Nowon - Bushwick
Price: $21
Meat: Smashed Double patties
Bun: Sesame
Cheese: American
Extras: Egg $3, Bacon $5, pickles and onions and roasted kimchi
Sides: Tater tots (honey garlic butter) $11
Sauce: Kimchi special sauce
ust to clarify, I’m categorizing the Legendary Cheeseburger outside of the smash burger category due to its size and overall composition. That said, it was excellent. The burger captures the rich flavor profile often associated with smash burgers—tender meat with a crisp seared surface—while also incorporating bold, essential elements of Asian cuisine through roasted kimchi and a kimchi-based sauce. The result is a burger with a distinctive and memorable flavor. I was somewhat surprised that fries are not offered, though tater tots are available as a substitute. At $21 without fries, it isn’t inexpensive, but the quality and flavor make it worthwhile, and it’s something I would gladly order again.
As for the location itself, The Seneca operates as a gastropub, which, in my admittedly biased opinion, is a great concept. Gastropubs strike a compelling balance between casual atmosphere and thoughtful food, and this venue embraces that well. The space is built around a wood-fired oven, with pizzas being prepared on-site at this Bushwick location. The bar serves as a central feature of the restaurant, and during my visit I quickly struck up a conversation with the bartender, Jackson, a Utah native who mentioned that his brother is currently studying at Pace University, my alma mater.
I also had the opportunity to try one of their experimental cocktails, the Soju Last Word ($14). After asking about their Parcha, Jackson prepared a seasonal Soju Sunrise for me, which was excellent—I ended up having two. He was also kind enough to offer a complimentary shot of their honeydew-infused spirit, which was remarkably smooth. Overall, it was an excellent experience from start to finish.