Indian restaurant in Sinchon for a team dinner of three: Meno Kamena

Why I picked Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch for our team dinner

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is an authentic Indian restaurant with a great reputation for curry in Sinchon, and I chose it for an after-work dinner with my junior colleagues. The curry I had in Hongdae last time was so good that for days I couldn't stop thinking about rich, smooth Indian curry.

So this time, after work, my juniors and I agreed to skip the usual pork belly dinner and try Indian food for a change. After some frantic searching, the place we found was Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch.

Location and how to find Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building on Yeonse-ro 11-gil, a short walk from Sinchon Station. Getting there by public transport after work and meeting up was super easy.

Walking down the busy street, I spotted the Baekam Sundae Soup (Korean blood sausage soup) sign on the 1st floor, and when I looked up, an Indian restaurant sign with red letters on a yellow background was glowing brightly. Even people who are bad with directions could spot it from far away, it really stands out.

The serious wording at the entrance, "authentic Indian restaurant," already gave off great-restaurant vibes before we even went in.

What is the atmosphere inside Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch like?

The inside of Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is a cozy, exotic space decorated with Indian-style props, tiles and a golden elephant ornament. When we went up to the 2nd floor and opened the door, the space in front of us was far cozier and more exotic than I'd guessed from outside.

The moment we stepped in, the lovely smell of spices drifted over and set off our appetites, which were starving after a whole day of work.

The interior is neat yet colorful, carefully done with Indian-style props and tiles. A big, gorgeous golden elephant ornament hung on one wall, and that one piece alone made it feel like we'd traveled to a fancy restaurant in India.

The lighting was warm and soft overall, and the tables were spaced widely, so it was a perfect atmosphere for chatting comfortably as a group. We sat at a comfy-looking spot toward the back and started going through the menu in earnest.

What did three of us order, and how much was it?

At Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch, the three of us ordered butter chicken curry, paneer makhani, butter naan, garlic naan, chicken tikka and 3 plain lassis, and the total came to just over ₩50,000. You sit down, scan the QR code with your smartphone to see the menu and order right away, so there's no need to call a staff member, which was very convenient.

The menu was far more varied than I expected, and we all fell into a happy dilemma over what to eat, but we decided each person would pick what they wanted and we'd share everything.

• Butter chicken curry (a crowd-pleaser)
• Paneer makhani (a smooth, mild curry)
• Butter naan, garlic naan
• Chicken tikka (barbecued chicken)
• 3 plain lassis

Even though the three of us ordered quite a lot, the total was just over ₩50,000, so I thought the value was excellent too.

Plain lassi

The plain lassi at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch was thicker and richer than store-bought yogurt, yet refreshingly tangy. The first thing served was a cold plain lassi in a pretty clear glass.

When I come to an Indian curry place, this sweet-and-sour lassi (yogurt drink) is my must-order. I stuck in the blue straw and took a sip, and it was much thicker and richer than store-bought yogurt, with a pleasant tang that coated my mouth. It perks up a dull palate before the meal, and later it's the perfect drink to soothe your tongue between hot, spicy dishes.

Chicken tikka

The chicken tikka at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch arrived sizzling on a hot cast-iron plate with grilled onions and green beans. Soon the chicken tikka showed up with a lively, delicious sizzle.

With bright red marinade soaked into every corner of the meat, the chicken tikka grabbed our attention with its appetizing look alone.

Under the chicken was a generous bed of sweet grilled onions and crunchy green beans, and in the middle sat a cute little dish of sauce for dipping. I stabbed a plump piece of chicken with a fork: it was charred in the oven with a faint smoky flavor, and the inside was full of juices, very moist and tender. The spices weren't overpowering and the flavor was adjusted just right for Korean tastes, so even my junior who was new to Indian food had no resistance and wolfed it down, saying it was really good.

Butter chicken curry

The butter chicken curry at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch had the fresh umami of tomato and the rich flavor of butter, with plenty of chicken. Finally, the two curries, the main event of the day, arrived in stylish Indian-style bowls.

The first was the everyone-loves-it perennial bestseller, butter chicken curry. White cream was swirled prettily over the deep orange-red curry, and it looked so good I hated to stir it.

I scooped up a big spoonful, and the fresh umami of tomato and the thick, nutty richness of butter came together perfectly in my mouth. There were also plenty of soft chunks of chicken inside, so it was really satisfying and filling.

Paneer makhani

Paneer makhani, which I picked from the mild curry category on the Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch menu, had a mild flavor with plenty of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cubes. The rich, nutty sauce was generously packed with paneer cubes.

As the name of the category suggests, it isn't harsh at all, just very smooth and mild, so I'd strongly recommend it to people who prefer gentle food. Eating it alternately with the salty, rich butter chicken curry gave the two curries a fantastic balance. The nuttiness of the cheese mixed with the texture of the curry, and the savory flavor just burst out the more I chewed.

Butter naan and garlic naan

The butter naan and garlic naan at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch came piled high in a big silver basket, crispy outside and chewy inside. Naan, the soulmate no curry can do without, landed on the table and everyone's jaws dropped at the overwhelming size. When I tore it by hand while it was warm, it was crispy outside and so springy inside that I could feel the chewy texture right in my fingertips.

The glossy butter naan is delicious and nutty even on its own, but when I tore off a big piece of garlic naan with its sharp garlic aroma and dunked it in the rich curry, it felt like all the work stress of the day was washed away. Wrapping grilled vegetables and chicken tikka pieces in the naan like a wrap was the best combo too.

Is Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch a good place for a team dinner?

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch was such a satisfying team dinner spot that my juniors wanted to come back for the next team dinner. Everything we ordered was flawlessly delicious, and the three of us were so absorbed in eating that conversation kept dying down during the meal.

It felt like the thrill of the curry I had in Hongdae last time was recreated here in Sinchon at an even more upgraded level. I was about to burst, but it was such a great dinner that I scraped up every last drop of sauce from the bottom of the pot with naan.

My juniors all said in unison that today's pick was truly excellent, and I got a promise out of them to definitely come back for the next team dinner.

If you're tired of the same old team dinner menu, or want a special, different meal with properly good authentic Indian food, this is a real gem you should stop by at least once.

Captivated by the charm of the many spices and the atmosphere that felt just like being in India, it was a perfect after-work get-together with no regrets at all.