Daegu Indian restaurant octopus nasi goreng lunch: Rama & Babana

I'm back with a review of Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, a restaurant in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, that I visited with my partner. It's a Daegu Indian curry specialist my partner had wanted to try every time we passed by the Tongsin-golmok alley, and we finally made it there for lunch recently. It had been a while since I'd had Indian food, so I headed over with a bit of excitement, wondering how it would be.

Where is Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, and when is it open?

Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch

Address: 3 Dongseong-ro 3-gil, 2F, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea Hours: 11:30–21:30 (Closed Tuesdays / Break time 15:00–16:30) Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation

Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch sits near Banwoldang Station, in the Tongsin-golmok alley, and it's been a steady favorite in downtown Daegu for a long time. It's a fusion Indian restaurant offering both deep, exotic traditional Indian curries and stylish fusion dishes tailored to Korean palates.

Inside Rama & Babana at opening time: the window seats

I arrived right at opening time, and even so, two parties were already seated. The interior was small but cozy, with tables lined up along a big picture window, perfect for a leisurely meal while watching the street outside.

How spicy is the chicken curry at Rama & Babana?

True to an Indian specialist, the menu had a wide range: chicken curry, beef curry, shrimp curry, naan to go with them, plus nasi goreng, tandoori cream chicken, pasta, and more. I was tempted by the best-selling chicken curry, but it had four chili pepper icons next to it, so I quietly asked staff how spicy it actually was. They said it was somewhere between Shin Ramyun and Buldak Bokkeum-myeon, so for my spice-shy partner, I ordered the beef curry instead, marked with just one pepper. On top of that, we thoroughly ordered two plain naan, the signature best-selling nasi goreng, and tandoori cream chicken.

Nasi goreng: octopus in a cheese risotto–style rice

The nasi goreng came out first, and it surprised us — nothing like the fried rice we usually picture. A thin, naan-like flour wrapper enveloped the rice in a round shape, topped generously with white and yellow sauces. It was quite large too, easily enough for 1.5 to 2 servings.

When we cut the nasi goreng neatly in half with a knife, savory cheese stretched out, revealing seasoned rice with a risotto-like texture underneath. Plump, hefty pieces of octopus were hidden generously throughout, giving it great chewiness and making it feel like eating a seafood risotto. There was so much octopus that Western restaurants selling seafood risotto should honestly be embarrassed...

Beef curry and naan: two people only need one naan

Next came the beef curry with golden, freshly grilled naan. I'd assumed the naan would be small so I greedily ordered two, but they turned out to be much bigger than expected — I wish I'd only gotten one. If there are two of you, one naan should be more than enough. True to its one-pepper rating, the beef curry was mildly spicy with a rich, sweet-savory flavor, and delicious. The beef, carrots, and potatoes in the curry were all cut into big chunks, giving it great texture with every bite.

I'm pretty sensitive to spices and not great with them, but the spice aroma here wasn't overpowering, just right, so I could eat comfortably and enjoy it. Piling the spicy beef curry onto the chewy naan was a fantastic combination...! My partner kept saying how good it was, dipping the naan deep into the curry and devouring it.

Tandoori cream chicken in yellow cream sauce

The last dish to arrive was the tandoori cream chicken. The chicken came piled up in generous layers on the plate, and once again I was surprised by the sheer amount. Overall, Rama & Babana really seems to be a place with excellent value and portion sizes.

The tandoori cream chicken had a milder aroma and less of that distinctive strong tandoori taste than usual, making it easy for anyone, regardless of age or preference, to enjoy. Being boneless, it was easy to eat, and the meat inside was so tender and juicy that the chicken itself was delicious on its own.

The tandoori cream chicken tastes even better dipped generously into the yellow cream sauce spread across the bottom of the plate, rather than eaten plain. The sauce has a thin lemon-custard-like flavor; dipping the chicken in it softens the tartness and leaves a subtle, refreshing note that really lifts the chicken's flavor. Since I generally love lemon flavors, it suited my taste perfectly, and I kept dipping the chicken generously in the cream sauce the whole time.

Full by noon: why Rama & Babana works for group meals

By past noon, the restaurant filled up completely with customers. Apparently I was the only one who didn't already know about this Daegu Dongseong-ro favorite... After that satisfying, belly-bursting Indian meal, I left in a great mood. The portions are generous and the food is well-presented, so this place would work nicely for friend gatherings or even Daegu wedding-invitation meetups.

As we were paying and about to leave, some men at the next table ordered chicken curry and shrimp curry. After one bite, they exclaimed loudly, "Wow, this is amazing!" and "This is the best curry of my life!" It was funny to hear, and it also made me wonder just how good it must be to get reactions like that. I decided that next time I visit, I have to try the chicken and shrimp curry. And I'll be sure to order two full naan again then, haha. If you're in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, and getting a little tired of Korean or Western food, definitely stop by Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch for something special and delicious :)