Namu Korean Eats, Beer Hall & Coffee Bar

Delicious food, good coffee, wonderful space. Cool beer hall too. Great spot to hang with friends and to work during the day. Food is on the expensive side, but the portions are good, and a big part of that is because they pay their employees a living wage (at least that’s what I’ve heard!).

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.

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."

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.

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…!!

Love this place! We got the bibimbap bowl with beef and the kimchi fries with chicken and the food was great. Both meats were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Their matcha latte was delicious and they have a wide variety of beer options. Plus the staff was so sweet.

| 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

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!

TL;DR: Namu KBBQ Tacos sent me directly to god (in a good way) I went there today after not having gone for a while, and what I noticed in between the utter, soul consuming bliss of demolishing a plate of their tacos, was that it seemed like both the overall portion size was larger than in the past, and that more of that portion was meat. As for the food itself, both the meat, veggies, and sauces comprising my tacos were just as good, if not better than I remember. I also had a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk before my tacos arrived and those were pretty good too. I think they get their bakery items from a few different local bakeries. Also their cafe space is really comfy. I have always loved both their indoor and outdoor eating areas. And since Yelp seems to want me to mention it, the customer service was great too. Prompt and friendly! I don't have much to say on that front, I was mostly focused on my food.

| 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? Being open until 10PM on a Saturday night instead of the common 9PM closing hour matters for people -like us- who tend to eat dinner after 9 on some nights. So that's 1 good thing about Namu, but in my opinion, the main reason logical customers would pick Namu over other spots is its wonderful ambiance - both inside and, especially, outside. 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. The tables outside also have QR codes on them, so I guess they could bring the orders to you outside if you decide to eat there. Namu's ambiance makes it an ideal spot for drinking, watching sports & socializing with friends while eating healthy Korean food. It's in a nice, secluded location, right across the New Hope Commons shopping area, where Wal Mart & other stores & a few restaurants are located, so it's a convenient location for people living close to this area. 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

Came here for the first time, we've heard really good things about this place and the ambience is nice, its super chill inside. Depending on the vibe you want you can hang out in the bar side or the cafe side. They have a decent amount of beers on tap and plenty of TV's around to watch sports, etc. They also have a few games, including darts, video games and some board games. We ordered food and the food was excellent, no complaints about that. We sat on the bar side for our experience. So here's why I'm giving this place three stars. When I was ready to order some drinks I made my way to the bar to try some beers, once that was done I made my choice, and couldn't add it to my tab so I had to pay for it at the bar. I was charged a service fee for me having to obtain my drinks. Once we were ready to order food they tack on another service fee. So they are charging service fees for little to no service, nothing exceptional. The workers are merely performing their basic duties. Overall cool place, just be aware of the hidden fees.

Great food, excellent sauces, no reservations needed. Very popular, so quite noisy. DT

YUMMY on steroids! The food was amazingly flavorful. We decided to go with the rice bowls with noodles (Bo's special) and the beef was so tender and delicious 10 out of 10 meal and let's talk about the ambience of the place felt peaceful but also community friendly. Really made it feel like eating was an experience rather than a convenience. We were able to sit outside that day because the weather was gorgeous. Free parking was broadly available. And shoutout to every member of staff I met, everyone was so kind!

Truly a hidden gem! Tons of seating across a few different sections. We sat outside in the garden and ordered via QR on the table. Food came out quickly and everything was SO tasty, very fresh, and huge portions! Great place to enjoy a bite, some coffee, and get some work done.

Beautiful zen setting for a leisurely Korean lunch or dinner. We ordered by phone and the server promptly brought out our Kimchee pancakes and Bulgogi Beef Bowl. They have sauces and water on spot yo serve yourselves. Everything was fresh & delicious!

