Solo lunch chicken tikka at Yonsei Indian restaurant Meno Kamena

I've been taking general classes at the Yonsei University training center since last Friday for a special course on becoming a senior sports instructor. Classes run from 9am to 6pm, so I have to plan meals carefully too. Luckily it's near Sinchon Station, which has tons of good restaurants around Yonsei, so there are plenty of solid lunch options. This time I'm sharing my solo Indian curry lunch at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch, a Sinchon restaurant I tried out.

Walking from the Yonsei University main gate to Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is a 2nd-floor Indian restaurant you reach by crossing the crosswalk at Yonsei University's main gate and heading into the alley on the right. It's almost a 15–20 minute walk from the education and science building where I'm training to the main gate. On the first day I had a bit more lunch time, so instead of the student cafeteria I headed down toward the main gate, where all the Sinchon Station restaurants are. Along the quiet alley, various Sinchon restaurant signs kept catching my eye.

Taco Bell and Sammitantan noodles looked tempting too, but today I was craving Indian food.

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch — a place I found while looking for Indian food near Yonsei. The little sign on the 2nd floor is pretty cute too.

Inside Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch: mood and seating

Walking in through the 2nd-floor entrance, the interior stood out right away. Looks like it's run by an Indian couple.

A wall full of exotic colors and decor. Some Indian restaurants I've been to are great food-wise but have kind of dated or worn interiors — but this place, being near hip Sinchon and Yonsei, has a much more stylish feel.

There's seating for group gatherings, tables for 4–8 people, and tables that work well for solo diners or couples on a Sinchon date — really a wide variety.

How do you order, and how long does the food take?

You order at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch by scanning a QR code and browsing photos on your phone. I always get overwhelmed by how many options there are at Indian curry restaurants. Since I was eating alone this time, I played it safe and went with my usual favorite — butter chicken curry!!

Maybe because it was vacation season, Yonsei University wasn't too crowded even at lunchtime, though there were still quite a few international students and other students around. Thankfully there was no wait, and after ordering the food came out in about 10 minutes.

A solo lunch combo for people who can't handle spice

The side dish, green salad (₩6,000), came with a tangy yuzu — or maybe orange? — dressing over lettuce and mandarin segments. It's not sweet, just refreshingly tart, and pairs well with rich, cheesy curries.

Chicken tikka (₩12,000), the boneless version of tandoori chicken, came grilled with onions, bell peppers, and other vegetables. It's really tender and just the right amount of spicy. A sauce comes on the side too — the tandoori chicken already has enough seasoning on its own to be delicious without it, but the sauce lets you kick up the heat a bit for a different flavor.

For naan, there was plain, butter, sweet, and garlic. I went back and forth with the flavorful garlic naan but ended up choosing sweet naan, which comes brushed with honey. Sweet and salty together never fails.

Lamb curry and vegetable curry were the other options

There was a lamb spinach curry too, but since I'd never tried lamb before, I couldn't quite work up the nerve. Mutton masala and mutton vindaloo had two or three chili icons next to them, so those got ruled out immediately, haha. Since I'm pretty spice-shy, I thought about mutton korma, which has no spice level marked and comes with cashews and cream. I actually do like lamb, but worried it might feel too rich or that I'd get tired of it, so in the end I went back to chicken, haha. When I told a friend, they asked how I never get sick of eating chicken breast all the time — but I'm a chicken lover, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. For anyone who doesn't eat meat or just prefers not to, there are plenty of vegetable curry options too. I was curious about aloo mattar, made with potatoes, and palak paneer, a spinach curry — but I couldn't find any reviews from people who'd tried them.

The green salad I ordered as a side with the chicken tikka. If you're ordering Indian food at this Sinchon restaurant, definitely get the salad. The naan-and-curry combo is delicious, but with my more Korean-leaning palate, I need a bit of tang. Meno Kamena thoughtfully includes pickles and even kimchi, so you can mix and match for a refreshing finish.

For someone as spice-shy as me, the butter chicken curry had literally zero heat. The chicken is cut into small, fingernail-sized pieces mixed throughout, which makes it great for piling onto naan. Sweet naan + tangy salad + butter chicken curry — the perfect combo.

They give you a spoon, fork, and knife, but I found that too fussy, so I piled the curry onto the naan and ate it Indian-style with my hands. The restroom is in the back, and they have wet wipes and tissue, so it's very clean and hygienic too.

I tend to prefer plain flavors, so the chicken tikka was delicious even without the sauce. But the portion was way too much for a solo meal. Sadly, I had to leave some chicken behind.

Dining as a pair: the A-set at ₩25,000 per person

If you're coming for a Sinchon date with two people, the set menu at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is well put together and good value. The A-set requires a minimum of two people and includes samosa — India's classic fried dumpling, great as an appetizer — plus chicken mushroom soup, king prawn, and rice. At ₩25,000 per person, it's really reasonable. I'm definitely coming back with a friend next time. The set also includes an Indian drink, lassi. But since I was alone, I just had a Zero Coke!

I actually debated skipping the chicken tikka, but I have no regrets — piling thick chunks of chicken onto the naan and taking a big bite was so satisfying. I thought the portion was a lot, but I still finished everything except four pieces of chicken. From the moment the food arrived to when I finished, it took less than 30 minutes. I've been eating too fast lately from rushing at work and was trying to fix that, but in front of good food, it's useless. It was so delicious I didn't touch my phone once and just focused on eating — demolished it in no time.

Is Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch worth it for solo dining?

If you're at the Yonsei University training center doing the senior sports instructor course like me, wondering what to eat for lunch or where to go after class in Sinchon, try authentic Indian food at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch. It's great for solo dining and even better for couples on a date, with a stylish interior and clean Indian cuisine. I had a delicious, easygoing combo of butter chicken curry and sweet naan. Looks like this training course is going to turn into a proper restaurant tour around Sinchon Station :)