Grilled delights from the herby kitchens of Arabia

Grilled delights from the herby kitchens of Arabia
Meals in Middle Eastern restaurants in Seoul are affordable and nutritious.

Falafel: An icon of Arab cuisine, falafel is deep-fried balls made of minced chickpeas and herbs topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. It tastes savory and has a soft texture. Another way of eating falafel is to wrap the balls in pita bread with vegetables, salad and a sauce. 5,000 won ($3.33) to 8,000 won.

A selection of dishes commonly found in Middle East restaurants around town. By Kwon Hyuk-jae

Hummus: Pureed chickpeas mixed with olive oil and lemon juice. The texture of the peas balances out the sour lemon. Dip your pita bread in the hummus. 5,000 won

Baba ghanoush: A dip made of pureed eggplant grilled without its skin, garlic and olive oil. Eat it with pita bread. 5,000 won.

Tabbouleh: An Arabian salad made of diced parsley, tomatoes and onions with a squirt of lemon juice. 5,000 won.

Couscous: Soft wheat flour finely ground up that goes well with kebabs. 14,000 won to 20,000 won

Kebab: Grilled lamb or chicken that has been marinated and is eaten with vegetables and rice. 10,000 won to 17,000 won

Kofta: Grilled lamb with parsley and coriander eaten with tomatoes. 12,000 won

Kapsa: Arabian fried rice mixed with chicken or lamb with herbs. 9,000 won

Tea, Coffee: Arabs finish their meals with black or herb teas (2,000 won to 3, 000 won). Turkish coffee (4,000 won) is super strong.

[myfeast@joongang.co.kr]

Most of the restaurants in the Muslim neighborhood of Itaewon-dong, Seoul, are within just a few minutes’ walk of Itaewon Station on line No. 6.