I was very excited to try Nowon's new Boston location as I've heard great things about the restaurant in NYC. I got to my reservation early and sat at the bar to order a Lychee Keen. It was sweet and so delicious! The bartenders were all super friendly and personable. Once my friend arrived, we sat at our table and ordered an Open Sesame (espresso martini) and mocktail called Respect Your Elders. Both were great and all the cocktails were BEAUTIFUL. As for food, they have 2 options called "Mixtapes" in which you can get 5 or 7 courses of their most popular dishes. We weren't too hungry so we ordered a la carte but will definitely come back to try more! The Grilled Shrimp Skewers were good but nothing special. The Legendary Cheeseburger was in fact delicious. I wish I could've tasted alittle bit more kimchi though. And the Honey Garlic Butter Tots absolutely melted in our mouths YUM. The vibes here are fun, rap/hip hop music videos were playing but I will say it was LOUD. I couldn barely hear my friend across the table and voice was hoarse after. I'd definitely come back here and try out more dishes! read more

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The legendary cheeseburger is really delicious! Went back twice and had the same experience.

Burger was incredible, cucumber kimchi and tater tots were 10/10. Service was just odd, waiter wasn't attentive didn't know if he was the host or our waiter. read more

I had the cucumber kimchi, which had a slightly spicy and sweet combination in flavors. A nice start to our dinner. We followed it up with the Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes. ABSOLUTELY make sure to have this. Since the menu is meant to be shared, we also had just one burger with tots. They happily offered to cut in half for us. It was early dinner so the manager (I believe his name was Boris) came by to chat us up after I told him I've been to the NYC locations. The Boston location is apparently the newest so they really made the atmosphere fit the Seaport neighborhood. A must visit for me when I'm in Boston as I come here often. read more

There's something about a place that hits you the second you walk in, the smell of frying oil, a low thump of bass, and the faint chaos of people doing something they actually care about. Nowon has that. It's got an edge, even in Boston's polished Seaport, where everything else seems designed for people afraid to spill sauce on their shirts. But when we walked in, it wasn't the scene you might expect. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and they sat us right by the front door, the kind of seat that makes you feel like part of the décor. I asked to move, and they handled it kindly. Once we settled, the room started to hum the way it should, laughter in the distance, the soft sizzle of the kitchen, the sense that something good was coming. We went for The E.P., a five-course tasting that's basically the story of Nowon told through food. It began with the ricotta toast, a perfect first act, rich but light, a bite that doesn't knock you over the head but tells you the chef knows what he's doing. Then came General Lee's Chicken, and this is where things got serious. Tender, beautifully fried, a little spicy for me, but full of flavor. The vegetables added a crunch that gave the whole thing rhythm, and the peanuts made it sing. You could eat this at midnight, standing up, and still feel happy about your choices. The Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes might be one of the most inventive dishes I've had in a while. It's that perfect collision of the familiar and the strange, chewy Korean rice cakes swimming in a cheesy, beefy sauce that tastes like late-night comfort wrapped in skill. It's the kind of dish that could fool you into thinking you were somewhere else, somewhere louder, like the North End after one too many beers. Then came the Honey Garlic Butter Tots, crispy, fluffy, and borderline addictive. They're the kind of side that shouldn't be as good as it is. The seaweed sprinkle sets it apart, giving that salty, savory pop that wakes up your taste buds and makes you reach for another even when you know you're full. Finally, the Legendary Cheeseburger, and it earns the title. Half a burger each, which feels cruel until you realize it's the perfect amount. The kimchi sauce ties the whole thing together, giving it a subtle tang that cuts through the richness. It's not a fancy burger, it's just a right one, beef cooked properly, cheese melted where it should be, and that saucy mess that gets on your fingers and makes you not care. We paired it all with a strawberry soju infused Jinro bottle, my first real taste of Soju. We made a bit of an occasion out of it, a small celebratory shot, a quiet toast, and slow pours through the meal. It was sweet, dangerously easy to drink, and did what good alcohol should do, relax you, loosen the night, make the food a little brighter and the conversation a little slower. By the end, I understood what Nowon is really about. It's not trying to be perfect. It's trying to be alive. A place where flavors have weight, where fusion isn't a gimmick, and where a bottle of Soju can turn a Wednesday night into something that feels a little bit like a celebration. Forty-five dollars for five courses that swing between comfort and creativity is more than fair. Nowon isn't Boston fancy. It's the kind of place that reminds you why you go out to eat in the first place, to taste something new, to talk too long, to walk out a little buzzed, a little full, and a little happier than when you came in. In a city that sometimes forgets how to loosen its collar, Nowon remembers. read more

