Busan Indian curry house in Gwangalli: chicken makhani at Bollywood

What kind of place is Bollywood, the Indian restaurant in Gwangalli?

Bollywood (BOLLYWOOD) is an authentic Indian restaurant on the second floor of an alley off Gwangnam-ro near Gwangalli Beach, opened in 2016 and now going strong for its 10th year. Today I want to share my visit to this Gwangalli restaurant for a proper, real Indian lunch.

I've always loved deep, rich traditional Indian curry, so different from Korean-style curry. There's just no forgetting the taste of tearing off a piece of warm, golden-baked naan and dipping it deep into a curry fragrant with real spices, so I make a point of visiting Indian restaurants regularly.

Anyone who loves movies probably caught on right away from the name Bollywood! Like Indian cinema's flashy songs and dance and overflowing energy, the name itself captures that lively charm — I thought it was a really clever and fun choice. And true to the name, from the moment I stepped through the door I felt like I was falling into the real, vibrant charm of India.

Location, business hours & parking tips

Up to the second floor: Bollywood's Indian-style interior in a Gwangalli alley

That hip vibe and lively Bollywood music greet you right at the door!

Climb up to the second floor in a Gwangalli alley, and a bold, hip Indian-style interior welcomes you from the entrance.

The moment I stepped in, a wall was covered with a mysterious Indian mythology mural and a portrait of a famous American singer! Add in colorful Indian-style posters and props, and the whole space felt genuinely captivating.

The lighting was moody and the atmosphere distinctive, making it a perfect photo zone to play around in before the food arrives. And through the whole meal, upbeat, fast-tempo Indian music that sounded straight out of a Bollywood film kept playing! Thanks to that lively soundtrack, I felt genuinely energized and the whole place felt much livelier.

Bollywood is actually run by a native Indian, and maybe that's why — from sight to sound, the moment I walked in it felt like I'd left Korea behind and traveled to real India.

Evenings at Bollywood: shisha, cocktails and vegetarian dishes

On one side of the restaurant, colorful shisha (hookah) setups were on display. Bollywood is popular as a lunch spot, but apparently in the evenings it turns into an atmospheric pub, drawing people who come for shisha, cocktails, and Indian beer (Kingfisher and others)!

For anyone who's struggled to find vegetarian food in Korea, great news: Bollywood has a solid lineup of vegetarian and vegan dishes, so anyone can eat comfortably here.

What we ordered at Bollywood, plus the free garlic butter naan

We went with the classic combination of authentic Indian dishes!

• Chicken Makhani curry (Chicken Makhani)
• Tandoori chicken (Tandoori Chicken)
• Plain naan & garlic butter naan (Naan)

As the dishes filled the table, the savory, sweet-and-spicy scent of real masala spices hit my nose and nearly set off a saliva explosion!

Taking part in the Naver receipt review event got us a free savory, tangy 'garlic butter naan.' I didn't miss the chance — wrote the receipt review right away and got it. If you visit, be sure to check out the review event too and treat yourself to that delicious naan!

How do the chicken makhani curry, naan and tandoori chicken taste?

Bollywood's Chicken Makhani curry was smooth and creamy, the kind of flavor that's easy for anyone to love. Made with authentic Indian masala spices, handmade by the native chef in the traditional way, it had a flavor that stood out.

Tearing off pieces of the freshly baked, warm, chewy naan by hand and dipping them deep into the curry loaded with big chunks of chicken was pure bliss. The plain naan's simplicity and the garlic butter naan's rich flavor both paired perfectly with the curry.

The tandoori chicken that came alongside was roasted golden in the tandoor oven, grease-free yet well infused with real spice flavor — crisp outside, moist inside. Paired with the green sauce served alongside, it had an even more distinctive, rich flavor.

Verdict: is Bollywood worth it for lunch or a date in Gwangalli?

If your usual Gwangalli meal choices have gotten a bit dull, or you're looking for a unique date course, I'd highly recommend 'Bollywood' for lunch in Gwangalli.

Thanks to authentic Indian food from a real Indian, lively Indian music, and an exotic interior, the whole meal felt like a special little trip to India. In the evening you can also enjoy cold Indian beer or cocktails, so I'm planning to swing by again at night next time! If you're craving Indian food around Gwangalli or Haeundae, or want to experience the real taste, aroma, and lively energy of India, be sure to visit Bollywood, with 10 years of history.