Nōksu

Dining at Nōksu is truly a multi-sensory experience, engaging not just your taste buds but also your sense of sight, smell, and even sound. From the moment you step into this intimate 15-seat dining space, tucked away beneath the bustling streets of Herald Square, you are transported into a world of refined elegance and meticulous craftsmanship. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between modern sophistication and warm hospitality, making every guest feel like they are part of something special.The service is nothing short of impeccable, with the attentive staff ensuring that each course is presented with thoughtful explanations that highlight the inspiration behind the dish. Every element, from the plating to the pairing suggestions, is executed with precision and care, elevating the entire dining experience.One dish that truly stood out to me was the Monkfish, beautifully paired with summer squash, fermented shrimp, and saffron. The combination of flavors was nothing short of magical--the richness of the monkfish complemented by the depth of the fermented shrimp and the subtle floral notes of saffron. Each bite was an intricate balance of umami, sweetness, and delicate spice, leaving a lasting impression that lingered well after the meal had ended.From start to finish, dining at Nōksu is an unforgettable journey through bold, innovative flavors and impeccable presentation. For those who appreciate high-caliber cuisine with a creative edge, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're a seasoned gourmand or simply someone looking for an extraordinary dining experience, Nōksu delivers on every level.

Nōksu - NYC (*)Nōksu is an intimate chefs counter restaurant serving a seafood-heavy menu nestled in the heart of the subway system (near 32nd street). It was just awarded its first star so I decided to check it out.The space is cozy and definitely small, but its lack of size is hardly felt during the dining experience. From the moment we stepped into restaurant the service was tight and kind - no issues there. The food, unfortunately, left me a bit disappointed. Particularly I was sad to have missed out on the Squab -- a dish that had seemed almost synonymous with Nōksu in all the media I had seen.I probably wouldn't return to Nōksu, but am glad to have at least tried it.Notes on the food:Albacore Tuna - Surprisingly had a BBQ like flavor to it, not bad. 7/10Sardines - Plated beautifully with a nice punchy flavor. 8/10Blood Clam - Delicate broth but nothing memorable. 7/10Horse Mackerel - Surprisingly very deep, almost spicy flavor. Enjoyed this. 8.5/10Surf Clam - This went really well with the custard and caviar. 9/10Squid - The squid itself didn't taste like much but you could tell it was cooked well. 5/10Tilefish - Good citrusy broth with this one. Didn't enjoy the liver the fish was lying on. 6/10Broken Rice - The supposed hearty course left me very disappointed. Didn't really get any flavor from this. 3/10Monkfish - Solid, but perhaps I was a bit disappointed since I was expecting a meat course. Not a huge fan of the sauces. 7/10.Barley Sorbet - Paired with Yuzu and Champagne Ice was a very nice palate cleanser. 8/10Shiitake Mushroom Macaron - Didn't taste the mushroom but was a very nice macaron. 8.5/10Anniversary Dessert - Can't remember what was in this one. It was surprisingly doughy in texture but in a positive sense. 7/10Makgeolli and Coconut - Another good dessert. The pistachio and raspberry was quite good. 8.5/10Though most dishes were solid, the few disappointing ones and a lack of any real mind-blowing courses left me wanting more.

You would never know that this place was in the subway, nor a former barber shop. Hidden right under ktown, is a Michelin worthy restaurant. The restaurant is mostly counter side besides a private dining room so you're up close with the open kitchen. The dishes were unique and delicious. Everything was warm and hot, as cooked food should be. I only say this because some restaurants serve dishes room temperature, which doesn't give the same warm feelings. The staff was very attentive and eager to help you get the best lighting for your food photos. The pricing is also very reasonable at $195 per person. Overall I'd recommend coming here.

Wow...really impressed with our meal here. I would put them on par with Atera, beautiful venue, amazing service, and delicious food made right before your eyes.We loved every dish, and more than one was a showstopper. Each dish was photo perfect, and the table lamp even doubled as a movable light for better photos which was such a whimsical touch! We particularly loved the foie gras, broken rice, and surf clam dishes. The venue is so unique, it's in a subway landing accessible by a code they text a few hours before your meal. The counter only seating gives you a perfect view of the kitchen and Chef Dae Kim himself was there ensuring every dish was perfect. Other reviews complained about the air quality but that must be resolved now as everything was perfect during our recent visit.This is one of the rare times where we have been lucky enough to dine at a restaurant before they are awarded their well deserved Michelin star-make reservations now before they get famous!

