Friday date night Indian curry near Hyehwa Station: Meono Kkameona

When I want something a bit different to eat in Daehangno, Indian food comes to mind. This time I visited Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch (머노까머나 대학로점) near Hyehwa Station.

I already like Indian curry, but the spice smell can be too strong for some people. Here it was surprisingly easy to eat without feeling overwhelmed, which was quite satisfying.

Where is Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch, and what are its hours?

Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch is at 236 Changgyeonggung-ro, 2F Ihwa Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily from 11:00 to 22:30.

Daily 11:00–22:30

Located on the 2nd floor right at the intersection in Daehangno, Meono Kkameona is really easy to find. It seems to be a favorite spot for Indian tourists too.

Friday evening wait time and the mood inside Meono Kkameona

There was no wait on a Friday evening. The place had a fairly quiet, relaxed vibe, which actually made it perfect for a date. The gentle hum of people chatting was just right for a leisurely dinner. Most of the other guests were couples or families.

The interior is filled with furniture that evokes Nepal or India, with bright pops of color that felt distinctly Indian in style. I was already excited to see how good the curry would be.

What comes in SET B for two at ₩34,000?

There was a QR code on the table for quick ordering! We thought a set menu that lets you try several dishes would be good, so we ordered SET B this time. It's ₩34,000 for two people!

They brought water and side dishes. It had been a while since a staff member poured my water for me directly, and it made me feel quite pampered, haha.

Green salad

The green salad came out first. Fresh vegetables with a tangy dressing were a great way to wake up the palate before the heavier dishes. Since curry and tandoori chicken are both rich and intense in flavor, it was also nice to have alongside them throughout the meal.

Butter chicken curry ordered mild spicy

Of course the main event was the butter chicken curry. Personally, it was my favorite part of the whole set. Butter chicken has that signature soft, slightly sweet flavor, and I ordered mine with a touch of spice added.

That combination was really good. The subtle sweetness of the curry balanced perfectly with the gentle heat, so no single flavor overpowered the other. It was delicious torn off with garlic naan and dipped in, and just as good mixed over rice. Definitely order it mild spicy!

Tandoori chicken, 6 pieces

Then the tandoori chicken arrived! It came with a whopping 6 pieces, and the portion was bigger than expected. At first I thought this would be a reasonable amount along with the curry and naan, but eating through the tandoori chicken filled us up pretty quickly.

The outside was nicely charred and the inside stayed moist. Most notably, the deep spice aroma typical of Indian food wasn't as strong as expected, which makes this a good pick even for someone trying Indian food for the first time without much resistance.

What I think makes a Daehangno restaurant great is having enough menu variety to go with people who have different tastes, and Meono Kkameona did pretty well on that front.

Garlic naan

The garlic naan in particular had a subtle garlic aroma that really brought out the flavor when eaten with the butter chicken curry. I expected naan slathered in butter, but this garlic naan was dry, with no extra fuss — just a simple, clean layer of garlic on top. It made me think Indian curry is actually a pretty solid choice when looking for good places to eat near Hyehwa Station.

Plain lassi

The plain lassi that came with the set was milder than I expected. It had a smooth texture somewhere between milk and yogurt, and wasn't overly sweet, so it was easy to sip throughout the meal. After the rich flavors of the curry and tandoori chicken, a sip of lassi was refreshing and cleared the palate nicely.

Overall, the spices weren't completely absent, but it was quite different from the intense aroma people usually associate with Indian food. It felt more like flavors familiar to Korean palates, with the distinctive character of Indian food layered on top in moderation.

Three things worth knowing before you go

• Mild spices: The typical intensity of Indian food's aroma wasn't strong, making it easy for first-timers to enjoy.
• Generous set menu: Garlic naan, butter chicken curry, tandoori chicken, green salad and lassi all in one — a convenient option if you can't decide what to order.
• Sweet and spicy butter chicken curry: Personally the most satisfying dish. Delicious dipped with naan or mixed with rice.

What was disappointing at Meono Kkameona

If I had to name a drawback, it's that SET B itself is bigger than expected. Between the 6 pieces of tandoori chicken, naan, and curry, the two of us ended up quite full. Though this is less a downside and more an upside in terms of value for money.

Who this Hyehwa Indian curry restaurant suits

• Anyone looking for a different kind of meal in Daehangno
• Anyone wanting curry near Hyehwa Station
• Anyone who finds strongly spiced Indian food a bit much

Final verdict on Meono Kkameona Daehangno Branch

Meono Kkameona is one of the few good curry restaurants in Daehangno. If you're looking for a great spot near Hyehwa Station and want to try Indian food, it's worth a visit at least once.

Personally, dipping garlic naan into the butter chicken curry was my favorite combination. Daehangno has no shortage of restaurants, but it's fun to skip the usual Korean or Western food sometimes and try something like this. This Daehangno Indian curry meal was more familiar than I expected, and being able to enjoy a generous portion of butter chicken curry and tandoori chicken made for a satisfying meal. Next time I'd like to try a different curry :)

• Overall ★★★☆☆
• Taste ★★★★☆ — mild spices and reliably good curry
• Atmosphere ★★☆☆☆ — cozy interior that evokes India
• Price ★★★☆☆ — good value with the set menu