Name is a beautiful sensory experience. From the time you walk in until the time you leave, you are taken away from Durham and into a tranquil garden of so many colors, scents, and tastes. I did not want to leave as it was absolutely amazing to experience! My coworkers and I met for a birthday and made a reservation. We had some difficulty finding the table, but the staff were very nice and helped us. We sat outside under an awning and ordered via a QR code on the table. Next to the QR code was a red flag that we could put up if we needed assistance. I decided to order the beef gimbap, which was delicious! I like that the roll came stuffed with the beef, carrots, and onions. I paired it with their mix of sauces. My favorite was their spicy aioli and house sauce. I got to try the shrimp gimbap, which was also delicious. The food did take a while to come out, but the servers were nice and let us know that there was a backup. It was worth the wait! I would love to come back and try one of their rice bowls as well as their kombucha that is on tap. The atmosphere alone would bring me back.

We usually eat in the beer hall area and enjoy the ambiance and tvs. Good beer selection. Friendly service. The only downside is that the food is never hot. It's usually at least warm, but this time quite cold. So much so that we will just drink our beers and put our meal in the microwave when we get home. Portions are good. We can always split. Not sure why the can't manage to serve hot food.

Good spot for a casual dinner with friends! Big tables and open seating, so we were able to easily find a table despite it being a Saturday night. Bowls were delicious and portions were huge! Kinda pricey for what they were though.

Good spot for Korean fusion food that's located conveniently halfway between Durham and Chapel Hill! The ambiance is amazing, so serene with all the greenery. Service is relatively fast, you order on your phone and the food is brought out to you. The food is pretty good. I usually get the Jo's Special with spicy pork because I love japchae. Also seems like a great study spot, so I'll have to come again sometime for that. I haven't tried it yet, but the coffee bar appears to have a decent amount of traditional options. 8/10 would recommend!

On our way to visit the Duke campus and we stopped here for lunch. What a cool concept! You order via QR code and they bring your food to you. The spicy pork taco and spicy pork burrito bowl were delicious. They have sauces ready at a self serve station. We also got a flight of beer from the bar. Service was very friendly!

Good spot for study but would not come back here for the food specifically. The bibimbap was alright but would go to a more traditional Korean restaurant for it as this feels more of an American rendition. There are so so many seats to study at and it is serene both inside and outside!

Great Korean food! I ordered a beef bibimbap here for takeout, and it comes with a lot of beef, rice, and other fixings that make it so good. I love their zucchini and carrots: it just elevates the dish even more. I tried the bibimbap from the Bulkogi food truck before as well, which is basically the same thing. But I wonder why this place doesn't offer spicy bulgogi on their menu when Bulkogi does. Can't wait to try out more of their dishes!

Laid back atmosphere and quick service. First time back in over a year. I need to come more often. Now there is an online ordering process, which is OK. Went to try a new menu item. Gimbap. It's similar to sushi but instead of vinegared rice it has sesame oiled rice and no raw fish. It was delicious. And pairs well with some of their great sauces.

Everything we had was flavorful. It was a bit confusing navigating the space but there was a map that easily directed us where to go.

I really liked the ambiance when you first walk in, it's a cool beer bar with good eats. Although we were not even greeted when we walked in. It was empty with only one other table dining. We didn't really know what we're doing. I said hi to the person at the counter and said it's our first time, so we order first or? He said to scan the QR code at the table and order. The website wasn't working for us even with wifi, so we ended up ordering at the counter. We got the Kimchi Bul-Fries, Bo's Special, and Bibimbap. Everything was really good! Everything was reasonably priced, and good portions. They do charge an automatic service fee of 15% but you don't really get much service aside from them bringing out the food. Before you come for me, we always tip, but I just wanted to make a comment about the automatic service fee for not being a full service restaurant. On another note- they do have non alcoholic beer options and it was surprisingly very really good. The brand is Untitled Art. They ferment it like normal beer and they take out the alcohol content afterwards. I didn't know this was a thing??

