25-year-old Indian restaurant in Jongno, Seoul: Namaste Dongmyo Branch

The weather's been so nice lately that I suddenly craved something exotic, and I finally made it to a place I'd wanted to visit for ages — Namaste Dongmyo Branch, one of Korea's first-generation Indian restaurants.

This spot is already well known among food lovers — it's a verified Dongmyo Blue Ribbon restaurant that's kept its spot in the guide for nine straight years since 2018. With over 25 years of tradition behind its recipes, I went in with high expectations for that deep, authentic flavor.

Where Namaste Dongmyo Branch is and how to visit

• Name: Namaste Dongmyo Branch
• Address: 2nd floor, 18 Jibong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (near Dongmyo Station)
• Note: Walk-ins are fine, but expect a wait during busy hours.

What is the second-floor dining room like?

The moment I stepped into Namaste Dongmyo Branch, I was greeted by an exotic yet cozy, upscale interior — like walking into a high-end resort restaurant in India.

With the soft lighting and little decorative touches, I thought it'd be a perfect date spot.

What comes in the Namaste Couple's Set (for 2 / 50,000 won)?

I wanted to try a good range of traditional Indian dishes, so I ordered the Namaste Couple's Set. It turned out to be really generous and satisfying!

• Samosa
• Chicken tikka
• Shrimp chili
• Chicken makhani
• Vegetable curry
• Plain rice
• Garlic naan
• 2 drinks (choice of traditional Indian tea, lassi, or yogurt)

Honest taste review of every dish

1. Samosa, the Indian fried dumpling

The samosa, an Indian-style dumpling, came out first — and if the spices are overdone, this dish can really go either way. Here, the flavor wasn't overpowering at all, just perfectly savory and clean. The crispy pastry with the spiced potato filling inside worked beautifully together.

2. Chicken tikka and shrimp chili

• Chicken tikka: coated well in a red marinade, this was mildly spicy with a nice smoky char, moist and tender to eat.
• Shrimp chili: the crispy batter was honestly a work of art. Crunchy outside, plump shrimp inside, all tossed in a sweet-spicy chili sauce — every bite made me smile.

3. The two curries: chicken makhani and vegetable curry

• Chicken makhani curry: creamy with soft butter, cream, and tomato blended in — a flavor pretty much everyone loves. It practically melted in my mouth!
• Vegetable curry: the natural sweetness of the vegetables paired with clean spices was excellent, offering a totally different, refreshing charm from the makhani.

4. Garlic naan and plain rice

Garlic naan — you can't have Indian food without it! Fresh out of the oven, it had a mild, subtly sharp and savory garlic aroma, and dipping it in the curry was the perfect combination. Mixing the curry into the plain rice was fantastic too.

Final verdict: who should eat at Namaste Dongmyo Branch

This visit made it clear why Namaste Dongmyo Branch has kept such a consistent, authentic flavor for 25 years. The spices were never too harsh or overwhelming, blending smoothly with Korean palates while still showing real craftsmanship.

If you want to try proper traditional Indian food, or you're looking for a unique date spot for a special occasion, I highly recommend this Dongmyo Blue Ribbon favorite, Namaste Dongmyo Branch!