Yeonsu Indian restaurant: spinach curry at Manokamana

Today, after taking my daughter to the Incheon Airport departure hall at dawn, I rested at home before visiting Manokamana Songdo Branch (머노까머나 송도점), a popular Indian curry restaurant in Songdo, for an early dinner. Located near Central Park, Manokamana is an Indian cuisine specialty restaurant where you can taste flavors from India; from the entrance onward, traditional Indian furniture and exotic decorations catch your eye. The atmosphere was so different from the restaurants I usually visit that I felt as though I were traveling even before the meal began.

Manokamana Songdo’s exotic atmosphere

The first thing that impressed me when I visited was the atmosphere at the entrance. Traditional Indian furniture and various Indian-style decorations filled the space, giving it a wonderfully exotic feel. It felt less like a place that simply serves curry and more like a space where you can experience Indian food and culture together.

I especially enjoyed that the window seats overlook the garden at The Sharp First World. The mix of exotic Indian food and Songdo’s modern scenery is another of Manokamana Songdo’s charms.

Ordering by QR code

Each table offered convenient ordering by QR code or NFC. Since NFC was not set up on my phone, I used the QR code and ordered easily. It was handy to see the expected total payment at a glance, too. Looking at it now, I think we ordered quite a lot... sob. Just so you know, I did not eat it all by myself. I ate with my husband.

Spinach curry and chicken masala

The first dish I want to introduce from what I tried is the spinach curry. Since it is spinach-based, its color is rich, and it tasted smooth and nutty. Some people may be hesitant about Indian curry because they expect the spices to be strong, but this spinach curry had a relatively mild flavor that I thought would suit Korean tastes well.

The chicken masala curry, on the other hand, was a little spicier and richer. The chicken and curry went well together, and the savory flavor of Indian-style cheese made it even more satisfying. Ordering the mild spinach curry and spicy chicken masala together was nice because we could compare their different flavors.

Butter-scented naan

You simply cannot leave out naan (Indian flatbread) when talking about Indian curry, right? The naan I had at Manokamana was baked warm, with a subtle, nutty butter aroma. It was a classic naan done well: lightly crisp on the outside and chewy inside. It was mild and delicious on its own, but dipping it generously into the curry brought together the curry’s deep flavor and the naan’s nuttiness even more deliciously. Tearing off a just-right piece of warm naan with my hands and dipping it into the curry felt like the perfect way to enjoy Indian curry.

Chicken biryani, Indian-style fried rice

Along with the curry and naan, I also tried chicken biryani. Put simply, biryani is Indian-style fried rice, but it has a charm quite different from typical Korean fried rice. The long, light texture distinctive to Indian rice is joined by fragrant spices and chicken, making it filling enough for a meal on its own. One bite of the chicken biryani made me feel as if I were standing in the middle of an Indian street. Having biryani alongside the curry and naan added variety and let us enjoy several kinds of Indian food at once.

A visit with garden views

What I liked most about visiting Manokamana Songdo this time was being able to enjoy both the food and the atmosphere. From the mild spinach curry to the spicy chicken masala, chewy naan full of butter aroma, and chicken biryani with appealing spice flavors, every menu item had its own character.

Especially if Indian curry is new to you, rather than choosing only one very strong-flavored dish, I think it would be nice to order a mild curry and a spicy curry along with naan and biryani. When you want a different kind of meal near Songdo Central Park instead of the usual choices, Manokamana Songdo offers exotic interiors and garden views as well. I think it would make a memorable dining spot not only for Indian curry lovers but also for anyone wanting to try new flavors.

How to get to Manokamana Songdo

Manokamana Songdo is near Central Park, so it is nice to find while taking a walk around the area. If you are visiting on foot, follow the long path beside the De’Longhi store, and Manokamana Songdo will be on your right. Keep an eye on the right as you walk along the path and you will find the restaurant easily.