An amazing Korean restaurant with delicious food and beautiful ambiance. The service is great, you order from your phone and they bring the food to your table! There's plenty of seating, indoor and outdoors, with very nice decor and attention to detail. Overall calming experience. The food was great! And the portions very generous. The kimchi fries was a nice fusion dish, waffle fries with kimchi, protein, sauces and eggs. It came together nicely. Korean pancakes were some of the best we've had and brought out fresh and hot. The japchae (vermecilli noodles) were refreshing. Seasoning was not overpowering. I looks forward to going back and trying the other food on their menu!

This has to be one of the best spots I have ever been to! The ambiance is unmatched, you truly feel like you are in a bamboo forest somewhere abroad. The ordering system is unique, you sit down and order on your phone, the food came reasonably quickly for us. They have a number of sauces to try, which were all delicious! Furthermore, the kimchi rice bowl I got was delicious- the Korean beef was the perfect ratio of salty to sweet and went amazingly with everything! Will definitely be back

Namu is a hidden Paradise! The restaurant goes back so far you can get lost. The outdoor seating is excellent for catching up with friends and having a relaxed meal. I ordered the bibimbap and it was lots of food made with fresh ingredients. To order you scan on a QR code as well as check out online - this makes the service quick and seamless.

I ordered a cappuccino from here. It was really good. Nice place with an interesting layout. I'll be back.

Amazing food. Amazing service. Awesome venue. Love the bamboo rainforest you can dine in, as well as the indoor seating. Love the selections starting at coffee, venturing to the bar and ending with some grubbing. So good, my brother catered them to his wedding with my suggestion!

Came here with my family for an early dinner and had a good time. We ate in the beer hall but I understand there is a lot more to see at Namu (like the outdoor patio area!) so we'll definitely have to come back. I really enjoyed how much space there was in the beer hall, and it's cool that they have free to play arcade machines available. I didn't get the chance to play this time around but definitely will next time :) I ordered the bulgogi over rice (and a beer!) and everything was delivered promptly. The beer was tasty and the food was pretty good, although I've had better at other Korean BBQ places. That being said, overall, we had a really good experience, so I will definitely be back to try out other dishes, especially the kimchi fries!

We are visiting family from out of town and were out shopping. When the urge for caffeine & a bite to eat set in, my daughter took us to Namu. The atmosphere of this place is amazing, and the space is very expansive, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Ordering is done by QR code and is very efficient in this setting. We ordered loaded waffle fries (an enormous serving!) Japchae Mandoo, and tacos. The tacos were enormous, and because they are served on 2 tortillas, easily made 6. The Mandoo was cold and therefore a little greasy by the time it reached our table, but still tasty enough. The drinks, in my view, are the star of the show here. My daughter had an iced, sparkling yuzu drink that was so refreshing, while I had a maple sugar plum latte. I am a huge coffee drinker and can honestly say this was one of the best I've ever had. I would absolutely return again when in the area.

Great food, beer, and ambiance. Service was quick and ordering online was easy. We will definitely be back!

Namu is the perfect spot for a summer dinner with friends. When my friend and I first arrived, we walked into the building, confused how the parking lot was completely full (with cars roaming, looking for an open spot) but there were maybe three tables with patrons inside. As we explored into the garden area, we quickly understood where everyone had went and why Namu was so popular. The outdoor area emulates the vibes that one might get at a backyard bbq dinner. The food was delicious and I love the sauce bar. We split a donkatsu gimbap and a "Joe's Special", which was basically a bulgogi rice bowl with japchae. I'm excited to return and try the other sauces and menu offerings.

This place is a very nice outdoor area to take in some fresh air or get some nice sunshine as you eat a delicious meal or share drinks with friends. They have an open indoor seating where you can choose your seating and scan a QR code and order directly from your phone. Service was quick and friendly. I also ordered their London Fog Tea Latte that's not pictured and it was very, very delicious because of the potent taste of the earl grey tea. They have a huge outdoor seating area on the right side of the dining area where it has a beautiful fish pond and bamboo plants all around. There's also an outdoor bar that I'm sure will be crowded in the upcoming spring/summer time! They do have parking but the entrance is a slope that low riding vehicles need to be careful because it might scratch your skid plate or underside. It is one way so one way in and one way to exit.

