This place is always a fave... bit I did t realize about the TV area that is a sports bar right now!

Not sure how I have lived in Chapel Hill almost 5 yrs, have driven by these place almost daily and never tried it. I must admit, the outside and parking lot leaves a lot to be desired but the inside is a secret garden! So, I am so glad a friend asked us to meet here for lunch yesterday. No greeter and the main entrance and different parts that don't appear to be part of Namu but all are ‍. So, if it's your first time know this. All food is ordered by a QR code which is fine but again if it's your first time, there's no one even walking around that you can ask questions to. But, let's talk about the main star-the food. I like Korean food, have had the widely known bulgogi, kimchi etc. My eyes were startled to see gimbap on the menu. After watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo on Netflix and becoming obsessed with it, IYKYK; I had to try the gimbap. I loved, loved the shrimp tempura gimbap. It was generous portions so I got to bring some home. And, the six different homemade sauces were delicious too...I tried them all. Definitely I will be back and I loved the ambiance! read more

This is such a cool place to pop in for coffee, lunch, work time or just to hang. I barely found this place as it's kinda hidden off the main road but once inside it seems to go on and on with many spaces to hide or be seen. I met some friends for lunch and we landed in the outdoor space which is super nice. They have an efficient ordering system - scan QR code and not long after our order arrived. They have a system to flag a staff member if you need additional service. I ordered one of there popular dishes as I love poke bowls. Bibimbap with chicken. Lots of veggies and served over rice or not. This was interesting and good. The ambiance is cool and I loved the vibe here. read more

Namu - Bibimbap with chicken - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What a cool place. I really enjoyed the ambience and the different seating areas throughout the space. It has a great vibe and would be a fun place to go with friends. That said, being gluten-free and pescatarian here was not the easiest. There honestly were not many options for me. I was hoping to have the japchae, which is often gluten-free at other places, but here it was not. That really left me with limited choices like the burrito bowl, bibimbap, or fries. In the end, I had the fries. I am giving this rating because I really liked the space and would come back with friends for the atmosphere, but with the limited food options for me, I cannot see myself craving it on my own. 4 stars because the other ppl with me loved there food and experience. read more

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I'd heard good things about this place and since I'm never in Chapel Hill/Durham, I decided to take advantage of the rare time I was nearby. The parking situation is not great. I got there at 6 to place a to go order (a Wednesday) and had I not gotten one of the curbside pickup spots I'm not sure where I'd have parked as there were no spaces in the lot or along the street. That said, the employees were friendly and helpful, answering my questions. My order was out in 5 minutes. I got the bibimbap with beef and wish it had come with some sauce as it needed a little more punch of spice. Large portion though! read more

This is such a spacious beautiful spot to eat or hang out. You can sit anywhere inside and out, lots of space to choose from. A beautiful garden, cafe or beer garden. You order online from a QR code. We were there on a Monday afternoon and service was fast!! Everyone in my group loved their food and portions were generous. I ordered Joe's special with tofu and it was delicious. I definitely recommend this place! Very unique and an enjoyable vibe. read more

Namu - Joe's Special w tofu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Positives: staff was really nice. There is a lot of seating for big groups. The garden is cozy and sweet on a gorgeous day. Not so positive: parking can be tough, the lot is always packed. I think it is a shared lot because the restaurant was pretty empty during my visit today. i have visited twice now (jan 2026 & may 2026) and i order a decent amount of food for the table to share. Both times, every plate has been room temperature. Thats super disappointing especially since the Korean dishes we ordered are typically served very hot (and in clay pots). It would be fine if my food was even remotely warm, but that hasnt been the case for either of my visits. Our food took a very long time to come out, which would have also been fine had the food came out hot, so i am wondering why it took so long to send out cold food? Also, for some reason there was a strong odor of some sort permeating through the beer hall. I couldnt place what it was but it was not pleasant for me. I feel like i am rarely sensitive to smells but i had to spritz a perfume to mask it. It might've just been a cleaning product or something, not sure. Something to note is that you have to pay for the banchan here. This is typically served with your meals for no additional cost as they are considered 'essential' to your meal. So a charge for them was surprising for me. read more

