot for family gatherings in Nowon. The place is spacious and the menu so full that it's easy for anyone, of any age or preference, to enjoy.

By the way, if you're planning to visit, I definitely recommend joining the receipt review event! Writing a Naver review gets you unlimited real draft beer worth a whopping ₩5,900 for free, so make sure to pair your delicious food with a cold beer while you're at it.