Hapjeong Indian restaurant with onion fritters a la carte: Mandala

I've been challenging myself to go out at least once a day lately. Today I almost didn't make it out because I had so much to do, but I hurried out just for lunch and came right back. The weather was great too! A happy little outing.

This is Mandala Indian Lounge, located between Hapjeong and Sangsu. I'd walked past it a few times but never been inside. I really love Indian curry and eat it often, though I hadn't had it in a while — so I went to get my curry fix.

A Hapjeong favorite: the Indian restaurant Mandala Indian Lounge

What is Mandala Indian Lounge in Hapjeong like inside?

Mandala Indian Lounge has a completely different interior from any Indian curry place I've been to before. Really sleek. I'd never seen an Indian restaurant like this, so it felt novel. The whole place is floor-to-ceiling glass, so the natural light is great too.

I visited a bit after the lunch peak, so I could sit comfortably without a wait. Still, there were office workers coming in for lunch. I think it's because their lunch menu is well put together.

The bar table is also really stylish. It seems like people sit there for a drink in the evenings.

The window seats had great light, but I sat at a table for two.

Mandala Indian Lounge menu and the 12,000 won lunch set

Here's the menu at Mandala, the Indian restaurant in Hapjeong. There are well-organized set menus, and you can also pick items a la carte. First up were the set menus and drinks — the sets are nicely put together.

There's a separate section for tandoor dishes, appetizers, and salads too. Come to think of it, every Indian restaurant I've been to has had such a wide menu!

Curries are divided into chicken curry, vegetable curry, and lentil curry. Since I came for a simple curry-and-naan meal, I ordered each a la carte. I liked that vegan options were marked separately on the menu — not that I'm vegan, haha.

What I ordered: chicken makhani, garlic naan, cheese naan, and onion fritters. I went for a simple meal and ended up ordering a lot again!

The lunch set for one looked really good too — curry, naan, and rice, all for 12,000 won. Great value! Next time I visit, I'll have to try the lunch set.

If you write a Naver receipt review, you can get free naan. One naan feels a little short, so getting two by writing a review is just the right amount.

What do the onion fritters taste like?

The onion fritters I ordered as a side! Nicely salty and delicious. Felt like the perfect beer snack, but sadly I don't drink.

Dipping them into the accompanying sauce made them even better. Of course — everything's tastiest fried.

I wasn't sure what this green sauce was, but it had its own appealing flavor, so I dipped away enthusiastically.

Chicken makhani with garlic naan and cheese naan

Next, the curry I ordered arrived. It came out looking like a proper dish! Different from any curry I've had before — a bit like a stew. The ingredients kept their texture, which wasn't bad at all.

I ordered two kinds of naan: garlic naan and cheese naan. I order garlic naan wherever I go for Indian food. And the cheese naan looked so good visually that I had to try it.

This is the texture of the curry! Distinctive and satisfying, like eating a real dish. It seemed like it would go well with rice too, but I prefer flour to rice, so I ordered two naans instead.

I dipped away enthusiastically! The naan itself was so good that it was just delicious on its own. Sometimes you get places where the naan is thick and tastes too floury, but Mandala Indian Lounge's naan suited my taste perfectly.

Next, the cheese naan! Generously topped with cheese, and it tasted great. I love cheese, so I enjoyed this a lot! It costs double the price of the other naans, but it's worth ordering again next time. Flour plus cheese — a perfect combination!

Worth it for an Indian dinner near Hapjeong Station?

I kept dipping and scooping enthusiastically. The chicken in the curry had no off smell and was really enjoyable to eat. If you're looking for a good-atmosphere restaurant near Hapjeong Station, I'd recommend Mandala Indian Lounge. The vibe is different from typical Indian restaurants, and the food looked beautiful when it arrived. I visited during the day, but now I'm curious about the evening atmosphere too!