Quiet 4:30pm meal at Namaste, an Indian restaurant in Dongmyo, Seoul

Why Indian food after a day at Dongmyo market?

Sseulangi, we went to hunt for vintage finds at Dongmyo, which is really popular these days!! There were SO many people walking around, it was exhausting. We walked and walked until we got super hungry, and decided to try something new — Indian food it is!

There were several Indian restaurants near Dongmyo, but Namaste Dongmyo Branch is a Dongmyo Blue Ribbon restaurant and it drew us in the most, so we picked this place. It's really close to Dongmyo Station and right on the main road, so it wasn't hard to find at all.

Where is Namaste Dongmyo Branch, and what are its hours?

Namaste Dongmyo Branch, a Dongmyo favorite — the Indian vibe hits you right from the entrance!!! Dinner time seemed like it would get packed, so we went early around 4:30, and it was quiet and nice!

Namaste Dongmyo Branch info — Address: 18 Jibong-ro, 2nd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea / Hours: Daily 11:00am–10:00pm (last order 1 hour before closing)

Inside Namaste Dongmyo Branch and its Blue Ribbon years

Walking in, the Indian-style interior catches your eye first. Not just the food but the space itself feels exotic, so even before the meal started, it felt a bit like traveling to India.

Apparently it's been a Blue Ribbon pick every year from 2019 to 2026 straight. Wow!! This might be THE representative Dongmyo Blue Ribbon restaurant!

What comes in the couple set at Namaste Dongmyo Branch?

The menu had so many options that we were stuck deciding, so we went with the couple set, which let us try a bit of everything.

• Samosa
• Chicken tikka
• Shrimp chili
• Chicken makhani
• Vegetable curry
• Plain rice
• Garlic naan
• + choice of lassi, tea, or yogurt

It was so nice having a set menu that let us taste a variety of dishes! If Indian food menus feel unfamiliar to you like they did to me, and you're not sure what to pick, a set that lets you try several things is a great option. We wanted to sample a bit of everything too, and it was great being able to eat the samosa (fried savory pastry), something we'd never tried, alongside curry and naan, which felt more familiar.

Trying samosa at Namaste for the first time

The first thing to arrive was the samosa, apparently a classic Indian snack. It's like a fried dumpling filled with potato and peas — something I'd never had before, both in food and flavor, so it was really interesting!

Heads-up: the shrimp chili at Namaste has coriander in it

I was a little surprised the shrimp chili had coriander in it! If you're a coriander beginner like me, it'd be good to mention that when ordering. And it was spicier than expected — but not a heat I already knew, more of an exotic, new kind of spicy that was fun and surprising!!

But since the set comes with lassi, a sip of that when it's spicy instantly cools things down!!! The set combo really works well together.

Best dish of the meal: chicken makhani with garlic naan and rice

The tastiest thing was chicken makhani with naan & rice!! Being able to eat both naan and rice with it was so nice. It's naturally the most familiar combo and there's no way it wouldn't be delicious..!! Trying new flavors was fun, but in the end, the tastiest thing was the flavor I already knew haha.

Who should eat at Namaste Dongmyo Branch?

At this Dongmyo favorite, it was fun getting to try a variety of dishes in a space full of Indian atmosphere. If you want to try something new, the couple set is recommended! Some dishes were completely new to me, which made it fun, and there was also the enjoyment of figuring out which menu items suited my taste.

This time especially stuck with me because each dish had such a different flavor. The samosa was novel since I'd never had it before, the shrimp chili was spicier than expected with that coriander aroma. Meanwhile, chicken makhani with naan and rice was the familiar combo I enjoyed most. It was a meal where trying new flavors also helped me figure out my own preferences!

If you're a bit wary of trying new food, there are also plenty of individual curry dishes you could order instead. If you want to experience exotic decor and new flavors, or you're looking for a Dongmyo restaurant for a meal that's different from your usual, give Namaste Dongmyo Branch a try!!