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Namu is a place that you can come for any occasion because they truly have fantastic vibes. The Straw Valley setting? Amazing for a date night, girls' meetup, or even a remote work day. Food is always delicious and plentiful--seriously, the portions are massive. I'm a huge fan of the bulkogi fries and the bimibap, but I only get to enjoy both on the same visit if a friend comes with me because there is so much food. Staff is always friendly and helpful, especially if you need recommendations! I've tried many new favorite hard ciders and sours at a team member's recommendation that I might have not normally tried. read more

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We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine: Parking: 5 Location: 5 Decor/ambiance: 5 Customer Service: 5 This is one of Durham's best-kept secrets. If everyone knew about this spot, then there would be a line that stretched from Durham to Florida. read more

This is a seat yourself spot with QR codes at the table to order food and drinks. They have few different sections to sit with lots of tables. This was my first time sitting inside since it was such a cold day. Food came out very fast and was good. The Burrito Bowl is a lot of food, and I had plenty for leftovers. read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The restaurant itself is beautiful, I love the vibes, great beer selection. However the food was extremely disappointing, it was flavorless, im not sure how the chicken was cooked but the entire dish just looks unappetizing. The crab gimbap was just ok, the overall presentation made it hard to enjoy. read more

Namu - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This place has it all, a garden outdoor seating area, fresh and flavorful Korean food, and a great vibe! You order on your phone and they bring your food to you, server was super friendly and It's the perfect spot to chill and hangout with your friends or spend a free night. Would totally be a regular at Namu if I lived near it! read more

Namu - Shrimp tempura gimbap - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Stopped in for coffee this morning and the lattes were delicious and unique. I got a red velvet latte with oat milk. The staff were very friendly. The front doors they want you to use seem to have switched locations. I enjoy this place! read more

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Kind of confusing place to pick your food up from but I will say the bulgogi was AMAZING. They should have signs or clearer directions because it's almost like two separate places that don't say where to go in to pick up the order read more

Asian infusion restaurant with really unique entres. They have Asian sushi burritos, Korean quesadillas where you can pick your own protein and so much more. They also have a great selection of beers. You can also get up and go pick out your sauces which I always enjoy doing. I came with friends and was glad to see they had seating for groups. You have to scan in their QR code for menu and to order but I guess many restaurants are going that direction. I would definitely come back and try their other menu items for sure. Very cool place. read more

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This place offers a great amount of seating wether thats wanting to enjoy the weather outside around beautiful bamboo or staying inside where its dimly lit with the feel of a coffee shop. The bar area has an open seating perfect for a group of friends. I was only able to try the coffee shop which is located in what almost felt like the end of a maze once inside the restaurant which i enjoyed walking through. Its a very unique place with lots to see and sit at also allowing people to enjoy coming for a hangout soot or simply just to do work from "home". I will say ill have to come back and review it better once I am able to try the food and drinks! read more

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When I'm hungry, this is my go to spot! There is a variety of dishes you can order, including bibimbap, rolls, quesadillas, fries. I always stick to the bibimbap because it is a large quantity and comes with a variety of vegetables, flavorful tofu, and of course, the best part, all the different sauces you can pick between. I wish I could tell you what my favorite sauce was, but I always use them all so I haven't been able to differentiate.This is a great place to gather with friends because there's something for everyone to eat. There are also great vibes around with games available such as foosball darts, a variety of board games and lots of space to hang out with your friends and have one of the many beers that they have available there. Everything is through QR codes that are available at the table. You can order your meal there and expect to have it within five minutes. read more

We absolutely love the outdoor spaces here. If it's a nice day and you're having a rough week this is exactly what you need. They have a great indoor space as well. The Beer hall is also fantastic because you can have a night out with friends while sampling lots of fantastic beer, they also serve you food in the beer hall so everything is covered. I love that you can order at your table, it's so much easier. They food is always great, I can't come here without getting the kimchi pancakes and the galbi. There's really something for everyone. The drinks are inventive and delicious, we love trying the new coffee concoctions. The staff is very friendly as well. 100/10 read more

