Potala Restaurant (Jongno Branch)
포탈라레스토랑 종로점
About
Tibetan-Nepali-Indian cuisine specialist in Jongno run by Tibetan owner. Features tandoor-fired breads and traditional curries in an authentic, atmospheric setting.
# Potala Restaurant: Where Tibetan Authenticity Meets Jongno Flavor Tucked beneath street level near Jongno 3-ga Station, Potala Restaurant operates as something rarer than a typical curry house: a Tibetan-owned establishment run by the proprietor himself, offering halal-certified Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan cuisines under one roof. The basement location houses a surprisingly expansive dining space decorated in authentic Himalayan style—think colorful prayer-inspired textiles and furnishings that transport diners into a Tibetan mountain home. The kitchen's centerpiece is a traditional tandoor oven, visible as you descend the stairs, where tandoori chicken emerges with the char and spice profiles you'd find in Delhi rather than Seoul's typical approximations. But Potala distinguishes itself through dishes less common in Korean dining: thukpa, the Tibetan noodle soup that arrives in a fragrant broth studded with vegetables and soft, yielding noodles that slip cleanly between chopsticks. The broth carries gentle heat from chili and the ghost of cardamom—savory rather than aggressive, almost restorative. Paired with this are yogurt salads made with the tanginess Tibetans developed from yak dairy, their sweetness acting as counterbalance to the meal's spiced elements. The couple's set at 34,000 won bundles these components thoughtfully: the yogurt appetizer cools your palate, tandoori chicken gains dimension when paired with accompanying chili sauce and fresh cabbage, and the curry—silky with spiced gravy, studded with chicken—demands ritual: tearing flatbread, soaking it through the sauce's depth. Plain naan suffices, though butter and garlic varieties tempt from neighboring tables. Staff close each meal with sweetened black tea, its honey-like fragrance a signature flourish that feels less restaurant gimmick than cultural signature. Most tables host international visitors, testament to Potala's refusal of compromise: this tastes like somewhere real, not somewhere retrofitted for Seoul tastes.
Menu
- Vegetable Thukpa
- Tandoori Chicken
- Curry
- Yogurt Salad
- 2-Person Set₩34,000
- Couple Set 1₩34,000
- Naan
Local tips
- Arrive before lunch rush (11am-12pm) — popular with locals and tourists
- Try the 2-person set (34,000 KRW) — best value with 5+ dishes
- No parking available; near Jongno 3-ga Station (Line 1) or Euljiro 3-ga (Line 2)
- Complimentary Tibetan tea served at end of meal
- Staff are local Tibetan/Nepali speakers — authentic preparation
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:00–22:00
- Monday
- 11:00–22:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–22:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–22:00
- Friday
- 11:00–22:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–22:00