Dongmyo Station Indian restaurant lunch with sibling: garlic naan

On a weekend outing with my sibling to check out the Dongmyo toy street, we decided to fuel up first at a traditional Indian restaurant that's been listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey for 9 straight years. This place, famous as a Dongmyo Station curry spot, satisfied even my picky sibling — one bite of the curry and they were nodding and gushing nonstop.

Namaste Dongmyo Branch location and hours

🏠 Address: 서울 종로구 지봉로 18 2층 (18 Jibong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2nd floor) ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)

Just 29m from Exit 5 of Dongmyo Station. Only 29m from Exit 5 of Dongmyo Station, where subway Lines 1 and 6 pass through, making it ideal for a transit visit. It's on the 2nd floor of the building right in front of the exit, so it's easy to find even with lots of bags or in hot weather.

The 2nd-floor space and seating

The moment you step inside, a completely different world unfolds compared to the vintage scenery outside. It felt like arriving at a luxury resort in India — the exotic space really made an impression. Ornate wooden carvings, traditional-pattern decor, and cozy lighting all combined to create a special mood.

The interior is more spacious and comfortable than I expected. Solid wood tables are arranged with generous spacing, making for a relaxed meal. There's also plenty of group seating, great for family outings or work dinners. We arrived a bit early, at 11:40am, and noticed the crowd started picking up right around noon.

The Blue Ribbon mark by the entrance, showing 9 consecutive years listed since 2018, gave me confidence in the cooking. It had the presence of a place that's genuinely won over Dongmyo locals over the years.

What's in the couple set (2 people)?

Once seated, the menu was packed with original Indian dishes by a local chef. Dozens of authentic spices come together to recreate deep, home-country flavors, with a variety of curries to choose from — chicken, shrimp, lamb, and more.

Couple set (2 people): ₩50,000

Samosa x2, chicken tikka x4, shrimp chili, chicken makhani, vegetable curry, plain rice, garlic naan. We went with the couple set for a filling, good-value meal. Two pieces of samosa, four pieces of chicken tikka, shrimp chili, chicken makhani, vegetable curry, plain rice, and garlic naan — a hearty lineup with a generous enough portion to leave us stuffed.

Samosa

First, while it was still hot, I reached for the samosa, an Indian fried dumpling. The golden fried exterior gave a satisfying crunch the moment I bit in.

Split in half, the samosa is packed with spice-seasoned potatoes and peas. The contrast of crispy outside, tender inside was excellent, and the savory, clean flavor made it a perfect appetizer. Dipping it in the red sauce added a sweet-and-sour kick that woke up the appetite.

Chicken tikka and shrimp chili

The chicken tikka and shrimp chili included in this Blue Ribbon Dongmyo Station curry set were also excellent. The reddish chicken tikka is chicken marinated in special spices and yogurt, then grilled in a tandoor oven. The fat renders out while the juices stay locked in, giving a crispy outside and tender inside, with the charcoal aroma completely eliminating any gamey taste.

The shrimp chili refreshed the palate with plump shrimp stir-fried in a sweet-and-spicy sauce. Note that this shrimp chili was noticeably spicier than the chili sauce I'm used to, so if you can't handle spice, keep that in mind.

Chicken makhani vs. vegetable curry: the flavor difference

Two types of curry came out as the main dishes.

The bestselling chicken makhani has a tomato base loaded with butter and cream, giving it a rich, velvety texture. It looks red but isn't spicy — smooth and universally likeable. Large chunks of chicken soaked in the sauce gave it a hearty feel.

The vegetable curry, simmered with fresh vegetables like broccoli, peas, and corn, highlighted the natural sweetness of the vegetables. The well-balanced spices gave it a bright yet deep character. The vegetable curry paired better with rice than with naan, in my opinion. The chicken makhani felt distinctly exotic, while the vegetable curry felt more similar to the Korean-style curry I'm used to eating.

Garlic naan, plain rice, and homemade lassi

The garlic naan for this Dongmyo Station curry order is baked in the tandoor right after ordering and still held heat by the time it reached the table. The surface was glossy, and a sharp yet savory garlic aroma hit my nose right away. Tearing off warm naan and topping it with curry, the chewy dough and creamy sauce came together perfectly.

We also mixed the leftover curry into the fluffy plain rice for a filling dose of carbs.

We wrapped up the meal with a homemade lassi. This sweet-and-sour, smooth Indian yogurt drink cleansed the palate and paired perfectly with the meal. It especially soothed our stomachs after all the spicy dishes.

Final verdict

After tasting this hearty, great-value set, I understood exactly why it's held onto its Blue Ribbon status for 9 years straight. I've gone curry-hunting for places that do it well, and this one is among the best Indian curry spots I've found. If you're planning a trip to Dongmyo, this Dongmyo Station curry spot is worth a visit!