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Came here for the first time, we've heard really good things about this place and the ambience is nice, its super chill inside. Depending on the vibe you want you can hang out in the bar side or the cafe side. They have a decent amount of beers on tap and plenty of TV's around to watch sports, etc. They also have a few games, including darts, video games and some board games. We ordered food and the food was excellent, no complaints about that. We sat on the bar side for our experience. So here's why I'm giving this place three stars. When I was ready to order some drinks I made my way to the bar to try some beers, once that was done I made my choice, and couldn't add it to my tab so I had to pay for it at the bar. I was charged a service fee for me having to obtain my drinks. Once we were ready to order food they tack on another service fee. So they are charging service fees for little to no service, nothing exceptional. The workers are merely performing their basic duties. Overall cool place, just be aware of the hidden fees. read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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| Overview + Enjoyable Bibimbap & other healthy Korean food + Various sauces add flavors well + QR code on each table makes it easy to order + Wonderful indoor & outdoor ambiance - Ridiculous service fees for what exactly? - Overpriced food - Canned soda for $2.50 | Full Review In our first visit to Namu, my girl & I went around 9 PM, and only 1 side of its inviting dining area was open. A manager told us to go to that area when we entered in the cafe side of the building opposite of that. There's a QR code on each table, and we can order from there. Pretty convenient. This dining area was chill & casual, with large television screens on one end of the wall, a bar slightly across, a couple of arcade machines close to our bench table, and lights that reminded me of Itaewon's night life and Taipei's casual dining spots. I scanned the QR code on our table with my Iphone & thought the whole ordering process went smoothly. I ordered the Bibimbap which, based on the description, was Korean BBQ with chilled veggies, fried rice & topped with egg. My girl ordered the Joe's Special, which was Korean BBQ served over white rice, japchae & spring mix. Their base prices were $15.50 for the Bibimbap & $19.25 for the Joe's Special. However, we still had to add the protein: +$2.50 for beef on Bibimbap & +$1 for Spicy Pork. The description of the base order said it included Korean BBQ but to add the "BBQ" part, we still had to pay extra?! On top of that, we were charged $6+ "Service Fee". At that moment, I was thinking, "Oh, tip is already prepaid before we got our food", but in retrospect, I wondered, what "service" was this "Service Fee" for exactly? The only interaction with a server we had was when she brought both our orders to our table and told us that we could get water & sauces to the one spot at the center, close to the bar. So pretty much, we had to self-serve our sauces & water - which we didn't mind - but still had to pay "Service Fee" over the overpriced food truck-quality Korean food. Don't get me wrong: we enjoy good food truck-quality foods, and Namu was able to provide that experience with the Bibimbap & Joe's Special that we ordered. The ingredients tasted heathy & fresh; as we shared each other's food, we both enjoyed the spicy pork more than the beef along with the spicy sauce, a less spicy barbecue sauce & a soy sauce-like sauce that went well with our dishes. There were a few other sauces we didn't try but it's nice that Namu lets its customers adjust the flavors with these sauces. The beef wasn't as marinated as we liked, so we had to add sauces to give it flavor. My girl didn't like how the veggies were cold, but I told her that's how they're really made. Overall, as Korean food enthusiasts, both orders were satisfying, but were they really worth their prices? There are clearly other Korean restaurants in the Triangle NC that can either offer better quality for similar price or similar quality for less price, with much better customer service. A canned soda here cost $2.50, and the options for non-alcoholic, non-cafe beverages are limited. So, what does Namu do better than those restaurants? Being open until 10PM on a Saturday night instead of the common 9PM closing hour matters for people -like us- who tend to eat dinner after 9 on some nights. So that's 1 good thing about Namu, but in my opinion, the main reason logical customers would pick Namu over other spots is its wonderful ambiance - both inside and, especially, outside. Namu has a beautiful garden area for dining, and when we passed there after we ate, we were astonished to see how they looked ideal for casual dates, thanks to the water feature, plants, and well-lit areas. The tables outside also have QR codes on them, so I guess they could bring the orders to you outside if you decide to eat there. Namu's ambiance makes it an ideal spot for drinking, watching sports & socializing with friends while eating healthy Korean food. It's in a nice, secluded location, right across the New Hope Commons shopping area, where Wal Mart & other stores & a few restaurants are located, so it's a convenient location for people living close to this area. Namu also has a cafe section that serves a good selection of coffee & tea but it was already closed when we went there. If you're craving for fresh Bibimbap and don't mind the ridiculous "Service Fee", Namu's got it. Just don't expect to get excellent customer service. Honestly, we felt hesitant to order more because we knew service fee would be added again. Next time we crave for Korean food, we'd probably explore farther options, with actual grills on tables and better customer service, even if they don't have a fancy garden. | Overall Score: 3/5 read more

