By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Walking down the main strip of Itaewon, one can smell a whiff of roast chicken. It's not the usual Korean BBQ chicken Seoulites are used to, but something with a spicy tang. It's smoking kebab rotating on a spit. Petra Restaurant offers minced chicken wraps perfect to grab on the go, or to sit and enjoy.

Several kebab places dot the colorful neighborhood, tucked away among antique furniture shops and stalls that sell hot pink crocodile bags. But Petra is the one that pops first into most people's minds.

Petra's name comes from an ancient stone monument found in Jordan. It's an ironic name for such a tiny place that seats maybe a dozen people. But rich velvet drapes and fancy hookah pipes give the eatery's otherwise uncharacteristic decor ― white walls and stainless steel furniture ― a Middle Eastern character.

The restaurant's cuisine comes from a region called ``Sham,'' which means north in Arabic and refers to the region where Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon merge together. You can also sense Moroccan and Egyptian influences with hummus (ground chickpea topped with olive oil) and babganoush (ground eggplant with olive oil and spices).

We tried the sizzling chicken kebab, which comes wrapped in a freshly baked pita bun with chopped tomatoes, lettuce and olives. It's topped with a delicious ``secret sauce,'' which has a hint of mint, parsley and thyme, and almond and pine nut garnish. The smooth, velvety taste complements the piquant meat. Those who love super spicy dishes can get it extra hot, while those a little less brave can ask the cook to tone it down a bit. For 7,000 won, your wrap is served with French fries and a can of soda.

The place is sort of like an upgraded fast food joint. Like Taco Bell, there are pre-prepared veggies laid out on a counter and you must pay in advance. But the difference is that you see the marinated meat revolving before you, and the pita bread ― soft and chewy on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside ― is fresh out of the oven. The fries are also very white instead of golden, probably because they are cooked in clean oil.

We also tried the falafel wrap (7,000 won), which you can also have as a dish with hummus (10,000 won). Some people seem to like the fried vegetable patty better than the kebab. It had a nice savory crunch to it. On the side, we ordered hummus (5,000 won) and a pita bread (1,000 won). The hummus was very rich, but a bit oily for our taste. We recommend sticking with the meats if you're not a fan of unctuous foods.

To find Petra Restaurant, take subway line 6 to Itaewon station and take exit 2. Walk straight ahead for about 120 meters. The restaurant is on your left. Open everyday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. except on Mondays when it opens at 5 p.m. Call (02) 790-4433.

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