Tikka masala and cauliflower curry at Mandala, a Hapjeong Indian spot

What kind of place is Mandala Indian Lounge?

Mandala Indian Lounge is an Indian restaurant on the 3rd floor at 26 Dokmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, near Hapjeong Station. It's open daily 12:00–23:00 with a break time from 15:00, and closed every Tuesday. Corkage is available for a fee, but there's no parking.

Mandala Indian Lounge sits near Hapjeong Station, and I've always liked Indian curry, so I went looking for something a bit special in the area. Mandala is an Indian food specialist that cooks curries and tandoori dishes to order, based on authentic Indian recipes.

What does the interior feel like?

The interior is bright and clean overall. When I first walked in, I honestly didn't think it looked like an Indian restaurant at all, haha!

Menu, break time and what to check before you go

Mandala Indian Lounge sells not just curry but also tandoori chicken, fried rice, and salads. When I checked, some prices shown on Naver Map didn't match the actual menu board — I guess it just hasn't been updated yet!

Also, definitely check the break time before you go! Naver didn't show any break-time info, but when I visited, there was a break time starting at 3pm. If you're planning to visit after lunch hours, it's worth calling ahead so you don't make a wasted trip.

How do the chicken tikka masala and potato cauliflower curry taste?

I picked two dishes at Mandala Indian Lounge: chicken tikka masala and potato cauliflower curry. This place felt a bit different from a typical Korean-style Indian restaurant. What stood out most was that an Indian chef cooks the food himself! Maybe that's why the food tasted a little different from the Indian curry I was used to eating in Korea.

• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Potato Cauliflower Curry

Chicken tikka masala, 13,000 won

A soft, definitely spice-forward chicken tikka masala. The Indian curry commonly found in Korea tends to have a thicker, richer sauce, but Mandala's curry was relatively thin and smooth in texture, which felt a bit unfamiliar at first. But as I kept eating, this actually started to feel like the restaurant's own character.

Potato cauliflower curry, 12,000 won

With potato and cauliflower, this dish was light with a subtle rise of spice. Personally, I felt the vegetable flavors came through more clearly than in the chicken tikka masala, and the seasoning was milder too!

That said, both dishes tasted and felt different in thickness from the Indian curry commonly eaten in Korea, so if you're used to thick, rich Korean-style curry, it might feel unfamiliar at first. But flip that around, and it could be a fun choice for anyone who wants to try Indian food closer to the real thing, haha.

Turmeric rice or garlic naan: which side to order

Turmeric rice, 3,000 won

Turmeric rice that pairs well with curry. Made with the fluffy, separate-grain rice typical of the Middle East.

Garlic naan, 3,500 won

Naan with a subtle garlic aroma. It's chewy and pairs really well with curry. It cools down fast, so I'd recommend eating it right away while it's warm!

You can get a free naan through a review event. Definitely do it, haha!

Who will enjoy Mandala Indian Lounge?

Mandala Indian Lounge suits anyone who wants to try Indian food that's closer to local style than the Indian curry Koreans are typically used to. Having an Indian chef cook in person set it apart from other Indian restaurants, and I liked getting to try a curry that tasted different from what I was used to.

If you're tired of the usual pasta or brunch spots around Hapjeong and want a different kind of date restaurant, something exotic, or an Indian curry place that feels close to the real thing, give it a try!