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Ordered the peach cobbler affogato and peach matcha and they were incredible! They don't have food until lunch time which I was surprised about. But the coffee was incredible read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Food spam gimbap fire Yuzu sparkling soda fire Munching on the shavings as I type I don't even eat for real and I didn't even inside with this read more

Namu - Yuzu Sparkling Water gimbap - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Love their food@ Its like Korean street food. They are so nice. SUSHI IS FANTASTIC, but my favorite is the potato swirl on a stick

An amazing environment involving a garden, cafe and beer hall. Price is good, portion is a lot, and it's tasty. One suggestion: could you offer soup options? read more

Great food...Very filling and very pleasant staff.....and nice ambiance...Me and my Buddy Matin definitely enjoyed our meal and the drink was very refreshing. .. read more

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Absolutely to most tasty food around. Consistent service and an easy ordering interface make it an easy choice for when people visit us. Chill vibe and a cool outdoor seating area. Perfect for many occasions. read more

Namu - Burrito Bowl! - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I visited Namu for a large-party work event, (so maybe not the most accurate representation of their individual dishes), and while I enjoyed their drinks, the food fell short of expectations. The bulgogi, spicy pork, chicken were all decent and tender, but the marinate seemed generic and lacked additional depth. Maybe my slice was an outlier but the spicy pork quesdilla could have had a more even pork to cheese ratio. The japchae was chewy but wish it had more of the traditional veggies (spinach, mushrooms) in addition to the carrots. The kimchi pancake packed a lot of kimchi which I appreciated! I do like how they have different sauces for you to mix and match! For drinks, the matcha mule was pretty good with the vodka and the sweetness level, but matcha flavors were a little lacking. They have a wide range of beers and ciders, including flights and other locally brewed options. The place can accomodate large parties and has two parking lots. The dim lighting and fairy lights remind me of pocha places but the 6 TVs gave it a beer haul vibe as well. read more

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Overall, the atmosphere of the garden and restaurant was incredible. Being outside and able to study was a great experience. It was incredibly pretty, only marred by the fact that 70% of the tables outside had clearly not been cleaned beyond taking the dishes off of them. The food itself was decent, but it was served room temperature which dampened the overall food experience. The restaurant also charged a mandatory service fee as well as requesting a tip. I have no problem tipping in the slightest, but all our server did was bring us the food. We ordered off QR codes. We served our own water. We seated ourselves. Charging a service fee for that on top of tip is a little much for the amount of service provided. read more

The two dishes we got were fantastic and I got a sunset drink and it was quite delicious and my husband got a juicy IPA beer and it was great we will definitely go back again when we're in the area!!! read more

