Daegu restaurant spicy chicken curry lunch: Rama & Babana

Today, I had Indian curry and nasi goreng for lunch at Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, a popular spot in Dongseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu. The chicken curry had a delicious Buldak-level kick, the coconut-flavored shrimp curry was mild and smooth, and the nasi goreng—my first time trying it—was especially memorable.

Rama & Babana Dongseong-ro Main Branch: location and parking

Rama & Babana is a 3-minute walk from Exit 10 of Banwoldang Station, a 9-minute walk from Exit 1 of Kyungpook National University Hospital Station, and an 11-minute walk from Exit 2 of Jungangno Station.

If you are driving, there is no dedicated parking at the restaurant, so you will need to use a nearby paid lot. Geobuk Private Parking Lot directly across from the restaurant was the closest.

Rama & Babana is on the second floor of a building near the entrance to Tongsin Alley. I quickly checked the photo menu and headed up the stairs.

Lunch atmosphere and seating

It was my first visit to Rama & Babana, and I was surprised by how full it was when I walked in. I could see why it is so popular for lunch in Dongseong-ro.

I visited for lunch, and although the blinds were down, the wide windows still brought in lovely natural light, making the space feel bright. Dinner would probably have a different mood under the lighting. There were lots of lunch guests, but thankfully there were seats farther inside, so I did not have to wait.

There was an indoor restroom immediately by the entrance, and high chairs were available on one side.

Indian curry and fusion menu prices

The menu included chicken curry for ₩12,000 (₩17,000 for 1.5 servings), shrimp curry for ₩13,000, beef curry for ₩12,000, naan for ₩4,000, rice for ₩2,000, nasi goreng for ₩16,000, butter garlic shrimp for ₩25,000, and tandoori cream chicken for ₩14,000. There were also plenty of other meal options, including pu phat phong curry, mie goreng, salads, and pizza, plus pineapple, mango, and blueberry lassi for ₩6,000 and soft drinks.

If you join the review event, you can receive French fries or a daily salad, normally priced at ₩8,000.

We ordered chicken curry, shrimp curry, nasi goreng, naan, and mango lassi.

Chicken curry with a Buldak-level kick

The chicken curry was marked with three red chilies for heat. It was right around Buldak spicy—definitely hotter than Shin Ramyun. Still, the spicy hit was just stimulating enough the moment it touched my tongue; it was the kind of flavor that gives you a dopamine rush! It also came topped with a large piece of chicken breast.

If you want to avoid anything too hot but still need a little spice, I recommend the level-1 beef curry, simmered with flat iron steak.

Mellow coconut milk shrimp curry

The shrimp curry was made with coconut milk and large shrimp, giving it a smooth, richly flavored, exotic taste. It was level 0 for heat—not spicy at all—so it was easy to enjoy. There were lots of big shrimp that were plump and soaked up the curry sauce nicely, along with plenty of small shrimp too.

Plain naan that goes well with curry

There were regular naan and butter garlic naan, and I decided to try the regular one. It arrived piping hot, so be careful with your hands, but it soon cooled to a good temperature and was easy to tear apart and wrap around the curries we ordered.

The chicken curry in particular was spicy enough that naan or rice was essential. If you order two servings of curry, I recommend getting one rice and one naan so you can have both.

Nasi goreng wrapped around cheese and seafood fried rice

The nasi goreng was Rama & Babana's signature dish: seafood fried rice wrapped in chewy naan and baked.

When I cut it in half, it was packed with cheese and spicy seafood fried rice beneath the chewy naan.

There was especially lots of jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) in the seafood mix. The texture of the octopus with the spicy cheesy rice and seafood flavor worked really well, and if you enjoy a good burrito, Rama & Babana's nasi goreng will probably be right up your alley.

We ordered two servings of curry but no rice. The nasi goreng portion was generous enough that we could enjoy it on its own first, then have it with the curry.

Mango lassi and final thoughts

Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt drink. The mango lassi was much tastier than I expected and generously sized, so I strongly recommend trying one instead of ordering only soft drinks.

Rama & Babana has been open since 2004 and has remained a popular long-running Indian curry restaurant in Dongseong-ro for more than 20 years. When I visited at noon on a weekday, it was nearly full, showing how popular it is for lunch, and the wide windows and natural light made it a pleasant place to eat.

For anyone who loves spicy food, I recommend ordering the signature chicken curry, loved for more than 20 years, with rice. For an exotic flavor, I recommend the shrimp curry with naan.

• I recommend it as a Daegu Indian food restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of dishes at reasonable prices.
• With its clean, modern interior, wide windows, and varied seating, I recommend it for a date in Dongseong-ro.
• I recommend Rama & Babana, an Indian fusion restaurant that is easy for everyone to enjoy, as a venue for a wedding-invitation gathering in Daegu.