New York City’s K-Town has always been a relatively authentic slice of Seoul right here in the concrete jungle. They have Korean barbecues, individualistic bars, and unique bakeries, along with some of the latest trends that have caught on in Korea such as robotic fried chicken shops.
The one thing I haven’t found is an authentic Korean-style bar or late night hang out. Last I was in Korea visiting some local friends, I learned ordering drinks in Korea without ordering food wasn’t a thing that people did. Honestly, I was glad for it because the food was all great. Until I went for dinner with my girlfriend at NOFLEX NYC, I haven’t had that experience outside of Korea.
NOFLEX is an eidetically Korean spot and a concept born in Seoul by Next Dining Hospitality. The NOFLEX NYC experience is an immersive new media art lounge and restaurant with a maximalist interior, designed by ODD33, to mirror Seoul’s vibrant nightlife. Although the lounge has been open since the end of January, there is newly appointed Executive Chef Victor Hahn (formerly of HYUN, Soogil) who has created a new menu that takes guests on a culinary journey through East Asia, emphasizing shareable Korean dishes fused with Japanese and Western flavors.
While there, my girlfriend and I tried a number of different dishes. To start, we had a series of small plates beginning with the fried chicken skewers – Korean Fried Chicken bits that were covered in a sweet gochujang. Then we moved on to these wonderful crab croquettes served with an accompanying sauce that added a nice horseradish compliment to the crispy fried foods.
The last small plate were the cigar rolls, these crispy fried rolls filled with meats and retables and served with a spicy aioli. All of them were great but by far my favorite were the croquettes. For the large plates, we had the Pork Belly Buns and Mentaiko Sauce, tender soy-braised pork belly with pickled daikon, topped with mentaiko mayo and scallion and the Seafood Okonomiyaki, a potato mash pancake topped with crispy bacon, shrimp, and melted mozzarella. Both were wonderful and incredibly filling.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the drinks. They had several incredibly colorful and photogenic drinks, including:
- Korean Yuzu Sour, a perfectly balanced blend of traditional Korean soju and yuzu, garnished with a dried orange slice.
- New York Night, a refreshing mix of plum soju, yuzu, vanilla, soda, and vibrant blue curacao.
- Tiramisu Martini, espresso, soju, and cacao, topped with a light cream cheese frosting and two biscuits.
I also can’t believe I got this far without mentioning the ambience. It is a beautifully lit modern space that looks like a set from John Wick. This is like an influencers dream nightspot. Even if you aren’t an influencer, Noflex is a great place worth a visit in New York City. It’s a good restaurant that has fun club-like vibes. It’s the perfect spot to have a few drinks with friends while enjoying and sharing some delectable plates with the right kind of food for the environment.