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My partner and I got the marinated eggplant toast, fried chicken & matcha waffles, and legendary cheeseburger w curry spiced tots - TASTE: 4/5 - my favorite was the chicken & waffles dish w its hot honey butter, savory maple syrup, and strong matcha taste in the waffles. Otherwise, classic eggplant flavors in the toast and the burger's well seasoned patty, kimchi special sauce, and curry tots were tasty TEXTURE: 5/5 - was not expecting the matcha to be a mochi filling in the waffles -- wow, genius! I was truly blown away by that lol. Also enjoyed the burger's sesame-topped bun, combo of the tender eggplant w crisp toast, and both the fried chicken and tots were fried nicely PRICE: 4/5 - expect to splurge a little for brunch, total came to $84 SERVING SIZE: 3/5 - wish the appetizer and my chicken & waffles were a bit bigger SERVICE: 4/5 - made a reservation through OpenTable and arrived at 1:15pm on a Sunday. Plenty of tables were available if we had wanted to walk in. Food came out 15min later ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - lively, hip, and well-decorated space! Also learned that Nowon is pronounced "now on" (vs "no one") lol PARKING: 4/5 - got a street spot on a Harborview Ln and walked 10min over read more

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Went to Nowon recently and honestly it exceeded my expectations across the board. For about $55 a person you get a solid variety of plates which already feels like a great deal in Boston. The famous burger lives up to the hype, but what actually surprised me was how good everything was. The chopped cheese rice cakes, the black sesame Caesar salad ( both dishes I wouldn't have necessarily picked on their own) were all phenomenal. Nothing felt like filler. Highly recommend if you haven't been read more

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Food is 10/10. Smaller restaurant, definitely not for a large party, and I would say don't go here for your first date as it is loud and can get packed. However, if you want to come for good food, good drinks and a friendly staff, this is your place. The burger is a MUST, and we did not go into this thinking we would get the Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes but oh my god, unbelievable. I would go back just for the Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes and General Lee's Chicken read more

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I had a great experience at Nowon! The ambiance was cool and the service was great. To drink I tried the "rock the bells" and the seasonal watermelon drink. The watermelon one was very good. For food I did the EP mixtape. The highlights were definitely the rice cakes and the tots! The sauces for both were incredible!! I would go back for those two dishes alone. read more

Nowon Seaport - Interior - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Interior and ambiance is nice. Service was just okay as they sent out the wrong order the first time, despite it being relatively quiet in there. I came specifically for the burger and thought it was good but nothing I'm rushing to come back for. Important to note that it doesn't come with any sides and for that reason I do think it's overpriced. read more

Nowon Seaport - The Legendary Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My boyfriend and I went to Nowon on 6/24 around 10pm. It was a Tuesday night and there was only one other couple there at the time. I would like to preface this review by mentioning we both work in restaurants in Boston as well. Walking in, we waited to be sat. The host took her time getting to the host stand and didn't say a word to us. We were hesitant to follow her, until the bartender gestured to. She just grabbed the menus and placed them down at a table and walked away. My boyfriend and I looked at each other weird like the vibe was already off. Just that alone made us want to leave. Luckily we were excited to try the food. We shared the shrimp mandu, chopped cheese rice cakes, skillet bacon & kimchi fried rice, and the dry aged steak burger. Everything was great but the chopped cheese rice cakes were AMAZING! I didn't get our server's name but it looked like he was the only server at the time. He was very nice and attentive! Not only is the food and ambiance important, but front of house staff is too. Patrons should have a good first impression, especially since the hosts are the first ones they see. read more

