Songdo Indian curry with mutton palak and easy parking: Manokamana

Manokamana is an Indian restaurant in Songdo with a wonderfully exotic atmosphere.

Whenever I crave proper, authentic Indian food in Songdo, Incheon, there's one place I keep going back to: Manokamana Songdo Branch (the first branch). The food was great, and the handy parking route and smart ordering system left me very happy too, so let me tell you all about it.

Manokamana Songdo Branch: location and hours

• Address: 107 Haedoji-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea (Block G, 1st floor)
• Hours: daily 10:30-22:30
• Parking: First World Block G commercial building car park

Where do you park at Manokamana Songdo Branch?

If you're driving, enter the basement car park of the Block G shops at The Sharp First World, park, then take Elevator No. 1 up. It connects most directly to the restaurant. It's a really handy tip to know if you come by car.

You don't get lost in the big underground car park and can head straight there, so the route is really clean.

The exterior is easy to spot too, since dolls in traditional Indian dress greet you at the entrance.

Inside Manokamana Songdo Branch and the group room

Step inside and the exotic interior grabs you, as if you were in an upscale restaurant in India. Traditional framed pictures, lamps with distinctive patterns and little decorations all around give it a real local feel.

The space is quite large, the tables are nicely spaced, and the floor-to-ceiling windows make it feel open and airy.

Private room with an 8-person table

On one side there's also a private room set off by colorful curtains and heavy Indian-style pillars. Inside, a long 8-person table is set up, so it looks like a great spot to book for a family meal, group gathering or company dinner.

Overall it's tidy and cozy, a lovely place for a meal.

How do you order at Manokamana Songdo Branch? QR ordering

You order right from your seat with the Coupang POS QR code stuck to the table. Next to a notice about the Naver receipt photo-review event there's a QR code; just scan it with your phone or tap it on the NFC area, and you can check the menu and order contact-free.

The screen gives detailed descriptions of each curry, with the spice level shown by chili icons, which makes choosing much easier.

You don't have to call a staff member; a few taps and you're done. So convenient.

What we ordered at Manokamana Songdo Branch, and prices

We ordered two curries, two kinds of naan (flatbread), Indian-style rice and drinks, and the total came to ₩41,000. I wanted to try a bit of everything, so I put together a nice full spread.

• Mutton Palak (lamb spinach curry): ₩14,000
• Chicken Masala (chicken curry): ₩13,000
• Butter Naan: ₩3,000
• Garlic Naan: ₩3,000
• Basmati Rice (Indian-style rice): ₩3,000
• Mango Juice: ₩3,000
• Zero Coke: ₩2,000

How was the curry at Manokamana Songdo Branch?

Neat brass-style tableware and a heavy copper cup of cold water set the table, and the local atmosphere really comes through.

Next come jalapeños, pickles and spicy-seasoned onions as the basic side dishes, and they're great to nibble on between bites of curry.

Chicken masala: slightly spicy and loved by everyone

Manokamana's chicken masala is an orange-hued chicken curry with a slight kick. A sharp spiciness runs underneath, so it's not heavy or greasy at all.

It's packed with big, tender pieces of chicken breast, and the chili on top adds a clean heat.

It's a crowd-pleasing flavor that any Korean would like, no divided opinions. I can see why everyone recommends it as a Songdo Indian restaurant.

Mutton palak: lamb spinach curry with no gamey smell

Manokamana's mutton palak is a lamb curry with a deep green color from freshly blended spinach. The spinach base makes it very smooth and nutty, with a deep spice flavor rising gently.

The lamb is simmered until tender with no gamey smell, not tough at all, and it pulls apart softly along the grain. It's perfect if you want a curry that's mild and savory yet rich.

Butter naan and garlic naan

The naan, a big traditional Indian bread, makes you marvel at its size the moment it arrives.

The butter naan is glossy with butter on the surface, with a nutty, moist flavor that's excellent,

while the garlic naan has a gentle garlic aroma and pairs really well with curry. It's crisp outside and chewy inside when you tear it, and piled with spicy chicken masala or nutty mutton palak, it disappears fast.

Basmati rice and drinks

I ordered the basmati rice, yellow Indian-style rice, because curry feels incomplete without rice. It's the long-grain kind that isn't sticky and falls apart grain by grain, and that fluffy texture soaks up the rich curry sauce, offering a different charm from the naan.

It was a combination that really captured the feel of authentic Indian food. Finishing with sweet, thick mango juice and a clean Zero Coke made it a perfectly satisfying, filling meal.

When you want a proper night out, or a tidy, exotic and authentic meal, with an easy parking route too, give Manokamana Songdo Branch, the Songdo Indian restaurant, a visit.