I love Bo's food truck so I had to visit Namu (not exactly sure what took me so long). My friend and I walked around the garden area before heading inside, it's so tranquil and perfect to enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or a glass of wine. Next we headed to the beer garden. I liked the options, it was a good mix. I had a pint of one of the IPA's and mead. For food we split an order of the spicy pork mandu and I ordered the beef bibimbap. The japchae and spicy pork mandu are the best. This is a neat spot that is worth checking out in the Durham area.

Really cool and unique place to eat. Parking lot is tight and gravel. The building is a U shape and you can either eat inside a traditional restaurant or outside which most people prefer. Seat yourself and order via QR code. Staff brings out food which is delicious! Good beer selection too. Downside: people don't watch their children who run into wait staff and try to get into the ponds when there is a clear sign to leave the fish alone. Kids are welcome- but don't let kids run around- it is a restaurant after-all.

Went to Namu in Durham for dinner and wasn't expecting much but was presently surprised... This place is massive... much of which is outdoor seating in their bamboo covered gardens. You would not expect this just from looking at it from the street.. This place was pretty cool and a must try. Food is korean food and was pretty damn good and tons of flavor. Had the chance to try the Japchae with added kimchi .. this dish was delicious and packed full of flavor and not overly spicy.. noodles were done right and just enough veggies in it to complete the dish.. Also ordered the Galbi which is korean bbq short ribs served on a bed of lettuce .. the Galbi was cooked to perfection and well seasoned and finger licking good.. and went well with the Japchae . Also tried the korean bulgogi chicken with chicken curry over rice definitely a good dish to order and try.. it was similar to a Japanese curry so a hint of sweetness and rich savory flavor. Overall definitely will come back .. Tips... if you go to the garden and eat.. just look for an empty table and order using the QR code and enjoy.. 15% service fee is added to your check to cover tip and staff services.

The service here is average and drinks overpriced with an automatic added service charge of 18%. We wanted to order from the register but she directed us to the table and QR code. If you need a place to write a paper or read, a great place. Coffee is good but no latte art. This place is now overcharging with lack of appropriate service and automatic gratuity. One of the benefits of coffee shop is the interpersonal interaction with the barista, which this place now lacks. In addition, despite using the QR code, they got the order incorrect, and we had to point this out.

They charged service fee for togo. Around 15% I complain to them, manager come & remove it. They need to know. Tip is NOT mandatory

Unique place with a great beer selection and creative food. A hidden gem in Durham. I always suggest it for out of town friends.

I enjoyed my time here. The restaurant is very unassuming from the outside. I have driven by it many times without realizing. Parking is a bit odd. I found a spot in the parking lot. There are 2 different entrances. One to the bar and another to the outdoor cafe. I picked a beautiful day and sat outside in the courtyard after exploring the premises. I loved the bamboo garden and the pond. The food and service were good. I would definitely return here.

Namu is my favorite hidden study spot tucked away from the UNC campus. I've come here on my own and with friends multiple times and it never disappoints! There is a large beautiful garden with plenty of outdoors tables attached to this restaurant/cafe/beer hall as well as ample indoor seating. You can order via QR code from your table, and they will bring out your food to you (they even take care to cover it when they bring it outside). The ambiance is really what makes this place unbeatable for any type gathering or studying! they have some covered seats outdoors, but I would be sure to check the weather before coming if you plan to sit outside. The food itself is also very good. I usually get the kimchi bul-fries, but I also opt for the gimbap and bibimbap to mix things up - all of them are delicious. They also have dedicated sauce, water, and to go box stations throughout the restaurant and outside with everything you might need. I could not recommend Namu enough, especially for larger groups. Note: They have a required 15% service fee for all bills.

My favorite thing about this place is the ability to order right from your phone and you don't have to talk to people. I got the crab gimbap and it was sooo good. I've gotten it twice now and it was amazing. As far as ambiance goes it's pretty much a basic restaurant.

