Indian curry near Hapjeong Station with a first-timer sibling: Mandala

Why I took my sister, a first-timer at Indian curry, to Mandala Indian Lounge

Mandala Indian Lounge is a restaurant near Hapjeong Station where you can eat Indian curry in a clean interior with beautifully plated food. I was in Hapjeong with my younger sister, and when she said she had never had Indian curry even once, we headed here.

Do you all like Indian curry? Somehow Indian curry feels like it should be called "curry" the Indian way, not the Korean-style "kare". I usually go to a great Indian place near my office now and then. It has a very oriental vibe, and the owner, who is from India, greets you, so it feels like a trip to India. This time I'll introduce a Hapjeong restaurant that's good for Indian curry with some atmosphere.

Mandala Indian Lounge: location, hours and parking

Mandala Indian Lounge is on the 3rd floor at 26 Dongmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about a 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hapjeong Station. It's open 12:00–23:00 with last order at 22:30, and it's closed every other Tuesday.

• Birthday perks, takeout, group seating and reservations available
• Parking is paid: Hapjeong roadside public parking lot, ₩6,000 per 60 minutes

What's the atmosphere at Mandala Indian Lounge like?

Unlike the Indian restaurants I'd been to before, Mandala Indian Lounge has a very modern, bright interior that looked great for a casual visit. The tables are arranged in different setups, which gave it a nice mood, and it looked like a good spot for a date too.

What should Indian curry beginners order?

The menu at Mandala Indian Lounge is organized in sets, so it's easy to order even if Indian curry is new to you, and there's a one-person lunch set too. Here are my own tips for anyone unfamiliar with curry.

• If the smell of lamb is unfamiliar, pick a chicken or shrimp curry
• Makhani is a curry made with butter
• Masala is a spicy curry with a variety of spices
• Karahi is a stir-fried style curry
• Chicken makhani is usually the safest choice, and personally I recommend the paneer spinach curry!!
• Tandoori chicken is often paired too, but it's a little dry
• If you like yogurt, finish with a lassi (yogurt drink) for an even better ending

What we ordered and the prices

• Chicken tikka masala ₩13,000
• Paneer spinach ₩14,000
• Turmeric rice ₩3,000
• Butter naan ₩3,500

How does the paneer spinach curry taste?

The paneer spinach, my go-to, came plated with a cream sauce, and it tasted mild, nutty and not at all harsh. Paneer is an Indian cheese that reminds me personally of brie. It isn't aged, so it's light and healthy, and it went well with rice.

Is the chicken tikka masala very spicy?

I ordered the chicken tikka masala at the default spice level, and even by the standards of someone who can't handle spice, it wasn't very hot. It's a clean curry of tomato and onion, with lemongrass giving it an exotic curry aroma. When ordering, they checked in advance about spice level and whether I eat cilantro. The cilantro came separately so I could add it on top later, which I liked.

How should you pair butter naan and turmeric rice?

Combining the butter naan and turmeric rice I added let us enjoy the two curries in different ways. They ask about cilantro and spice level when you order. I'm a spice wimp and ordered medium, and it still wasn't very hot, so if you want a kick, I'd recommend ordering it spicy. The cilantro came separately, and adding it to taste made the curry even better. Personally, the turmeric rice is good, but eating it with the naan was even nuttier and tastier.

Who is Mandala Indian Lounge for?

If you're looking near Hapjeong Station for an out-of-the-ordinary restaurant with clean surroundings, pretty plating, and a variety of tasty Indian dishes and curries, I recommend Mandala Indian Lounge~