Restaurants We Know You Want to Put on Your Radar: Nowon

Chef Jae Lee took the city by storm this year with a burger that was so good, it inspired this writer to corral a group of influencers including the lovely TastesBetterHere and Foodie Magician to seek it out AFTER we had eaten an entire dinner at Luthun. The pickle-topped, kimchee-mayo and cheese laden burger at Lee’s pop up restaurant solidified the Dale Talde disciple as a chef pushing the boundaries of modern Korean fare. And now, his much anticipated restaurant Nowon (named after his neighborhood in South Korea) is officially opened.

The infamous burger, available from 5 pm to 7 pm Photo: @tastesofny

An early peak at the menu includes octopus and Spam fried rice, chopped cheese rice cakes, and honey butter tater tots. There’s a cool steak served with lettuce wraps and white sauce as a homage to The Halal Guys. A burger is on the menu, but only from 5 pm to 7 pm in order to create buzz and to push people to start dining early. Which kind of makes sense because you aren’t supposed to eat and then go right to bed. Nowon’s Instagram page notes the restaurant will have a 90’s and early 2000’s vibe, which was confirmed when Trick Daddy and DMX blasted their way through the dining room. There’s also cool tiger logos and minimal lighting, and a bathroom that feels like its own dance party because well, you’ll have to see for yourself. The restaurant opened on Monday and is accepting reservations via Resy. There’s a section of elixirs on the menu as Nowon waits for its liquor license, so you may want to make a stop at Death & Co. or Mother of Pearl near by for a well made drink. Take a look at some of the things you’ll find inside during the meantime.

Chef Jae Lee makes a tasty burger Photo: Tyson Greenwood

Chicken wing anyone? Photo: @scrumphsus

Cucumber salad with crushed peanuts, tahini sauce, and chicken. Photo: @JasonEats

Honey Butter tater tots are on this menu too! Photo: @scrumphsus