TLDR: Upscale speakeasy with an 11-course tasting menu, focused largely on seafood. More fancy than good and totally not worth the price. I'm very confused by all the good reviews as there were only 2 or 3 good dishes, one of which we paid extra for and otherwise wasn't part of the menu. Some courses were so bad I couldn't even finish and gave to my husband. And if you're sensitive to smoke, definitely don't come here bc it's poorly ventilated and everyone near us (ourselves included) complained that our eyes hurt from the smoke (a complaint that went ignored by our waiter).FOOD: Out of the 11 courses, I only really liked 3: (1) the surf clam (hen-egg custard with caviar - really amazing); (2) the market tomato (literally a small dish of very fresh market tomatoes); and (3) the BBQ squab (which they are famous for). I thought the monkfish, which gets highly reviewed, was awful. I couldn't finish and gave it to my husband. We both really disliked the squid dish as well, which was super slimey (more than usual). For the price, I also would've expected more protein or more luxury ingredients. Not so. There are also 2 add-on options: (1) a beignet topped with uni for $50 and (2) caviar for $25 to add on top of one of the courses. We went with the beignet only, which was not worth $50 (not even close). The beignet itself was done well but didn't mix well with the uni at all.DRINKS: We didn't get any drinks this time but will note that the drink menu was very limited. Only 3 cocktail options, and most people I saw who ordered a cocktail were babysitting it the entire night and didn't order a second - not sure if that was because they didn't love them. There were 2 wine pairing options - a seasonal and a premium. I forget the prices but it was somewhere around $125/$175.SERVICE: The interior Iooks nice but the restaurant is poorly ventilated. 4 out of the 5 guests sitting near us (plus my husband and I) all had really itchy, sore eyes from the smoke in the restaurant (keep in mind you're all sitting at a bar directly in front of the kitchen). When someone mentioned this to the waiter, he just quickly (and very defensively) said his eyes were fine and walked away. So incredibly rude if you ask me. We all had to use eye drops or go to the bathroom to wash out our eyes. For a nice dinner that costed us $600+ without even ordering alcohol, that seems absurd. CELEBRATIONS: We were celebrating our 3 year wedding anniversary so the chef gave us a free mini dessert to share, which was a thin chocolate cake or biscuit of some sort. The gesture was appreciated but it wasn't very good, and would've benefited from a candle. HOW TO GET IN: Go downstairs in the subway station at the corner of 32nd St./Broadway. After the first flight, you'll see a black door that says Noksu. There's a keyboard on the door you use to enter a code the restaurant texted you earlier in the day.In sum, I was super excited about this place but left sorely disappointed. Do NOT recommend and definitely won't be returning.

NoksuTucked away beneath the bustling streets of Manhattan, hidden underneath the 32nd subway entrance/Broadway lies behind a discreet black door accessible with a special key code. As soon as you go through the black the door, the smelly underground subway transforms into a classy fine dining area with 15 super high chairs. For some reason, the kitchen was an odd resemblance of parasite... Maybe it is just me. Waiter will greet you and take you to your seat. One comment is to add more light to the bathroom. I could not see where the flush was.This 11 course tasting is a Korean inspired menu with bold flavors through out the course. Standout dishes were the roasted squab, bao bun with squab innards, surf clam , monkfish, Geoduck with Jimmy Nardello Pepper, Broken rice, and Makgeolli which had Coconut, Honey, Peach, Chrysanthemum. TTasting course costs $225 with two prefixed add on.-Uni beignet stuffed with truffle parmesan $50-Caviar add on to the Squab bao to add an additional savory-ness $45I opted for the uni beignet. Uni was worth it. I didn't think the extra bump of caviar was necessary IMO.Wine paring was also available along with some cocktail options. People that did got drinks were nursing the drink and mainly focused on the food. I also opted out of wine pairing.Here was the 11 course menu tasting dishesGeoduckJimmy Nardello Pepper, TomatoSardineCharred Castelfranco, Caesar EmulsionSpanish MackerelAvocado, KinomeTurnipKorean Chili Pepper, Smoked EelMarket TomatoSpot Prawn, Cucamelon, Anise HyssopSurf ClamHen-egg Custard, Caviar, ScallionMonkfishFermented Shrimp, Yu Choy, TaeyangchoBroken RiceAnson Mills Carolina Gold Rice, Okra, GosariBBQ SquabBao, Japchae, JjajangKaffir LimeShiso, Fennel, KombuMakgeolliCoconut, Honey, Peach, ChrysanthemumMignardiseShiitake Mushroom Macaron

What an amazing and unique dining experience. From the speakeasy vibe to culinary tour from Chef Dae Kim. Everything was perfect. I'm so happy we were able to get a reservation after they received their Michelin Star and can't wait to go back to see what Chef and team does next.

