Daegu Indian restaurant with cheese nasi goreng: Rama & Babana

Today, I visited an Indian curry spot that has been loved in Dongseong-ro for more than 20 years :) It was Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, which has held its place in the Tongsin Alley since 2004. From Indian curry to chewy naan, everything is tasty, so it is the kind of place with lots of regulars who have kept coming back for years. The atmosphere is lovely too, so you leave in a good mood after a meal.

What is the atmosphere like at Rama & Babana?

Rama & Babana has been operating steadily from the same spot—you have probably seen it at least once in Tongsin Alley, right? The clean, modern interior had a charm even in the traces of time. It is an exotic Indian restaurant, but the atmosphere did not feel intimidating; with wood tones, large open windows, and soft lighting, it looked great for gatherings as well as dinner dates. The owner runs it personally, and the clean open kitchen is staffed by chefs with more than 10 years of experience, which makes it feel trustworthy.

What else is on the menu besides curry?

Rama & Babana has more than just curry—the menu has more variety than I expected, including nasi goreng, fried rice, tandoori chicken, and salads. There were so many kinds of curry that I really struggled to choose... a happy dilemma ♡

What we ordered and the prices

• Shrimp curry, 1.5 servings: ₩18,000
• Garlic butter naan, 2 pieces: ₩10,000
• Nasi goreng: ₩16,000
• Mango lassi: ₩6,000

Garlic butter naan and shrimp curry together

Curry just has to come with garlic butter naan! I started with the warm garlic butter naan. Tearing off a long piece and dipping it deeply into the curry, the rich buttery garlic flavor and mild curry went so well together. The naan was chewy yet soft, and once I started dipping it in the curry, I could not stop reaching for it~ One naan per person is a must~!

Mild shrimp curry with a slight kick

The shrimp curry was mild with only the slightest spiciness, so the spices and heat were not overpowering and it was easy to enjoy~ It had both small peeled shrimp and large shrimp, so there was a more generous amount of shrimp than I expected! We ordered 1.5 servings of curry, and it arrived divided into one large curry and one small curry. The portion was quite generous too, and since they give you two bowls, I recommend ordering 1.5 servings if two people are visiting!

Signature nasi goreng packed with cheese

And then, the nasi goreng I had been curious about! It is Rama & Babana's original signature dish: seafood fried rice wrapped in chewy naan and baked. When I cut into the naan, it was absolutely packed with cheese inside. It was topped with a creamy sauce, and they did not hold back on the seafood inside either—there was especially much more webfoot octopus than I expected. With seafood fried rice and cheese tucked into chewy naan, it definitely tasted different from ordinary fried rice, which made it fun.

Mango lassi to finish

When you are having Indian curry, lassi is not optional—it is essential~ The mango lassi was sweet and smooth with a yogurt base! It also had mango flesh in it, making it perfect for finishing the meal!

Maybe because it has stayed in the same place for more than 20 years, I could really see why Rama & Babana has been loved for so long! The curry was delicious, but I also loved being able to enjoy chewy garlic butter naan and the cheese-filled signature dish. If you are looking for something a little different to eat in Dongseong-ro, give its 20-year-old Indian curry tradition and garlic butter naan a try!