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The service was good, the host was friendly and the servers checked in on us from time to time but they mostly were off doing other things which I dont mind at all. The vibes were ok, your typical loud music and cute decor. This review is MAINLY for the food. The online menu definitely made it sound better than what it actually was. We ordered the classic mixtape set and we were so confused about what was on our table. We started off with some drinks, I had the Evil Eye cocktail which was nice and refreshing. It didnt have wasabi in it like the online menu described but was still good. The food started with the cucumber kimchi and ricotta toast and they were both the best things on the menu. Everything after was just not good...Then the lamb ssam came out, and to say it was underwhelming is an understatement. I dont know what we were expecting but it was a small bowl of under seasoned ground lamb meat and a side of lettuce. Next came the general Lee's chicken and I dont know why this chicken was more sweet than anything. There was no other seasoning or spices, it was just fried chicken in honey. Then the burger and honey butter tots came. The burger was pretty good, slightly better than a big Mac. There was kimchi in the burger and I dont know why since it was barely noticeable. The tots were just sweet. Just like the chicken it was just tots in honey. It didnt have that famous honey butter flavor. The chicken and tots were so sweet that it was hurting our teeth a little lol and we didnt even feel like dessert afterwards. Our total bill was 150 (two cocktails and the set) plus tip. I wouldn't go here again for the food but maybe a quick bar visit for the drinks read more

Nowon Seaport - CLASSIC MIXTAPE- cucumber kimchi, ricotta toast, general Lee's chicken, lamb ssam, legendary cheeseburger and honey butter tater tots - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I was able to make a resy for 4 on a Saturday at 10:30 pm and my overall experience was generally OK, we decided to try out "the classic" which is a sample of some of their famous items and we really enjoyed the sesame Caesar salad, the general lees chicken and our favorite was the chopped cheese rice cakes ! That one dish is a must ! Their legendary cheeseburger IMO was Kindof salty and their tots and eggplant was nothing to rave about. We each also had ordered a drink and out of the 4 drinks, only 1 was good, which was the open sesame, my lychee keen was a little more on the sweeter side, my cousin ordered a mojito and it was ok and her husband ordered the purple haze which to him tasted like medicine ! So in terms of food n drinks, I will come back to give it another try. ( they have only been open for a week ) Service on the other hand, our waiter was good, there was no issue with him, but the manager that was there that night, not sure if he needs more training in customer service or something because like I said it was 10:30pm so it was not busy but while I was in the restroom, he had came to our table and had question everyone else that was sitting if they had seated themselves and why they are sitting at that table. Which to me is disrespectful, he should have asked the host and confirm with them first before making any assumptions and he did not bother to come back to apologize. For a restaurant that just open, the manager should have better communication skills. read more

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This is the same restaurant as you'll find in NYC. Korean bbq and burger joint. The prices are high but so is the quality. We did not do drinks but the drink list looked widespread and high quality. The Cajun tots were very good. My "world's best burger" was very good as well but with a $23 price tag, I've had better for cheaper/similar price. The dry aged burger was very good as well. Our server was attentive, helpful, and kind. The kitchen was slow af. They make you aware that food comes out as it is prepared. Which is fine if the food is reasonably on time but my friends were done with their food by the time my burger came out. I'll try Nowon again but this first visit left something to be desired. read more

I have been twice now and good experiences both times. The food is really tasty, though does skew heavier (fried, saucy, cheesy, etc). I especially liked the general lee's chicken, the chopped cheese rice cakes and the burger! Some prior comments note issues with noise and service but wonder if those were from early days of opening as both times service has been excellent and noise level has been very reasonable. Prices are a little steep for gastropub fare but a downside of many Seaport restaurants, unfortunately. Would definitely recommend trying! read more

Not sure what this place was trying to be. Hip? Catering to the night crowd only? Weird vibe. Food was all over the place. Best bite was the kimchee burger. Tots the came with were odd and sweet though. The lamb skewers felt like it belonged in a Mediterranean restaurant and had no place in a Korean one. The bolognese rice noodles was also misplaced. It was a very strange meal. I'd put it at two stars but I feel like it wasn't bad food, just not for me. read more

The atmosphere and the music was 5/5 as well as the service but the food was too overhyped for us. Especially their famous burger but it was an experience and glad we tried it. read more