Nōksu was a fantastic Korean-inspired tasting menu spot that really feels exclusive and unique. I think the adventure here starts with looking for the restaurant itself, nestled in the 32nd & Broadway subway station. Once you see it, it's not too hard to find, but you'll need a passcode that the restaurant will send you to get in. Once you do enter, you are greeted immediately by servers who take your coat and enter an intimate 14-seated area with a large marble slab as well as a private dining room in the back. It's gorgeous and loved the open kitchen plus seeing some of the ingredients that the team would be using throughout the night. It was clean, not overly noisy, and just had great modern, sleek vibes. Personally, I'm a big fan of bold flavors that I think Nōksu really excels at. Nearly all the dishes really play with bringing out an explosive flavor whether it is the truffle or huckleberry or gochujang. The flavors really sing in many of these dishes, with some of my favorites in the Jan. 19th menu being the brown crab (the opening dish that was so small yet set the tone so well in really rounding out how many flavors are jammed into a small dish) to the monkfish liver (one of the more stranger looking dishes that makes sense once you eat it as the monkfish and thai basil flavors really play with one another). A couple dishes in the 12-course menu sure were personally a bit more mild or not completely working in my palette, but I would say more often than not, Chef Dae does a fantastic job at surprising expectations. I only had just one drink during my time there so can't comment on the majority of the drink menu, but I really did appreciate the cocktail I had, 'Permission Granted', which was a delicious bourbon drink that had gochujang, thai basil, plantation pineapple ramazzotti, milk wash, lemon, and persimmon. It was immaculate and just so tasty. The color also looked so normal and was just surprised at how many ingredients were mixed in here. This naturally goes into the presentation as well. First off, the plates themselves are thoughtful and beautiful - usually accentuating the dish in front of you. The plating itself is also gorgeous. One of the standouts was the final mignardises which was included in a classic Korean box that my mother own herself to the unique sauces that go on many of the dishes and poured on the dish right in front of you. It's just a lot of fun to interact with the staff who are all stellar and friendly.The cost is $225 when we went for just the tasting menu with additional costs for drinks (including a paired drinking menu). Just a delightful treat all-around and super happy to have had a part in being able to try out the restaurant. Highly recommended!

Out of all the meals I've had in New York during this past trip, Noksu was by far my favorite, edging out Saga which came in second and most definitely beating out Le Bernardin by a long stretch.This hidden gem is located inside a train station whereby you'll receive the code to enter the restaurant a few hours before your reservation. Each of the dishes were beautifully presented and so creative with the ingredients and preparation. Absolutely LOVED every single dish but the standout for me was the monkfish which reminded me of a wellington with the additional outer layer. Husband, of course, enjoyed the squab which came with a cool story behind the inspiration for the dish. I'm not a dessert person but the dessert line up was just *chef's kiss*. I appreciated that there wasn't any chocolate since I'm not a fan and some of the ingredients were really fun and refreshing. Case and point, the huckleberry with pistachio and hawthorn was on point and made for a great palette cleanser.Service was amazing and we felt well taken care of during the entire meal. I would absolutely recommend trying it out and I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in town.

This is the restaurant inside the 34th St Herald Sq subway station. Yes it smells like urine outside, but that's the only part that smells. You'll need a code to get in. Once you get inside, it is chic, luxe, and you have a view of the open kitchen. You're greeted by friendly staff who will be with you the whole night. As I sat through the appetizers, each dish was better than the previous. I started to wonder, is this possibly going to be the best meal of my life?? The monkfish had a slight mala spice to it, so intriguing and it worked! The rock shrimp, oyster, surf clam egg custard!!! Everything was intricate and the flavors and textures worked together perfectly. The only dish I did not care for was the bbq squab -- I love squab, but the sauce here overpowered the dish. The huckleberry which was supposed to be refreshing was also on the heavier side. The makgeolli ice cream was the best out of all the desserts. Light and refreshing and a great ending to the meal. You also end with the box of mignardises, which were beautifully displayed but I did not find everything tasty. Overall, loved it and would come back for the ever-changing menu.