My commitment to ordering the spicy chicken bibimbap (white rice, no egg) at Namu is approaching its third year, and I have not tired of it. The pork gets an honorable mention as well. I have not had a bad time here, whether I am catching up on work with an assistive cold brew, meeting a friend for a beer, or taking my dad to lunch. There are more places to sit here than there are stars in the sky (not quite, but close enough that you can have a new experience every visit). The service is quick and non-intrusive, and the food is creative and consistent. The beverage selection also leaves nothing to be desired. A quiet oasis near the bustling Durham-Chapel Hill border.

Namu is one of our favorite restaurants in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. The food, service, and ambiance are all excellent. This is a great casual hangout spot for food and/or drinks. Namu doesn't look like much from the outside, but it definitely has it going on on the inside. The indoor beer hall is fairly spacious with several tables of various types (high tops, picnic tables, large group seating) plus arcade games and foosball. The more desirable seating option, when the weather is nice, is outside. Namu has several nicely-decorated, partially-covered and enclosed outdoor seating areas. There's a beautiful fountain, towering bamboo, live music, and more. These are some of the most fun dining patios we've encountered in the Triangle. Parking isn't ideal because Namu's dedicated gravel lot isn't enough to handle peak demand. However, there is adequate free street parking on the service road and Hoffler Lane. Namu has designed and marketed itself as a "Restaurant, Coffee Bar, Beer Hall & Garden." When I think of Namu, I think about the food, but it really is a "one-stop shop" restaurant, cafe, and bar. My wife and her coworkers, who work nearby, have come here just for drinks. They serve coffee, tea, and have a full bar featuring over 120 beers plus wine and cocktails. The type of food served is Korean and Korean fusion. Namu does both well. We've ordered takeout online and we've dined in. Both experiences were good and the food tasted fantastic both ways. This business runs like a well-oiled machine. When I ordered takeout, I was given an estimated pickup time. When I pulled up to one of the designated takeout parking spots, an employee greeted us promptly with our order. When we dined in, there was a QR code at our table. Browsing the menu, ordering, and paying was all done through our phones. The servers knew where to bring everything based on our table number. Because of the ordering system, after you place your order, you can't switch tables (with this being a cafe and bar and not solely a sit-down restaurant, the tendency to move around and switch tables is easier). Here's the food I've tried so far: * Bulgogi Gimbap ($11.50) - Korean seaweed rice roll, beef bulgogi, egg, lettuce, carrots, and pickled radish * Bibimbap ($13.50) with Spicy Pork (+$1.00) and Pan-Fried Kimchi (+$2.50) - chilled veggies and white rice with a fried egg (runny yolk, requested) * Loaded Quesadilla with Spicy Pork ($13.50) - 12-inch flour tortilla, beans, cilantro, corn, onion, pan-fried kimchi, and three-cheese blend * Ramen Chicken ($11.00) with pan-fried kimchi added (+$2.50) * Galbi ($19.00) - three racks of Korean barbecue short ribs I recommend all of the above. It was all delicious. One thing I will say about Namu is they aren't traditional traditional Korean with banchan (side dishes) included with every meal. Instead, if you want banchan, you have to order it separately, a la carte, and there aren't many options. During our most recent visit, a side of kimchi and seasoned bean sprouts - two of the most common types of banchan - cost $4.00 each. It's kind of expensive if you're used to complimentary banchan, which is usually the case at most traditional Korean restaurants. That said, Namu isn't traditional. It's modern. What I love about Namu and their food is they bring both the quality and the quantity. Every dish is fresh and flavor-packed. Everything is simply well-executed and hits the spot. Every dish has been sizable and filling. The gimbap here is nice and thick. Just wonderful, and packed with plenty of meat. We came one time with a friend who had the Shrimp Tempura Gimbap ($12.00) - his first time having gimbap - and he enjoyed it. I like Namu's bimbimbap (Korean mixed rice) so much that I ordered it again, with spicy marinated grilled pork (dwaeji bulgogi), our second visit. The most recent bowl I had was stuffed to the brim with tasty ingredients. They don't skimp on the portions. The pork was tender and succulent, and only mildly spicy (I love spicy food). The veggies, like the julienned carrots and daikon radish, were crisp and fresh. You can request your egg hard or soft. I had mine sunny side up both times. You can customize your bibimbap with various add-ons. I suggest adding the pan-fried kimchi for that extra spicy and sour flavor, and extra vegetable crunch. The Loaded Quesadilla was really gratifying as was the Ramen Chicken. The Ramen Chicken was out of stock the last time we went. It's deep-fried chicken with ramen seasoning on top, mixed with waffle fries, scallions, and other yummy ingredients. I added pan-fried kimchi and a side of Namu's Spicy Aioli Sauce (Sriracha + mayo). They have a sauce bar near the main bar with a half-dozen sauces to choose from. The Galbi was terrific. Sweet, savory, tender. I like how they slice the meat off the bone for you here because that's not typically how LA Galbi is served (on-the-bone). The staff is hip. Namu opened in August 2017.

