Sinchon Indian restaurant: family lunch set with parents, Meno Kamena

I stopped by here by chance once and fell for the Indian curry, so I went back. Meno Kamena (머노까머나) is an authentic Indian and Nepali restaurant in Sinchon. The spice-filled but deeply satisfying flavor, just right for Korean tastes, kept popping into my head, so I came back for lunch with my parents, three of us in total. I was totally satisfied again, so here's my honest review 💛

Where is Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch? Hours and parking

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is at 13 Yeonse-ro 11-gil, 2F, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 11:00 to 22:30. It's easy to find, about 443 m on foot from Sinchon Station Exit 2. With no closing days and long hours, it's a place you can go whenever.

Changcheon Church parking tip and review discount

There's no parking at the restaurant itself, but if you use the Changcheon Church parking lot, the first hour is free. In crowded Sinchon, just having somewhere to park is a huge plus.

As for discounts, they were running an event at the time: 5% off the total if you write a review.

It's also a disinfected, certified safe establishment, which put me even more at ease. I'm someone who considers hygiene absolutely essential when eating out.

What is the atmosphere like at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch?

The unusual name "Meno Kamena" apparently means "hope" in Nepali. I was struck by the warm thought behind it: the hope that every guest finds a little comfort and hope along with good food.

Step inside and the exotic mood hits you right away. I heard every dish is cooked with care, starting from the spice blending, by Indian-Nepali chefs with over 10 years of experience, drawing on their experience back home. But it's not the kind of style where strong aroma divides opinion; the philosophy here is a balanced, not overly aggressive flavor, so even first-timers to Indian food can enjoy it comfortably.

The place is also bigger than I expected. We came after 2 p.m., just past lunchtime, so most guests had left and there were only us and two other tables. The space is comfortable and roomy, good for a date, a get-together with friends, a company dinner or a family meal, really any occasion.

There's even a separate private area like this, so it seems great for group gatherings too.

Here's the country-of-origin sign for reference!

How much is the Meno Kamena weekday lunch set, and what's included?

The weekday lunch set at Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is ₩14,000 per person, and you can order it from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. At an Indian curry place, a set menu that lets you try lots of dishes at once is the way to go, so since there were three of us, we ordered three of the best-value weekday lunch sets.

It comes with a green salad, chicken tikka, curry of the day, naan, rice and a small lassi, so you get a hearty meal at a reasonable price. You can see why it's so popular with students and office workers. They have other sets too.

• Weekday lunch set (per person): ₩14,000 - green salad, chicken tikka, curry of the day, naan, rice, small lassi
• A set (per person): ₩25,000 - chicken mushroom soup, samosa, king prawn, tandoori chicken and more
• B set (per person): ₩16,000 - green salad, chicken tikka, curry, naan, rice, lassi
• * A set, B set and lunch set can all be ordered for 2 or more people

How did the Meno Kamena weekday lunch set taste?

The flavor perfectly proved why I came back to Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch.

Green salad with yuzu dressing and curry of the day

First, the salad freshened up my appetite. The yuzu (Korean citron) dressing was tangy, just right for me.

The curries, like vegetable, chicken and mutton, stick to the basics while really delivering deep, local-style flavor.

Plain naan and garlic naan: plenty for three

The naan especially is a work of art: baked to order, plain on the outside and chewy inside. Plain naan and garlic naan came together, and it was more than enough for three people.

Pick the one you like and dunk it generously into the rich curry, and it's just so good. Personally, I think naan at Indian restaurants is sooo delicious,,,

Turmeric rice and lassi

The rice had a subtle turmeric flavor and went well with the curry. The lassi (yogurt drink) is a taste I know, but it was delicious as always. Tasty drinkable yogurt!

Chicken tikka and tandoori chicken

The chicken tikka and tandoori chicken were great too. They're marinated well in spices and then grilled the traditional way, so the outside is lean with the grease drained away while the meat inside is moist and tender. It felt like they bring over the deep local flavor while keeping it nicely balanced?

It looked like this before

and we scraped it all clean like this.

Meno Kamena also sells gift certificates separately, and it's been designated a best restaurant.

Verdict: is Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch worth a family lunch revisit?

Meno Kamena Sinchon Branch is a Sinchon go-to that doesn't fall short on taste, price, atmosphere or friendliness. Indian curry specialists usually run pretty expensive, but the weekday lunch set here is only ₩14,000, and you get a filling meal from salad to curry, meat and naan. Great value, so I'm very satisfied!

I recommend it if you want to taste a proper local chef's cooking in an exotic setting! I had a good meal with the same wow as my first visit. I'll be back soon when a curry craving hits!