Nowon sushi buffet after work with sashimi and beer: Kuu Kuu

I’ve been to quite a few big chain buffets, but this was my very first visit to Kuu Kuu, the sushi buffet everyone talks about! I had such high expectations after hearing that Kuu Kuu has ranked No. 1 in the sushi buffet brand awards for eight consecutive years. My partner and I happily headed to Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점), a spot with quite the reputation for Nowon family gatherings and company dinners, right after work! 🩵

Location, Parking, and Reservation Information

The address is 6F, Seoul Oncheon Building, 247 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 노원구 노원로 247 서울온천빌딩 6층). It is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM, and the standard dining time is two hours. If customers are waiting, it may be limited to one hour and 30 minutes. The parking entrance is behind the building entrance, and parking at Seoul Oncheon Building is free for two hours. The lot can get a little crowded on weekends and public holidays, so you may need to use a nearby paid lot if it is full.

We made a Naver reservation for 8 PM on a weekday evening before visiting! We rushed over as soon as work ended, and since the dinner rush had passed a little, there was only about one party waiting on site. Thanks to our Naver reservation, though, we were seated immediately with no waiting at all, which was so convenient. If you are planning a Nowon family gathering or a large group meet-up, a Naver reservation is an absolute must-know tip! 👍

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch Prices

We paid first upon entering, then headed to the table we were kindly shown to. Children aged 36 months and over may be asked for proof such as a resident registration copy or a health insurance card copy, so it is a good idea to bring it along if you are visiting with little ones.

• Adults, middle school, and high school students: weekday lunch ₩27,900; weekday dinner ₩31,900; weekends and public holidays ₩35,900
• Elementary school children (based on March 1 school entry): weekday lunch ₩16,900; weekday dinner ₩17,900; weekends and public holidays ₩18,900
• Preschool children (36 months and over): ₩9,900

Private Rooms and Group Seating in a 300-pyeong Space

The moment we walked in, our jaws dropped at the sheer scale! This huge 300-pyeong space is decorated in natural wood and white tones, so it felt clean and pleasant overall. I especially loved how well the areas were divided. There are private rooms for 40 to 60 people, plus large group sections available for 50, 80, or even up to 300 people! For anyone looking for a Nowon company dinner venue, a 60th-birthday celebration, first-birthday party, or big family gathering, you would be hard-pressed to find a more private space. The tables are generously spaced too, so you can eat comfortably without paths overlapping.

Unlimited Draft Beer Event and the Menu

Once seated, I took a quick look around the salad bar with the excitement of a kid at an amusement park. The first thing that caught my eye was the unlimited draft beer station! Buffets often serve happoshu-style beer, but Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch had genuine draft Terra and Kelly beer! 🍺 They are also currently running an event where writing a Naver review gets you unlimited draft beer, normally worth ₩5,900, for free. It was the perfect setup for enjoying crisp draft beer and sushi at a Nowon company dinner!

From Sushi and Sashimi to Hot Dishes

Fresh salmon sashimi, which apparently is not even available at Kuu Kuu Gold branches, had just been launched here! The fish topping on the flounder, salmon, and shrimp sushi was so big that every bite filled your mouth—it was fantastic. Beyond sushi, there was plenty for meat lovers too, from grilled lamb chops and smoked duck to pork ribs, tangsuyuk (Korean sweet-and-sour pork), and pasta. You can also choose to your taste from fresh dressed salads, all kinds of freshly fried crispy treats, and warm pizza.

Desserts With Dippin’ Dots

After filling up, we moved on to the dessert corner. Colorful seasonal fruit, jelly, and chewy rice cakes were a given, but best of all, there were Dippin’ Dots! They used to be available only on weekends and at dinner, but apparently they can now be enjoyed at weekday lunch too. This is the sort of dessert kids will absolutely go wild for if you visit during school vacation or on a weekday afternoon. 🍨

What We Ate, From Round One to Round Three

Round One

We came to a sushi buffet, so of course the first plate had to be sushi! Even though I took just one of each variety, two plates were packed full. Compared with a regular buffet, the rice portions were just right and the fish toppings were large, so it was not heavy and the freshness really came through. On the remaining plate, I added pork ribs, tangsuyuk, and pasta for the perfect sweet-and-savory combination.

Round Two

For round two, I brought back another plate piled high with sushi, plus lamb chops and porridge. The lamb chops were tenderly cooked with no gamey smell, and with a little wasabi on top, they were as good as ones from a specialty restaurant.

Round Three

For the final third round, we finished neatly with refreshing fruit, cookies, and round, sweet Dippin’ Dots. I was so full I felt like I might burst, but having them with a warm cup of freshly brewed coffee made me happy🥰

It was my first visit, but I immediately understood why so many people call Kuu Kuu a great restaurant in Nowon! The spacious, clean 300-pyeong setting, private rooms, high-quality sushi and fresh salmon sashimi, and refreshing unlimited draft beer all came together perfectly. I strongly recommend it when you want to enjoy lots of delicious food with family, or need a dependable Nowon spot for a company dinner! 🩵