Indian restaurant in Songdo: BB set and two lassis at Manokamana

Where is Manokamana Songdo Branch? Right by Songdo Central Park

I wanted something a bit different for a meal in Songdo, so I stopped by Manokamana Songdo Branch. It's near Songdo Central Park, so it's a great spot to grab a meal and then go for a walk in the park afterward. It really is close to Central Park, so getting there was easy.

Above all, I was excited because this is an Indian restaurant where an Indian chef cooks the food himself.

Ordering the BB set by QR code at Manokamana

This time I ordered the BB set. It's a spread that lets you try several menu items at once, so it's a good choice for a first visit. Ordering is easy with a QR code.

The salad came out first. It was topped with mango sauce, which made it refreshing.

Indian food can be hit or miss for people because of the spices, but once I actually tried it, the spices weren't overwhelming — they mostly brought out the flavor of the curry, so it was easier to eat than I expected.

Butter naan and curry: generous size and portion

With the B set, I tried the butter naan, tandoori chicken and curry all together. The naan came out warm, which I loved. Even in photos it looks pretty big, but once it was actually on the table, the portion was substantial. The outside had a light char while the inside was soft, making it perfect for dipping into the curry. It's good plain too, but naan really is best eaten with curry.

The curry (커리) had a smooth, rich flavor. The tangy notes from the chicken base blended with a subtle hint of spices, and the overall thick texture made it great for scooping up with naan. It also worked well with rice, so I found myself alternating between naan and rice. The ingredients and sauce inside the curry were well balanced, so it felt less like a simply spicy curry and more like a dish with deep spice flavor.

Tandoori chicken and the pickles on the side

And of course, the tandoori chicken. The red-marinated look was appetizing from the start — the outside was nicely charred and the chicken inside stayed juicy. The spice and marinade flavor had really soaked in, so it was tasty on its own, and dipping it lightly in the accompanying sauce gave a different feel altogether.

The salad, pickles and jalapeños served alongside were nice too. After a while of eating the curry and tandoori chicken, the spice flavor lingers in your mouth, so having the tangy pickles or crunchy vegetables in between cleans up your palate nicely.

Mango lassi or plain lassi: which one to order?

For drinks that day, I also ordered a mango lassi and a plain lassi. The mango lassi was sweet and smooth with mango flavor plus the tang of yogurt, and it was quite good. Taking a sip whenever the spices felt strong smoothed everything out, so it paired well with the Indian food. The plain lassi was much more plain and tangy compared to the mango version. Personally, I'd say if you like sweet drinks, go for the mango lassi, and if you want something cleaner, the plain lassi suits better.

Fennel seeds to finish the meal

They also had the spice you often see at Indian restaurants. The green seeds in the photo look like fennel seeds, which are commonly eaten to freshen your mouth afterward. The unique aroma made it fun to chew a seed or two after the meal.

Who is this Indian restaurant near Songdo Central Park for?

If you're searching for good restaurants near Songdo Central Park and get tired of the same menus every time, or if you want to try proper Indian food, this is a solid choice. Overall, each dish felt less about aggressive spiciness and more about drawing out the flavor of the spices. Since an Indian chef makes the food himself, it definitely tasted different from the Korean-style curry we're used to.

If you're looking for something a bit different to eat in Songdo, Manokamana, a go-to for Indian curry in Songdo, is worth a visit. And after your meal, walking over to nearby Songdo Central Park makes for a perfect combo.

• Address: 1F, Building G, 107 Haedoji-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:30 – 22:30