Samseong solo Indian curry with tandoori king prawn: India The Durbar

Seafood and sushi are what I love most, but every once in a while I need a transfusion of Indian curry haha. I especially like dipping naan into chicken makhani or mixing it into rice. Indian curry restaurants often have seafood dishes too, like tandoori king prawn, so ordering one as a side takes the satisfaction to another level haha.

That day I went for a skincare treatment near Samseong Station, and right next door was an Indian curry restaurant, so I walked straight in for dinner!

Where is India The Durbar Samseong Station Branch, and when is it open?

India The Durbar Samseong Station Branch sits between Samseong and Seolleung stations. It's about a 4-minute walk from Samseong Station!

It's open every day, no holidays, from 11 AM to 11 PM. So whenever a craving for Indian curry hits, you can just drop by. Since it's open until 11 PM and corkage is allowed, I'm curious about pairing curry with drinks too.

Walking on straight from the massage, I spotted the welcoming India The Durbar sign! The red color and the Indian woman on the sign caught my eye right away haha.

Finding the entrance from Samseong Station

Such a friendly-looking sign — the mix of red, yellow, and white really pops up close. It's on the basement level, so down I go.

What is the dining room like inside?

You can feel the exotic atmosphere right from the entrance. Thanks to the photorealistic Taj Mahal mural and the traditional warrior sculptures, it felt like being in a real restaurant in India haha.

The interior is very spacious and clean, and the Indian owner is friendly! There's fun in looking around at all the little decor pieces too!

What is on the menu at India The Durbar?

Even during lunchtime, you can eat a good value meal here. There are also set menus by headcount, which is nice because you get to try a variety of dishes at once.

What comes in the 18,000 won A Set for one person?

• A Set (1-person set menu) ₩18,000
• Masala papad ₩4,000
• Tandoori king prawn ₩28,000

The 1-person set comes with 1 naan, 1 rice, 1 lassi, 2 pieces of chicken, a green salad, and 1 curry (choice of palak paneer, chicken masala, or chicken makhani). Salad, drink, chicken, naan, and rice all come one of each, and since I could pick my favorite chicken makhani, I went straight for the set menu.

Then, curious about the masala papad that looked like a cracker, I ordered that as well, plus the tandoori king prawn!

I loved the Indian-style tableware too haha.

The masala papad came out first, and a spicy aroma rose right up. Underneath, it's a cracker made from thinly rolled and baked chickpea dough!

This is the king prawn that was genuinely delicious. Real jumbo prawns — four huge ones arrived.

And then the solid, great-value 1-person set arrived too!

Everything I ordered showed up — from the main meal to the side dishes and drink, a full, satisfying spread.

The portion of chicken makhani was enough to eat with both the naan and the rice — truly plenty for one person.

How does the 28,000 won tandoori king prawn taste?

It was genuinely the size of a palm, wow. The masala seasoning soaked in yellow on the inside and the pale flesh were as thick as a lobster tail! There was a subtle smoky char too.

The texture was springy and satisfying to bite into, never dry, and so delicious! A dish that doesn't disappoint for the price. If you like seafood, I highly recommend ordering it.

Masala papad: the Indian answer to kimchi

The masala papad was a curiosity dish I tried for the first time. You break it like a cracker, then top it with the spicy vegetable topping. It kind of reminded me of India's version of kimchi. The cracker itself is nutty, and the topping on top is spicy, waking up your appetite.

A lassi to sip when things get a little spicy — the combination I ordered worked really well haha. The chicken had a bit of spice too, so it went nicely with the salad.

Chicken makhani curry with naan and rice

Piping hot naan with chicken makhani curry.

I mixed it into the rice and dipped the naan in it, and it was so good ㅠㅠ. This place really knows curry!! The king prawn was also so good I was devouring it in a daze haha.

Chicken makhani really is the truth. I've eaten it for years and never get tired of it. Eating it together with rice made for a very filling dinner!! The side dishes I ordered today were also a total win.

If you're near Samseong Station looking for a comfortable spot to eat solo with good value, I recommend India The Durbar — an Indian curry restaurant with a clean space and a friendly owner!