There is much, much more to be discovered betwixt the bamboo shoots and long grasses in this private oasis off 15-501. Namu's coffee game is on point, and it's the perfect spot for delicious coffee, intimate conversation and solo relaxation. They also have a large selection of non-coffee drinks like lemonade, misugaru and Hombucha.
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Hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
| 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?
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. Namu's ambiance makes it an ideal spot for drinking & socializing with friends while eating healthy Korean food. 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
Ashlee Moody
Nov 18, 2024
5
Visited 7/30/24
10/10 highly recommend!
This was my first visit to Namu and I couldn't have been happier. I ordered the beef mandoo, crab gimbap, and to drink the nightfall green tea. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. I was a little shocked that I had to order at the table myself and then someone would bring the order out after you pay. For a sit down restaurant I like to avoid pre-paying in case something goes wrong with my order or I have to order something else, but luckily enough I did not have this problem.
I will definetly be back again to explore more of the menu and the amazing cozy seating areas.
Gabrielle Li
Oct 24, 2024
5
Beautiful location. I love ordering via QR code. There was plenty of seating in the garden, and once we ordered the food and beverages came pretty quickly. All of it tasted great. There were a lot of people there and students and young children that were really loud. I guess to some that means “kid friendly”. To others I would recommend just picking your table more carefully. And the bathrooms were not very clean. Other than that, great experience eating at Namu.
Laura
Oct 22, 2024
5
Just recently got married in the namu garden which is one of the most magical spots in Durham. The staff were excellent and attentive, our day of coordinator Madison is an absolute pro at her job, we got so many compliments on the food, we even heard people say it was the best wedding food they had ever had. The bulk alcohol discounts helped keep it affordable. 110 people in the garden space is very comfortable and spacious, there could easily be 40-50 more than that. We even got a coffee & matcha mid wedding day from the cafe, which was delicious. We had a band and they had plenty of room on the stage. Overall the twinkling lights, bamboo, koi pond, and atmosphere was everything we wished for and more for our wedding reception. We highly recommend going this route over traditional venues, save some money and have just as good as a time!
Jennida Chase
Oct 21, 2024
5
Found Namu on a basic google search for restaurants (we’re not local to the Triangle) and we loved it. It’s a cute little compound with various buildings and areas to sit. We came in around 11am on a Monday, ordered the seasonal maple latte (one hot and one iced) and one shrimp and one bulgogi Gimbap. There is a beer hall, a coffee counter, indoor and at least 2 outdoor seating areas. The service was excellent (Cadey took the order, someone else delivered the food, both were great!). The drinks were good. We had our coffees there and took the food to go. The Gimbap were made to order, huge, and delicious. (They told us the Crab Gimbap is imitation crab btw) We spent about $55 for the 4 items. FYI, I came in on crutches and really everything seemed pretty easily accessible to me, though I never saw the bathrooms. If you are in a wheelchair or knee scooter, try entering in the front of the building as the back lots are gravel. There seems to be a pretty good amount of parking, but you cannot exit the way you drive in, and we saw multiple cars need to turn around after we did—when we realized we were going the wrong way. For a Monday morning, there seemed to be quite a lot of customers there! Hope to come back and we highly recommend this place!! One day, maybe we can try the beer hall…!!
Angie Line
Oct 14, 2024
5
Loved the experience of al fresco dining at the bamboo garden. The food was great! The spicy pork bibimbap I ordered was probably the best I've had in the area, and the crab gimbap was terrific as well. We finished our meal with a hot yuzu lemonade, which was also good. I’ll definitely be back again."
Tamar Beridze
Sep 28, 2024
5
Namu is one of my favorite places. Their space is very versatile and accommodates large groups as well. I have hosted meetups there, had lunch or just met up a friend for coffee. It is definitely great year round but in the spring or fall when you can sit outside it my favorite time to visit.
Juli
Aug 1, 2024
4
The food is incredible everytime I come here and the service outside is amazing everytime , but everytime I step into the beer hall it’s iffy service. I’ve asked 3 staff 3 different times if I could order with them and each time it seemed like I was an inconvenience. The first two times they’re like well you can place an order at the table and the third time it was “sure if you want” after I asked if I can place an order. all three times were passive aggressive for no reason, only reason I didn’t order at a table like usual was because I wanted to know how to do a TOGO order and because I was paying cash. The horrible attitude wouldn’t be a problem if automatic gratuity wasn’t included. If automatic gratuity is included the least you can do is be polite, I am 100% with 20% tipping culture since I am a server myself but damn I didn’t even get a smile from any of the staff 🤣
Shinjini Chattopadhyay
Jul 26, 2024
5
The ambience of the garden is one of the best I have seen in Durham so far. The bamboo garden and koi pond are very calming. The variation in seating options is also fun. I love the fact how versatile the place is: this is a good spot to get dinner, or just drink nice mocktails, or just hangout with friends over snacks. The Korean BBQ dishes are delicious! I am very impressed by their array of vegetarian options. Every dish has a veg/tofu option. Have only great things to say about this place. Will be returning for sure.
Jiin Ta
Jun 1, 2024
5
I absolutely adore the outdoor setting of Namu. Even though there are many people sitting outside, it still seems calm and serene. You order from a QR code at the table you are sitting at, so don’t forget to charge your phone! The service was super quick despite the large amount of people. Keep in mind that there is a service charge that is automatically put on the bill!! I ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice with tofu. The only downside was the price. The fried rice was already $16.50 and it cost extra for any type of meat or plant-based option. However, the serving sizes are generous and I was able to bring some home.
Neha Patel
May 2, 2024
3
Food was really good, big portions for about $18, drinks $7-11 each. Plenty of sauces. Overall, prices a bit expensive, especially when you're charged more for the base protein in the meal like bibimbob. There are many sauces to try, but that and water is self service. Drinks were tasty, including the sours called Small Bang and Saturday Morning Blender. The mandatory tip was inconvenient and passing way too many fees to the customer is wrong, especially when the bartender (who was "the only one") was rude and the service inconsiderate. Patry size didn't matter, tip was added to everything. Overall, the outdoor atmosphere is nice, spaces are huge, but the band was a little too loud to actually have a conversation with my friends. The food delivery aside from the bar is very fast.
Revathy
Apr 24, 2024
5
A hidden gem with exotic ambience! This place blooms beautifully in spring and it's a must visit. The food was good. They had a great variety of options for beers. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. You have decent vegetarian options. They have their own parking.
