Kervan (Itaewon Branch)
케르반레스토랑 이태원점
About
Authentic Turkish restaurant in Itaewon with halal-certified kitchen, serving kebabs, pide, and beyran in a casual, cosmopolitan setting.
Kervan occupies a narrow storefront on Itaewon-ro, its entrance framed by the neighborhood's layered textures—the Muslim Cultural Center a short walk away, antique shops clustered nearby. Inside, the dining room spreads generous: wood-toned tables, Turkish textiles and souvenirs arranged without fussiness, the air carrying spice and char. The restaurant runs until 6 a.m., its long hours suggesting a place built for lingering, for chance encounters among the international crowd that drifts through Yongsan. The Kervan Special arrives as a composed meal. Chicken, lamb, and beef rest beside charred bread, each protein cooked with restraint—the spice present but calibrated, never overwhelming. Soft lavash wraps around the meat; multiple sauce bottles encourage rearrangement and experimentation. Fresh vegetables pile generously, their crispness cutting through richness. Before the main comes labasche and salad, small ceremonies of appetite-opening. Shish kebabs arrive on skewers with char marks still smoking. The Filet variations—Twin or Mixed—let a table share different dough preparations: some topped with cheese and ground meat, others layered differently. The kitchen turns tables with rhythmic efficiency, and the service keeps pace despite the observable bustle. Turkish coffee arrives thick and cardamom-dusted. Baklava glazed with honey, lokum dusted in powdered sugar, and cakes appear for closing. The pricing settles in the 18,000 to 36,000 won range for main dishes, reflecting both imported ingredients and the restaurant's established reputation—it appeared on televised Seoul food programming, cementing its status as the city's most legitimate Turkish address. Halal certification distinguishes it further, making the space legible to both curious diners and Muslim regulars seeking food made according to their practice.
Menu
- Kervan Special
- Beyran
- Mix Steak Kebab₩36,000
- Pilaf
- Lavash (Appetizer Bread & Salad)
- Pide
- Turkish Coffee₩5,800
- Kebab / Shish Kebab
- Turkish Tea₩4,300
Local tips
- Reserve ahead, especially weekends—featured on 'I Live Alone' and gets very busy
- Order Kervan Special (케르반 스페셜) or Beyran for the full experience with bread and multiple sauces
- No alcohol served; try Turkish coffee (5,800₩) or Turkish tea (4,300₩) for dessert
- Take subway (Line 6, Exit 3) rather than drive—limited parking nearby
- Staff can adjust spice level on request for those new to Turkish cuisine
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:00–04:00
- Monday
- 11:00–04:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–04:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–04:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–04:00
- Friday
- 11:00–06:30
- Saturday
- 11:00–06:30