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Food- meh. The legendary burger is juat a plain old smash burger. Not bad, but nothing interesting about it (kimchi sauce pretty much tasted like mayo), and definitely not something to justify $21 for a smashburger. Honey garlic tots- regular frozen tots with a bit of sauce. Japchae noodles was the best dish, but atill pretty bland. Chopped cheese rice cakes- standard (and tasty) rice cakes, but again overpriced - tiny tiny dish for $22 Eggplant toast- $15 for dry toast with a bland eggplant spread that again, was just tiny. General lees chicken - bland again, tiny again. Desserts - they just have a black sesame creme brulee which didn't sound very interesting, so we went to levain bakery for some delicious cookies right next to it instead. Service- very inattentive. Took forever to order, no one came to check on us at any time, and waving down a server when we needed something was quite a feat. One additional annoying thing- after being advised they didn't have any bottles of sparkling water, i ordered a soda water, and then one refill. When you order soda water in Boston, refills are included. In this case, not only was the soda water served in a tiny goass, full of ice, but no one said the refill costs extra- $6 for the first glass, and $3 for a refill which we only saw when we received the check. Ambience - the restaurant was almost empty, but acoustics are so bad, it was incredibly loud. read more

Nowon Seaport - Eggplant toast, smash burger, cheesy rice cakes, corn ribs, tota, japchae and fried chicken sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had their burger & tots. Loved it. Their reputation for their burger is well deserved. Would definitely return.

This place is incredible, I would highly recommend. My personal favorites are the ceaser salad, general lees spicy chicken, rice cakes, and the burger. I have gone back to this location 5+ times and it never disappoints. Food is so delicious! Ambiance is nice. Never an issue with service. read more

Did the EP with a friend and it was a good mix of different dishes. Surprisingly liked the chopped cheese rice cakes, the ceasar is nothing special, wish that could have been swapped out. There was plenty of food, we both went home with some leftovers and the price was decent. Our service was not exceptional and we were left waiting a little bit to pay and have them pick up the check, had to call them over and it wasn't a busy night read more

The burger is awesome and the fried rice is another highlight. Love the Caesar salad as well. Really high quality food.

10/10, awesome service and ambience. Great portions and so easy to share if going with a group. Drinks were yummy, I wish the soju drink tasted more like soju but other than that everything was so yummy read more

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The food was delicious. We tried the general Lee's chicken and the ricotta toast for starters. Then we had the legendary cheeseburger!!! It was really tasty!!! read more

Ok food. Expensive for a burger that tastes like McDonalds, rude and attitude-full staff. Good ambiance. Misleading menu.

Too loud, and food was so so. Service was adequate. No ambiance Tough location to find read more

The food was phenomenal. Such a great restaurant and Michelle was an awesome server! Burger, chopped cheese rice cakes, and general Chicken were all unbelievable with unique flavors and would 10/10 come back. Adding it to the rotation for sure read more

We should have eaten in panda express, it is so expensive for a taste like that, the food in panda express is much better than theirs, sorry! Also, the spaces between tables are so tight, we can hear the conversation of the next table. Burgers in shake shack and tasty burger are much special than theirs, we have wasted too much money on this resto, sorry. read more

Nowon Seaport - Gastropubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My boyfriend and I had a amazing dinner here. The service was fast and the server was very sweet. We also really appreciated the GM who asked us about your drinks and told is some fun facts about our drinks. overall highly recommend especially the mixtape or the classic pre fixed menu! read more

Delicious entrees- loved the general tsaos chicken and ceased salad. The burger was also great.

I didn't even have the chance to take a table. Because I was by myself they gave me attitude and didn't eve care about to accommodate or take my name. Because of the attitude (i live in NYC) I give 1 star since 0 is not allowed. read more

Great experience. Food was a unique fusion of Korean and American, all delicious. Came here with my partner/lover on a Saturday afternoon. They had a brunch menu, which had almost all items found on the regular menu, plus a few additional items. We had a hamburger, chicken bun (fried chicken sandwich), curry tots, and black sesame caesar salad. Great Korean flavors that were just the right amount. I see a few other reviews saying they wished the flavors were stronger, but I thought it was just right. Good atmosphere and service. It's kinda pricey, but it is the seaport so that's expected anywhere you go in that area. read more

This place felt more American than Korean. The food felt very heavy and too much going on. Service was decent. Ambiance felt like a cafeteria that was open late at night. Would likely not return. read more

Food is excellent. Service was great. Boris was a great bartender and so friendly. Only complaint would be that the restaurant is insanely LOUD! Table of 4 we could barely hear each other. read more