Mangwon fine dining at the counter with my sibling: 3 mains, Noju

Why I went back to Noju, good-value fine dining near Mangwon Station

Noju is a fine dining course restaurant near Mangwon Station that covers atmosphere, food quality and service without a huge price tag. Eating out has gotten so expensive lately that I used to think fine dining was only for special days. My recent revisit to Noju completely changed that, haha. Great mood, great food, satisfying service, and the price isn't a burden, so I was really happy with it.

I'd actually been to Noju once before, and the memory was so good that I came back. The first time I was surprised by the food quality for the price, and this time was just as satisfying. So many people are looking for date spots in Mangwon these days, and Noju nails both atmosphere and food, so it's easy to recommend.

Noju hours, parking and corkage

• Address: 56 Donggyo-ro 9-gil, 2F, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Hours: 11:30–23:00 (break time 15:00–17:00), closed every Monday
• Parking: use Mangwon public parking lot, a 5-minute walk away
• Corkage: ₩20,000 per bottle (free for returning customers who show proof: 1 bottle per 2 people, up to 2 bottles per table)
• After 8 pm or for walk-ins, you can order the course or dishes from the course à la carte. With à la carte, though, a half bottle or full bottle of wine is required

Is Noju a good choice for dinner with friends?

Noju was great not only for couples but also for a girls' get-together over the course. When people hear fine dining they tend to think only of couples' dates. But the quiet, cozy mood made it easy to chat, and the pace of the dishes was just right, so the meal felt relaxed. (The chef really pays attention to the pacing!) That day there were plenty of tables of friends as well as date couples.

Counter or table: where to sit at Noju

Noju has both counter seats and table seats, so you get a good choice. If you want to watch the open kitchen up close, take the counter; if you'd like to talk more comfortably, take a table. You can pick to suit your taste. This time I booked the counter.

Noju's cozy wood-toned interior

The interior is warm wood-tone throughout, which felt comfortable. It isn't overly luxurious, but it's relaxed and stylish at once. So I think it works well as a date spot and for anniversary meals too. Photos come out pretty, which I liked, haha.

Watching the open kitchen from the counter

One of the reasons I like Noju is the open kitchen. Seeing the chefs cook in front of you makes you trust the food more, and it's fun to watch. Watching the dishes being made felt like a course in itself.

Noju menu and the course we had

That day the Noju course came in this order: focaccia, two bite-sized starters, arancini, jambon, octopus and clam, signature gnocchi, Iberico steak and melon sherbet.

Focaccia

The bread that kicks off the meal!

Crisp outside and moist inside, it gently woke up my appetite. A nice light bite before the course begins.

Two amuse-bouches: beet and endive

Small but impressive amuse-bouches. You get two: beet and endive.

They're one-bite size but the flavor hit hard, and they raised my expectations from the very first dish. I usually don't like endive because of its texture, but Noju's endive was so good...!

Sesame oil arancini

Crisp outside, soft inside. The nutty aroma of sesame oil is so appealing that it vanished in no time. Personally one of my favorites. I thought the white stuff served alongside was just plating, but when I coated the arancini generously with it, the flavor really came alive.

Jambon wrapped in zucchini

I was so curious how the jambon (Korean-style ham) would come out.

Does it really have to look this pretty...? Jambon wrapped in zucchini with Emmental cheese adding richness, truly an unforgettable dish.

How many mains come with the Noju course?

The Noju course has not one but three mains: pasta, gnocchi and steak. I've never seen a fine dining course with three mains. Amazing!

Octopus and clam pasta

The course menu just said octopus and clam, so it was fun wondering what on earth would come out!?

It turned out to be an octopus and clam pasta with anchovy, haha.

Signature gnocchi with truffle

Noju's signature gnocchi was one of the dishes that shocked me with how good it was. It may look ordinary, but the taste... was superb.

It's so well made that it lands in my top 3 gnocchi ever, and I almost wanted to order it again separately.. The truffle was piled on generously too, which made me even happier.

Iberico steak with jalapeño and mashed potatoes

The third main arrives!

The Iberico steak was plated so beautifully. It's pork, not beef, so honestly I didn't expect much, but

both my sister and I opened our eyes wide in surprise the moment we took a bite!

This is really pork?! It's tastier than most beef..!

That's what we said, amazed, as we ate it.

Be sure to eat the jalapeño and mashed potatoes served with it too. They were really, really good :)

How to request Noju's lettering service

Noju offers a lettering service (a message written on the plate) if you request it when booking. I saw in the notice that it was available and prepared it as a surprise, haha. Worth recommending as a Mangwon date course, right?! Try arranging a secret lettering service. No woman wouldn't be moved, haha.

Dessert: Korean melon (chamoe) sherbet

We finished with melon sherbet (Korean chamoe melon). It was so, so, so refreshing. A perfect course right to the end!

Thoughtful touches in Noju's restroom

Noju's restroom has mouthwash and dental floss. I rarely talk about restrooms in restaurant reviews, but I really wanted to mention this one. Small touches like this are surprisingly moving. You can freshen up neatly after the meal, which makes it a great date spot. What I felt again on this revisit is that Noju gives you more satisfaction than the price suggests.

Verdict: would I return to Noju near Mangwon Station?

Great food quality, great mood, great service. Add the lettering service and thoughtful extras, and it's a really good place for a special day. If you're looking for a good-value fine dining course restaurant or date spot near Mangwon Station, give Noju a visit. I'm 200% going back again and again and again!