thanks to Al for the tip about Dubai!

Kebabs, Falafels at Dubai Restaurant

Lamb shish kebab, with falafels and babaganoush at Dubai Restaurant.
/ Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of restaurants serving diverse ethnic cuisine from India, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries, especially in the Itaewon area.

There are several places to choose from when you crave curry, kebabs and pita sandwiches. But the quality of the food can be hit-or-miss, depending on the restaurant. Dubai Restaurant is one of the relatively new additions in Itaewon, and is proving to be a good place to grab some authentic cuisine.

The menu includes many staples such as baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel, salads, as well as different kinds of curry and kebabs. For the appetizer, we had the baba ghanoush (6,000 won), which had a simple, smoky flavor and went well with the warm, soft pita bread.

The aubergines were mashed well and topped with a dash of olive oil and parsley. Falafels (6,000 won), or chickpea patties, were deep-fried and topped with a crust of sesame seeds. It was quite a lot crunchier than expected, which was good while the falafels were hot. However, when they cooled, the crust turned a bit hard.

As for the main dishes, the lamb shish kebab (13,000 won) and chicken curry (10,000 won) were better than we thought. There were two skewers of grilled lamb, which were bigger than expected.

The lamb had a rich spiciness but not so much that it overwhelmed the meat’s flavor. The meat was cooked just right, since the inside was quite tender. It was served with French fries and a salad.

The chicken curry was not very thick but had a full flavor. The chicken helped balance out the zesty curry. It wasn’t served with any side dishes, so it helped to order either pita bread (1,000 won) or yellow basmati rice (2,500 won). The pita bread was perfect for sopping up the remains of the curry.

The restaurant is quite spacious and has a Middle Eastern-inspired decor. Service was quick and efficient, and the food was reasonably priced. The only complaint was the appetizers were served at the same time as the main dishes.

Named after the financial capital of the United Arab Emirates, you would think the restaurant owner is from Dubai, but he’s actually from Iraq. To get to Dubai Restaurant, get off at Itaewon Station Subway Line 6, Exit 3 and walk straight for about 50 meters.

The restaurant is located above the Dunkin Donuts, just before the corner. Call (02) 798-9277.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr