Daehangno Indian restaurant after busking, Set B & masala papad: Meono

Something different in Daehangno: Indian food at Meono Kkameona

Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch (머노까머나 대학로점) is an Indian restaurant near Hyehwa Station where you can get curry and naan, and I went with a friend. It was better than I expected. Lately I wanted something a bit different from what I usually eat, so we stopped by Daehangno and decided on Indian food.

I like curry and naan anyway, and it had been a while since I'd had a proper Indian restaurant, so I walked into Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch curious about how it would taste.

Daehangno is well known for its theater shows and street performances, so there's plenty to see, and there are more restaurants than you'd think, which makes choosing a place fun. The weather was lovely that day, and there was busking going on at Marronnier Park.

We did some shopping and walked around, and the moment I stepped into Meono Kkameona for our meal, the atmosphere was quite striking. It's known as a Hyehwa Station favorite, so my expectations went up.

Where is Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch, and what about parking?

Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch is on the 2nd floor of Ihwa Building, 236 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 251 m from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4. For parking, the Asia parking lot behind the restaurant gives you 1 hour free.

• Location: 2nd floor, Ihwa Building, 236 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Getting there: 251 m from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station, Subway Line 4
• Hours: daily 11:00–22:30
• Parking: 1 hour free at the Asia parking lot behind the restaurant

Inside Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch

The interior is decorated with Indian-style ornaments and props. It isn't over the top; it brings in a subtle local feel that wasn't overwhelming, and the warm lighting made it a comfortable place to eat.

The spacing between tables was decent too, and even though it was a little after lunchtime, several more groups came in after us. There's also a large separate area inside for group gatherings, so it looked good for get-togethers.

What are the signature dishes at Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch?

Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch specializes in a wide range of Indian and Nepali food, centered on curry, naan (Indian flatbread) and tandoori (clay-oven) dishes. Ordering a set menu lets you try several dishes together, which made choosing easy.

There were lots of curries, and the naan had plenty of options too, such as garlic naan, butter naan and cheese naan. It's also known as a Daehangno Indian curry favorite, so it looked easy to enjoy whether you're new to curry or a regular.

Meono Kkameona Set B: what's in it and how it tastes

We ordered Meono Kkameona Set B. It came with a green salad, chicken tikka, curry, garlic naan, rice and lassi, and we also added a masala papad.

Green salad and mango and strawberry lassi

The green salad came out first, built around fresh vegetables, and was a nice light starter. For drinks we ordered a mango lassi (yogurt drink) and a strawberry lassi. The consistency was neither too thin nor too thick, and they went down smoothly.

The lassi, not too tangy and gently sweet, was one of the dishes I remember most.

The extra masala papad: how was the seasoning?

The masala papad (thin spiced cracker) we added had a crispy, cracker-like texture, and eating it like a snack was nice. As time went on it tasted a bit saltier than I expected, and personally I think it would have been better with slightly less seasoning.

Still, it was fine as a light bite before the meal.

Boneless chicken tikka from the tandoor

Next came the chicken tikka, a boneless barbecue dish of chicken marinated overnight in traditional Indian spices and cooked in the tandoor oven.

The outside had a nicely grilled aroma and the inside was fairly juicy. It was fine on its own, but it went even better dipped in the sauce served alongside or wrapped in garlic naan.

Having it with the curry worked well too, so it turned out to be a more versatile dish than I expected.

Garlic naan, baked to order

The garlic naan was baked right after we ordered, so we could eat it warm. It had a subtle garlic aroma and a chewy texture, and it was great with curry.

Topping it with palak paneer curry or wrapping chicken tikka in it both made a good combination.

Palak paneer spinach curry: spicy or strongly flavored?

The curry in Set B was palak paneer, a spinach curry made with fresh spinach and paneer, an Indian cheese. The gentle flavor of spinach was the heart of it, and the cheese added a rich, nutty taste.

The spices don't jump out at you, so it's comfortable even for people trying Indian food for the first time, and it's an easy Hyehwa Station restaurant to visit.

Would I go back to Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch?

I visited Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch for Indian food after a long time, and it felt different not just for the food but for the atmosphere too. I think it's worth visiting without any pressure if you like curry or naan, and it looked fine as a meal spot when you're catching a show in Daehangno or meeting someone.

This time I tried the palak paneer, and next time I'd like to order a different kind of curry. It's a Daehangno restaurant I'd happily return to.