We dined here on a hot Saturday afternoon, and found the atmosphere to be trendy, and casual, and the service was friendly! We both ordered the Bo Special; his with spicy pork, mine with beef. Both were fantastic. The addition of an egg on his was a satisfying accompaniment to an already delicious dish. The only thing I would change would be the addition of kimchi to replace the spring mix that comes with the dish. It also comes with mandoo, which neither of us had ever had. He requested spicy pork and I opted for the japchae, and both were flavorful and a delight to our tastebuds. On a whim I also tried the Ambrosia latte, and was pleasantly surprised by the nice balance of citrus and coconut. I definitely recommend you give this spot a try. We will be back to try other things!

This place hardly needs another review to mention how awesome it is. Good vibes. Amazing food. Friendly service. The beer hall is dog friendly which is awesome. The coffee shop side is nice and cozy - perfect place to hang out with a good book.

Very good, good service, although contactless ordering is a different experience via touchscreen, that means for instance, a party of 4 has to enter on one screen, kind of confusing for out of towner's like me, no interaction from a live person, cold to me. The food was good, tho. Prices in the medium range. When we came in it was through the Beer Hut entrance and the smell of beer was off-putting, finally found our way to the restaurant.

Yummy Korean bowls and zen atmosphere. We especially loved the pork gimbap bowl. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Bo's special with the spicy pork dumplings is also a winner. Additionally, the wait staff is friendly and efficient and did i mention that they have a beer garden! What more can you ask for?

I really enjoyed my meal here! A lot of nice outdoor porch seating and an open inside. Lots of free parking out front in the lot. Able to order easily from the table on your phone. Just a really nice atmosphere outside with the lights and plants. Food came out pretty quickly. I ordered the curry for ~$16. It was delicious! Loved all the flavors. Love how they have sauces out so that you can try them however much you have. The curry had great flavors and was really filling. I had enough to bring home for another meal! I also ordered the dumplings. Lots of meat options but they were delicious! Very crispy. Overall I loved it here and would come back!

I've heard great things about the food. I provided Namu as a dinner option to meet an out of town friend for dinner. Location was good cause it's right off I-40. We sat in the beer hall. There is both picnic table and hi-top seating. It's open and first come, first serve. My friend got Bo's special and a beer. I got a Spicy pork quesadillo with pan fried kimchi and extra cheese and spicy chicken mandoo. Both were delicious! I knew I would have leftovers but wanted to try both. No one ever put enough cheese for me, but the quesadillo was very good. I really liked the mandoo as well. It's a fried dumpling. Service was a bit different. They have a few cocktails and wine, which is super for those of us who don't drink beer. You have to order via a site and pay to get your food. I didn't see a way to keep a tab open to order more drinks, but I used the site, not the toast app. If I drank a lot of beer, that would be annoying. The drinks and food came out quick. There are no servers walking around checking on you. We didn't get any instructions on how things work, so you have to figure it out. There is a place where you can get sauces, napkins, etc I didn't know about until we were leaving and I was trying to get a to go box. I'm sure there must have been a water cooler somewhere, but I didn't see it and they don't automatically bring water. I will be back... they have a coffee bar and Garden which would be nice in the summer. I want to give the coffee a whirl for sure.

