Indian curry date near Hapjeong Station: karahi lamb and naan, Mandala

A different kind of date meal in Hapjeong: Mandala Indian Lounge

I had Indian curry at Mandala Indian Lounge on Dokmak-ro 3-gil in Hapjeong. It's not something I eat all the time, but every once in a while I think of it and it's SO good!! So off to eat Indian curry we went!! 🍛🤎

When we date or go out for a nice meal around Hapjeong, we always end up eating the same kind of food, so this day I wanted something a little different, and that's why we came, haha

Mandala Indian Lounge location and opening hours

• Address: 26 Dokmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 3rd floor
• Mon–Fri 12:00–23:00 (last order 22:30)
• Saturday 12:00–22:30
• Sunday 12:00–23:30 (last order 23:00)
• Hours may change on public holidays, so please check before you go!
• Group seating, delivery, takeout, reservations, Wi-Fi and simple payment available

Mandala Indian Lounge isn't far from Hapjeong Station, so we strolled over and got there faster than I expected, haha. It's on the 3rd floor of the building, and you just go up the stairs!

Is the atmosphere at Mandala Indian Lounge good for a date?

The moment we opened the door, it was much cleaner than I expected and the vibe was sooo good!! Honestly, it felt like such a pretty restaurant that you could even have a blind date here, haha!!

When people think of an Indian restaurant, they sometimes picture colorful décor or a slightly dark mood, but Mandala Indian Lounge feels super clean and modern, so it was a bit of a surprise when we first walked in!

The tables are mostly for 2 to 4 people, and there's decent space between them, so we could eat without worrying about the next table~!

The interior is seriously a winner..🤍 I came with my boyfriend and it felt like a proper date, haha. It works for a date, and it would be great with friends too!! One side of the place displays all sorts of liquor, so I bet the mood is different in the evening too.

Mandala Indian Lounge menu

The menu had far more variety than I expected!! It's not only curries: there's tandoori chicken, all kinds of side dishes, salads, naan (flatbread), rice, lassi (yogurt drink) and other drinks.

There are quite a lot of curries, so you might struggle to choose on a first visit, but the menu marks popular and recommended dishes, so I think it's easier for first-timers to pick!

How are the cauliflower wings?

We ordered cauliflower wings, karahi lamb curry and butter garlic naan!! The first thing to arrive was the one I was really curious about: the cauliflower wings, haha!

At first I wondered how you make wings out of cauliflower, but they looked pretty convincing!! One bite and the outside was crispy while the inside had that soft, juicy cauliflower texture!!🧡🧡

Above all, the sauce was delicious!! Sweet, a little spicy and salty, so the flavor was way better than plain cauliflower>_<

The typical cauliflower smell and taste isn't too strong, so I think even people who don't usually eat cauliflower can enjoy it without hesitation, haha!!

And eaten in between heavy dishes like the curry and naan, the different texture kept me reaching for more!!! Crispy outside, soft inside, with the sauce soaked in, it was an easy side to nibble on :) I ordered it out of curiosity at first, but it was better than I expected and ended up being quietly memorable, haha

Karahi lamb curry: is the spice too much?

The dish I was most curious about at Mandala Indian Lounge was the karahi lamb curry! I usually like lamb curry, so I tucked in looking forward to the flavor, haha

As soon as it came out, a rich curry aroma hit me and it looked so delicious.

I first tried just the curry sauce, and the spice flavor was quite rich!! But it isn't so strong that it divides people, haha. It's slightly spicy with a deep, intense taste.

The lamb was tender too, which I loved, haha. Even cut lightly with chopsticks or a fork, it didn't feel tough to chew!! The sauce soaked into the lamb, so every bite came with that deep curry flavor~~

Why I recommend butter garlic naan

I had the karahi lamb curry with butter garlic naan, and it came out warm, looking so good the second it arrived! The nutty flavor and gentle garlic aroma wrapped softly around the curry, and it was sooo tasty💕

The naan itself is lightly charred outside for a subtle crispness, and chewy and soft inside!! The butter garlic version especially has savory, salty butter plus garlic, so the flavor feels much richer than plain naan, haha. I really recommend getting the butter garlic naan >_<

What a happy spread...~💞💞

Who is Mandala Indian Lounge for?

Hapjeong has so many great restaurants, and when you want something a bit different from the usual pasta, meat or drinking spots, I think Mandala Indian Lounge is worth a visit! Curry lovers will enjoy it, and even people like me who don't eat Indian food often should find it easy to enjoy with naan :)