Mango lassi and Thai crab curry in Dongseong-ro, Daegu: Rama & Babana

After a hectic September, I finally had some breathing room, so I went back to Rama & Babana, famous for Indian curry in Daegu! I used to go to the Sangin branch often, but since it's gone now, I made the trip to the Dongseong-ro main branch instead!

Where is Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, and where can you park?

Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is on the 2nd floor at 3 Dongseong-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, near the entrance of Tongsingol Alley in Dongseong-ro. It's open daily from 11:30 to 21:30, with a break time from 15:00 to 16:30, and last order at 20:30. It's an Indian-Thai restaurant with a wide menu from curries to naan, shrimp dishes, and phu phat pong curry, with generous portions.

What the Rama & Babana storefront looks like

Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch sits near the entrance to Tongsingol Alley, and since the building is red, I could spot it from far away.

We drove over, and it turned out there's a Geobuk pay parking lot right in front of Rama & Babana. I remember it was around ₩3,000-4,000 per hour.

Inside Rama & Babana: window seats and atmosphere

We arrived right at opening time, and there were already customers there!

Being a famous spot in Dongseong-ro, it seems like quite a few people come by even on weekdays. The seats are arranged in a long row along the window, mostly set up for four people.

They had the wifi password posted and some books to read while waiting, probably because there's often a wait.

The kitchen was smaller than I expected and open, which somehow made me trust the hygiene even more, haha.

Menu and what we ordered at Rama & Babana

The menu had a wide range — curries, rice dishes, specials, and Western-style items — and you order through a kiosk.

We picked our usual go-tos: shrimp curry, 1 serving (₩13,000) and naan (₩4,000).

And on top of that, butter garlic shrimp (₩25,000), phu phat pong curry (₩20,000), and pineapple lassi and mango lassi (₩6,000 each)!

Here's what came out first!! Doesn't it look so good ㅠㅠㅠ

Butter garlic shrimp, 25,000 won

Next came the butter garlic shrimp! Whenever I go to Rama & Babana I always order this!! It's so good ㅠ. Salad on the left, shrimp and rice on the right — salad plus rice might sound like an odd pairing, but it works really well together.

Poo pad pong curry with a whole blue crab, 20,000 won

The phu phat pong curry came with one big whole crab inside, plus plenty of shrimp,

The softness of the egg and crab meat went so well with the savory curry, and it paired perfectly with the warm rice too! It's a bit spicy, so kids might find it too hot.

Shrimp curry with naan, 13,000 won plus 4,000 won

Next, they gave us plastic gloves for tearing into the naan with the curry, but I'm no lady who needs gloves, haha (kidding). I tore it neatly by hand

and ate it with the shrimp in the curry — pure bliss. It's just one serving but there's a ton of curry, and the shrimp kept coming and coming!! Eating plump shrimp wrapped in naan, how could that not be delicious ㅠㅠ

Pineapple lassi vs mango lassi, 6,000 won each

You can't skip lassi at an Indian restaurant! Pineapple lassi on the left, mango lassi on the right — both were so good, but personally, pineapple was number one! The pineapple is sweet and tangy, while the mango is sweeter and has bits of fruit pulp that I liked too. It's a flavor kids will love unconditionally! Writing this is making me want it again ㅠㅠㅠ

Verdict: what to order at Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch

It had been a while since my last visit to Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, and as expected, the food was delicious and the portions generous — very satisfying. My top recommendations are the butter garlic shrimp and shrimp curry! The shrimp is plump and there's plenty of it, so if you love shrimp, you really should try it.

The phu phat pong curry is packed with crab and shrimp, so I'd recommend it to seafood lovers, and eating naan together with curry was a great combo too. Adding lassi on top cuts through any greasiness from the curry and naan, making the meal even more enjoyable.

I used to visit the Sangin branch often, so this is a place I personally like, and visiting the Dongseong-ro main branch this time was just as satisfying. If you're craving something different in Dongseong-ro or want to enjoy hearty Indian food and curry, I recommend Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch!