Casablanca
카사블랑카
About
Authentic Moroccan cuisine by the head chef of the Moroccan Embassy, serving traditional tagines and grilled kebabs in Itaewon.
# Casablanca: Where Moroccan Tradition Meets Seoul Hospitality Tucked into Yongsan's Itaewon neighborhood, Casablanca brings the essence of Morocco's night markets directly to your table. The restaurant draws its name from the country's largest city, while its spirit evokes Marrakech's legendary food stalls—that electric mix of fire, spice, and communal gathering that transforms an evening into something memorable. The kitchen operates with visible purpose. An open layout lets diners watch as the chef, trained under Morocco's ambassador, moves with practiced efficiency. This isn't theatre; it's transparency born from confidence in the craft. Staff members, many of whom appear to be family, engage with genuine warmth—their English fluent, their knowledge of each dish evident in how they describe preparation and origins. The chicken kebab arrives on a long skewer: chicken, tomato, eggplant, onion, and lemon carefully threaded and charred over an open flame. It arrives with couscous, vegetable pickles, and sautéed vegetables. The meat pulls clean from the skewer, tender and unmarred by the gaminess some fear. The couscous, roasted rather than steamed in the Moroccan method, carries subtle fragrance and a texture noticeably firmer than Korean rice. More compelling is the magador, a lamb dish swimming in a broth that floats with oil yet tastes restrained rather than heavy. Chunks of lamb—some still clinging to bone—emerge impossibly soft. Vegetables saturate the sauce: carrots, eggplant, zucchini all contributing body and sweetness that balances the meat's depth. The restaurant welcomes those observing halal dietary practices without hesitation. Vegetable-forward dishes dominate the menu alongside meat-based specialties, making it accessible regardless of religious observance or dietary choice. Friday through Sunday brings a buffet option at 17,000 won—a gateway to sampling the breadth of Moroccan cuisine without commitment. This is food prepared by people who understand both its origin and its audience, executed with neither apology nor pretension.
Menu
- Veggie sandwich₩7,000
- Moroccan Chicken sandwich₩10,000
- Berber Omelette sandwich₩7,000
- Lamb chilli sandwich₩10,000
- Spiced Shrimp sandwich₩10,000
Details
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 12:00–21:00
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 12:00–21:00
- Wednesday
- 12:00–21:00
- Thursday
- 12:00–21:00
- Friday
- 12:00–21:00
- Saturday
- 12:00–21:00