Hongdae-area Indian restaurant with tomato curry and shisha lounge

This post was written after receiving a free visit and menu from the business through the Supermembers app.

Craving curry in Hapjeong, I went looking

I was searching for curry in Hapjeong when an Indian lounge popped up, and I saved it right away. I'm tired of Indian places that just do one basic curry and call it a day. A place with a tandoor oven and shisha too? That got my curiosity going first. It's walkable from Hapjeong Station, so accessibility wasn't bad either.

The sign alone was no joke

There was a banner on the building's exterior wall with 'Indian Food' printed five times. You literally can't miss it. The rooftop sign spells out the whole business — 'Indian Curry · Shisha · Wine.' There was a reason they didn't stop at just one label.

The nationality is clear from the entrance

The glass door had a cursive 'namaste' sticker along with a mandala pattern. I was a bit surprised to see vegan and halal marks side by side too. Made me think they get a lot of foreign customers. From the moment I opened the door, this felt like more than just a Korean-style Indian restaurant.

It was a lounge from the moment you walk in

Even the 1st floor already has bar-style tables, and the 3rd floor has a sign announcing soju, beer, cocktails, and even shisha. This isn't just a place to eat and leave — it's built for hanging out. The window seats had white curtains draped over them, great for photos too. The interior felt more like a lounge bar than an Indian restaurant.

Just looking at the bar takes up time

A bar shelf filled with whiskey, wine, and rum of every type covered one whole wall. It was surprising to see Indian rum (Old Monk) and Indian wine there too. The cocktail list had everything from Long Island Iced Tea to mojitos. I came for curry and left craving a drink.

I spent a while deciding at the menu

The menu covered tandoor dishes, curries, biryani, and shisha all in one book. Seeing chicken, lamb, shrimp, and paneer curries each split into their own categories was a bit overwhelming. Just picking the items marked as bestsellers would fill half the table. The set menus, from a couple set to a 4-person family set, were well put together, so you don't have to worry about group size. They also have biryani and tandoori chicken on their own, which confirmed this isn't a curry-only place. I learned from the menu that it opened in 2025, with 'Bollywood' in Gwangalli, Busan being the original branch.

We ordered two bowls of curry

There were so many options I was getting confused about what I'd even ordered, but we went with tomato-based curry for both. The consistency was thick and rich, perfect for dipping naan into. One bowl was clearly on the spicy side and the other was milder. The chopped herbs, julienned ginger, and diced tomato on top made a strong impression. The spice smell wasn't strong, so it's a flavor that even a first-timer to Indian food could handle without any pressure.

The naan comes fresh from the oven

The naan arrived in a foil basket, lightly charred outside and fluffy inside. It was surprisingly big — one and a half pieces was enough to fill me up. Nothing beats naan for wiping the curry sauce clean to the last drop. I thought about ordering one more but held off since I was already full. They also have garlic naan and cheese-stuffed naan, which I'd like to try next time.

A completely different face at night

It's a restaurant for curry during the day, but at night it turns into a lounge where people smoke shisha and drink wine. They had a variety of shisha flavors ready, like double apple and kiwi mint. It's a great flow for grabbing a casual dinner with friends and then just staying put to hang out. This kind of concept is rare around Hapjeong and Hongdae, so it felt fresh.

Overall thoughts

I think this will be the first place that comes to mind whenever I crave curry in Hapjeong. The curry quality was solid, but the biggest strength is being a space where you can eat and keep drinking afterward. With vegan and halal options available, there's no stress about who you bring along. The set menus are well organized, so it could work well for larger group gatherings or company dinners too. I'll be back.

• 📍 Location: Near Hapjeong Station (Mandala Indian Lounge Hapjeong branch)
• 🕐 Hours: Varies depending on store conditions, check before visiting
• 💰 Price range: Curry single dish ₩12,000–16,000 / Naan·Rice ₩2,000–6,000 / Shisha ₩30,000