Itaewon is Seoul's international district, housing a variety of Western-styled places to eat, drink and enjoy culture. In particular, many restaurants serving international dishes are found in this area. These restaurants offer cuisine from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, America and Europe. And these foods are not widely available in Korea. We are going to try Petra for Middle East cuisine and 81 Banya for Asian cuisine and then hang out at Scoorge Pub for a great time.

Petra

Petra is a legendary monument built of stones in the country Jordan and the cuisine at Petra comes from this megalithic structure.  It's an ironic name for such a tiny place that only seats a dozen people.  Although Petra comes from only one country, Jordan, the atmosphere of Petra gives you the feel of the Middle East.  When you enter the restaurant, the atmosphere of its cozy kitchen will strike you, bright with some accent pillows and a gilded decor inspire you with a calm Middle Eastern feeling.  The restaurant has a simple decor with a number of the Middle East’s features, such as lavish red and gold glasses with Arabic writing and a few hookah pipes (a single- or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking flavored tobacco using water) on a shelf.  Despite all the classy features and the superb flavors, the menus are surprisingly modest.  The menus are greatly affordable - the most expensive item is only 20,000 won.

Petra offers a variety of menus.  Fresh-out-of-the-oven pita bread comes out with delicious dips.  The main dishes include lamb or chicken dishes, and chicken stews infused with various fruits.  Grilled meats and kebabs are also available.  The rice infused with Arabic spices is good and the falafel is simply the best.  The dishes provide a good value for their quantities, and the service is very welcoming.  The highlight of this restaurant is falafel.  Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both.  Falafel is usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa. Some people seem to like the fried vegetable patty better than the kebab. It gives you an attractive savory crunch.

Petra is situated on a high corner between Itaewon Main Street and Noksapyeong Station.  It is open daily from 12 noon to 10 p.m.  Advance reservations are recommended.  Exotic scents will waft from the kitchen.  Tel: 02-790-4433.

81 Banya

Recently, Japanese-style ramen has started gaining popularity in Seoul.  Japanese-style ramen has clear broth and is rich in globules of pork fat.  The noodles are light and smooth and the pork is so tender that it melts away in your mouth.  In this respect, 81 Banya is one of the most suitable places for enjoying Japanese ramen.  If you are a real man, you can take on a challenge of eating the ‘kitchen sink size’ bowl of ramen. If you finish the whole bowl in 20 minutes, it’s free. This place gives you great fun and is a very friendly place. The restaurant’s walls are covered in notes- it looks as if a confetti bomb had exploded in the place.  Its typical Japanese style can be found in every corner of its slim simple interior.  Furnished by just a couple of tables and a long counter lined with stools, it feels like stepping into a Japanese eatery.  Ramen lovers can also pick up a copy of the “Ramen Bible” in Korean for 5,000 won.

81 Banya gives two types of regional options such as shoyu or miso ramen. The soy sauce-based shoyu ramen has a light, refreshing taste and comes with a slice of chya-syu, barbecued marinated pork.  The miso or Japanese bean curd-flavored ramen comes without the chya-syu.  Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and soybeans.  Miso ramen is not salty and has a deep, tangy flavor that is very soft on the palate.  Both are topped with green bean sprouts, corn and seaweed, and extra portions can be ordered for 1,000 won each.  Each additional slice of chya-syu is also 1,000 won.  81 Banya is opposite Cheil Building in Itaewon.  You can walk for 15 minutes from Exit 2 of Itaewon Station.
Tel: 02-792-2233.

Pub Scoorge

Seoul is the capital and the largest city of South Korea.  You will find numerous cafes, bars and pubs.  Needless to say, Itaewon has lots of cafes, bars and restaurants because the region is known as the melting pot of races and cultures.  Most of the well-known bars serve you the best of beers, fantastic wines and enthralling cocktails that are a treat to your taste rises.  There are numerous specialty dishes, delicious cuisines and mouthwatering delicacies to be enjoyed with your favorite glass of drink.  Yet, one of the most popular among all the bars and pubs in Seoul is the Scrooge Pub.

Scrooge Pub is located on the second floor of Itaewon-dong. Scrooge Pub is a moderate-sized pub.  The pub has sporty-looking decor, and it has a more modern outlook than the other pubs of Itaewon. So if you are in a sporty mood and would like to watch soccer matches like the English Premier League, Scrooge Pub is a perfect place to enjoy them on the big-size television with beer.  The pub has a cleaner environment than any other pubs.  It is owned by Korean people, but the whole pub has a Western feel to it. Scrooge Pub has an undivided room.  As there is no separation or obstacle in the middle, the far ends of the pub are all visible. This makes the whole pub more spacious.  The pub has dartboards and a pool table.  You can have a great time in the pub by spending some time on the dartboards or by enjoying a game of pool with your friends or other guests.
Tel: 02-797-8201.

Kwon Hyeok-Jun(Reporter)

dalbon86@kookmin.ac.kr