Jae Lee

Founded in 2019 by Chef Jae Lee, Nowon is a Korean-American gastropub inspired by the flavors of Seoul and the energy of New York City. Named after Chef Jae’s hometown in South Korea, Nowon has become known for its bold, creative take on Korean-American comfort food, including its acclaimed Legendary Cheeseburger and Chopped Cheese Rice Cakes. The restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere, nostalgic hip-hop soundtrack, and craveable menu have earned national recognition and a devoted following. Today, Nowon operates locations in Manhattan’s East Village and Brooklyn’s Bushwick, with continued expansion on the horizon.

Chef Jae immigrated to Queens from Seoul at the age of eight and began his culinary career at 18 in New York City’s restaurant industry. After working his way through some of the city’s most respected kitchens, including serving as Executive Chef of Momosan Ramen & Sake and Hotel 50 Bowery, he left his corporate chef career to pursue a concept rooted in his own Korean-American identity.

In 2019, Chef Jae launched the pop-up HIM, meaning “strength” in Korean. During a six-month residency in the East Village, his burger was praised by Gothamist as one of the best burgers in New York City, paving the way for the opening of Nowon later that year.

Since then, Chef Jae and Nowon have been featured by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Eater, Brooklyn Magazine, The Today Show, CBS’s The Dish, ABC7, and PIX11. Through Nowon, Chef Jae continues to celebrate the intersection of Korean heritage and New York culture, one burger at a time.