Two friends and I came to Namu for lunch after a Sweat Lab cycling class. The atmosphere was very casual and it was very crowded when we went - luckily a group of people were leaving soon after we arrived. I ordered the japchae which I really enjoyed! The flavor was a nice balance of sweet and savory. I love the texture and bite of glass noodles! The veggies were well seasoned and make someone like me (who doesn't like veggies normally) devour them. Overall, we had a positive experience at Namu and will definitely back next time I'm around. Also, there are 4 cats outside the back of the restaurant and they're adorable!

Just had the rudest interaction! After jumping through a number of hoops to make a $30 lunch order, I asked the server nicely for a cup of ice to go with my can of soda. She replied, "No" and then turned and started walking away. I looked at her because I wasn't sure she had heard me correctly and over her shoulder she said "We don't do that." No apology, no smile. Then I saw that another table had a soda with a cup of ice. I asked where they had gotten it and they said they had asked and a server had brought it. I'm worried that this is the beginning of the end of this place. I've seen so many other favorite places go down the tubes at a certain point. I've been coming here every couple of months for lunch for the past 3 years and have never had an interaction like that. It makes me sad that this place might be heading downhill. But this kind of garbage customer interaction is often an indication that it's struggling.

I had been wanting to try this place for a while and now that I have, I deeply regret coming here. Please read the negative reviews before supporting this establishment. Here are the reasons for why I would never come back. - It is completely self-service (except they bring your food to you) and they charge an automatic 15% "service" fee. FYI - you order through a QR code. - They list prices but when you click to add the item, they charge an additional 2-3 dollars if you want to add meat. What you assume is $18.75 ends up being $21.25 and if you don't get meat, you're getting a bowl of rice with sad mixed greens. - The food is awful. The rice was old and cold, the meat was terrible and the mandu was also cold and soggy. - They have crab gimbap but really, it's just a california roll with no flavor. Ambiance is fine in the beer hall side, there are games if you want to play and seemed clean. If you're on the fence about eating here, go support the wonderful establishment Sister Liu's next door. They are a great value with fresh dumplings and kind service. I wish I had gone with my gut and eaten there to begin with.

This isn't my first time eating here. I found out about them at a food truck rodeo a couple years back and couldn't have imagined how beautiful the restaurant actually is. There's a beer garden, you can eat inside which feels more of a cafe setting, or outside with nature. We ate outside right by the kitchen where it was peaceful and quiet with only the sounds of nature. The bamboo and waterfall nearby gave us a serene experience. Now to the food. We ordered the Bulgogi Gimbap roll which is a Korean seaweed Rice Roll with Beef Bulgogi, Egg, Lettuce, Carrots, and Pickled Radish. 10/10. I tried the Rice Plate and Burrito bowl which were both amazing with all the choices of sauces provided. The food was made fresh as we were able to watch from where we seated. If you like rum cake, Namu has the best vanilla rum cake which is made by a bakery called @chezmoibakery in Durham NC. It was also featured on @pbs ! 10/10 also highly recommend! Lastly, we ordered froze which was pretty good. It wasn't very strong, but was very flavorful. You can tell they used a high quality rose.

Cute restaurant that I visited with my son for lunch because he loves Korean food. The food was good, but here's my issue. This is a completely self-serve place. You order on your phone, you get your water and to-go containers yourself, and you bus your table when you're done. That's fine except there is an automatic 15% gratuity that appears as you're checking out. Gratuity is a tip for good service. There is no service. We ordered together on one check, my food came out first, his food a few minutes later, and our drinks a few minutes after that. My sweet tea was unsweet, but no one checked if our order was correct. You also have to manage that yourself. Just food runners, not servers, so who gets the 15% and for what? Just raise your already high prices. Anyway, a simple lunch for two was a $60 disappointment.