Sillim Indian restaurant with chicken mushroom soup: India Darbar

Tired of the same old samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), pasta, or pizza dates with friends or a partner? When you want something completely new and exotic, Indian food is usually the first thing that comes to mind.

Where is India Darbar and when is it open?

India Darbar is an Indian restaurant on the 2nd floor of 309 Sillim-ro (Sillim-dong), Gwanak-gu, Seoul. It's open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Here's my honest review of India Darbar, the place that smashes every stereotype about spices and leaves you craving more!

An Indian atmosphere in the middle of Sillim Station

The moment you open the door, it's like a trip to India without a plane ticket ✈️ I couldn't believe a space like this was hiding in the busy Sillim Station area — my anticipation started building just climbing the stairs to the entrance. The second I stepped inside, the concrete jungle outside completely disappeared, replaced by a hazy, mysterious South Asian atmosphere filling the space.

Passionate red brick walls covered in vivid traditional fabric tapestries, a grand elephant frame, and colorful traditional flags fluttering from the ceiling — there was plenty to look at.

The second floor and its floor-to-ceiling window seats

Indian restaurants are often stuck in basements or windowless spots, but India Darbar has bright floor-to-ceiling window seats. Sitting by the window looking down at the lively streets of Sillim, I felt the same liberating feeling as enjoying brunch on a trip abroad.

How much are the lunch sets at India Darbar?

☀️ The lunch set menu runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, excluding weekends and holidays.

• Lunch A (₩13,500 per person, orders of 2+ only) — green salad, boneless tandoori chicken, choice of curry (palak paneer, butter chicken, or chicken tikka masala), naan, rice, lassi
• Lunch B (₩12,500 per person, orders of 2+ only) — choice of curry (butter chicken or chicken tikka masala), chicken chow mein, naan, rice, Coke or Sprite

Set A, Set B and Set C compared

🍽️ There are three regular set menus — A, B, and C — all available for orders of 2 or more.

• India Darbar Set A — ₩54,000 for two (1 curry) / ₩60,000 for two (2 curries). Chicken mushroom soup, samosa, green salad, tandoori king prawns, tandoori chicken, curry, naan (choice of garlic or butter), rice (choice of basmati or Korean rice), and choice of special lassi or red wine
• India Darbar Set B — ₩34,000 for two. Green salad, boneless tandoori chicken, choice of curry (palak paneer, butter chicken, or chicken tikka masala), naan, rice, lassi
• India Darbar Set C — ₩32,000 for two. Chicken mushroom soup, boneless tandoori chicken, choice of curry (palak paneer, butter chicken, or chicken tikka masala), naan, rice, Coke or Sprite

Adding chicken mushroom soup to the set

Before the main meal started, I wanted something to gently warm me up, so I ordered a chicken soup separately. It's built on a clear, deep chicken broth, with subtle spices and tender shreds of chicken — one spoonful and my stomach just settled.

It's not aggressive at all, mild and clean but with a faint exotic kick. Adding this on the side to a set meal made the whole meal feel much more substantial!

A close look at Set B, the best value on the menu

I ordered India Darbar's 'Set B' (₩34,000 for two), rumored to be the perfect balance of composition and value for money.

Side dishes tuned to the Korean palate

There was a well-rounded lineup: crunchy, sweet-and-sour cucumber pickles that cleanse the palate, familiar yellow danmuji (pickled radish), and a spicy-tangy onion salad.

Green salad

Before the main dishes arrived, a big plate of green salad filled the table first. Crisp lettuce, red cabbage, and shredded carrot, visibly fresh, were generously dressed with a tangy-sweet orange 🍊 dressing.

It gave a fresh, light first impression, perfectly warming up my stomach for the rich curry feast to come.

Boneless tandoori chicken

Some people might assume tandoori chicken will have off-putting, overpowering spices. But India Darbar's boneless tandoori chicken completely shatters that stereotype. It arrives beautifully grilled on a black square plate with a lemon wedge and a spicy-sweet special chili sauce.

Poking it with a fork and taking a bite, I couldn't help but exclaim how tender it was. The outside is charred in the clay oven, savory with a subtle depth of spice, while the inside stays juicy and moist.

Squeeze on a little lemon juice, dip it in the sauce, and the spicy-tangy, nutty flavors explode in your mouth.

Curry, naan and white rice

The highlight of Indian food — curry. You can choose between a rich, buttery flavor or the chicken tikka masala, which is spicy and packed with deep seasoning.

Tear off a piece of the freshly baked naan, still steaming, chewy yet light, and dip it generously into the rich curry. The nutty flavor of the naan blends with the curry's depth for an irresistible combination.

People often imagine light, fluffy Indian rice at curry restaurants, but India Darbar serves sticky, fluffy white rice tailored to Korean tastes.

This isn't a thin, watery curry — it's simmered patiently for a rich, thick consistency. Creamy and coating the tongue, the exotic blend of spices is completely optimized for Korean palates.

Stirring through the curry reveals generous, tender chunks of chicken, adding a satisfying bite.

Scoop up the thick, creamy curry and mix it right into the white rice — this is truly the combination Koreans love most. 😋👍🏻

Is India Darbar worth it for a date near Sillim Station?

From the warm chicken soup to the excellent tandoori chicken and the deep, rich curry, it was hard to find a single letdown in this meal.

If you're looking for a special, successful, and unusual date course near Sillim Station, don't hesitate this weekend — I highly recommend falling for the charms of Indian food at India Darbar!