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Definitely don't judge this book by it's cover! The outside looks quite sketch, but well worth your entry. It's a little bit of an enigma with it being a Korean Mexican fusion along with a beer garden but somehow it works. Was able to meet my daughter there today for lunch and we both had bulgogi bowls that were overflowing basically with protein. Very flavorful they have about six types of sauces however none of them were quite spicy enough for me but again they were all flavorful and added to the dish. I would definitely come back here and try many of their other dishes. The bulgogi I had had the Korean beef I added a side of spicy chicken which by the way was only an extra dollar I mean come on are you kidding me? It was full of rice greens pickled radish all kinds of other delicious flavors Plus over easy fried egg on top. This will be a place that I will definitely suggest to my daughter the next time we're in town. read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I realized I hadn't updated my review in a long time. This place never disappoints. There is a wide variety of options for both food and drinks. The ordering process is smooth and everything came out promptly. We weren't in a hurry, but could have gotten out in a business lunch timeframe. There is a variety of peaceful spaces for parties of all sizes. This is one of the calmest eating places I've been to. We were not in a hurry and we were not hurried by the vibe or the volume. Too many places these days are too loud to enjoy being there. This isn't one of them. A solid go to for lunch, because the food is great. read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Name is a beautiful sensory experience. From the time you walk in until the time you leave, you are taken away from Durham and into a tranquil garden of so many colors, scents, and tastes. I did not want to leave as it was absolutely amazing to experience! My coworkers and I met for a birthday and made a reservation. We had some difficulty finding the table, but the staff were very nice and helped us. We sat outside under an awning and ordered via a QR code on the table. Next to the QR code was a red flag that we could put up if we needed assistance. I decided to order the beef gimbap, which was delicious! I like that the roll came stuffed with the beef, carrots, and onions. I paired it with their mix of sauces. My favorite was their spicy aioli and house sauce. I got to try the shrimp gimbap, which was also delicious. The food did take a while to come out, but the servers were nice and let us know that there was a backup. It was worth the wait! I would love to come back and try one of their rice bowls as well as their kombucha that is on tap. The atmosphere alone would bring me back. read more

This is a great place. The atmosphere is incredibly relaxed. A little unorthodox with the ordering style. You go in and seat yourself and scan the QR code to order and pay. They bring the food to you where you eat and can leave. The food is pretty incredible though and the miso banana bread latte was heaven. They also do events so I took a brochure for if (fingers crossed) my brother in law could check out for a wedding venue. read more

Namu - Miso banana bread latte - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Order online situation and they bring to the table. This place is huge! Really great food and amazing beer selection. Most of the staff was super nice. The cafe part closes at 5 though fyi so you can't get drinks from there after that. Really good spot to go with friends or a big group. read more

Namu - Kimchi pancakes and bowl - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

YUMMY on steroids! The food was amazingly flavorful. We decided to go with the rice bowls with noodles (Bo's special) and the beef was so tender and delicious 10 out of 10 meal and let's talk about the ambience of the place felt peaceful but also community friendly. Really made it feel like eating was an experience rather than a convenience. We were able to sit outside that day because the weather was gorgeous. Free parking was broadly available. And shoutout to every member of staff I met, everyone was so kind! read more

Namu - Bo's Special - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I got here at opening, had a flat white and did some work, then had lunch with my friends when they showed up at about noon. The flat white was fine, nothing special. For lunch I got the bibimbap, which was good, but it didn't come in a searing hot stone bowl which is what I was hoping. Ordering is easy but impersonal - all QR codes, no talking. All that being said there is lots of space, the environment is nice, the bathrooms are clean and I liked being there. I would probably not go back for the coffee, but would go back if I wanted to meet some friends, particularly a large group, for lunch. read more

Namu - Lots of space to work or meet with friends. - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Beautiful zen setting for a leisurely Korean lunch or dinner. We ordered by phone and the server promptly brought out our Kimchee pancakes and Bulgogi Beef Bowl. They have sauces and water on spot yo serve yourselves. Everything was fresh & delicious! read more

Namu - Korean Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Excellent food and drinks. I had a little trouble ordering, but the staff was very helpful and friendly with me getting my order right. Quiet atmosphere with plenty of seating. read more

Tasty Asian fusion cuisine. Everything we ordered was delicious. Menu and ordering is done online although paper menus are available and you can order at the counter. read more

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Was here for a large catered event and enjoyed the food! The spicy pork quesadilla with aioli and japchae were very tasty. Lots of drink options as well. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. read more