Food in North Korea is very similar to foods found in the south, but of course with some slight differences. Popular dishes found in North Korea are:
Pyongyang cold noodles
A noodle dish made from starch, served in an ice-cold broth with pickled vegetables. It is common to add vinegar and mustard to the dish as you eat it, and it can sometimes be quite spicy. This dish is also available in the south, however it is said that the best cold noodles come from Pyongyang. See if you agree!
Korean BBQ
Korean BBQ has now spread throughout the world (quite rightly so too, since it's awesome!), and is absolutely a feature of cuisine in North Korea. The most common BBQ meats you will find are duck and squid. These will be cooked on a grill at your table with various side dishes and lettuce leaves. A favourite way to do it is to grill the meat and then place it in the lettuce leaf with some pickled cabbage (kimchi). Then you put the whole thing in your mouth, like a type of Korean lettuce taco. Amazing!
Side dishes (anju)
Side dishes are an extremely important part of Korean food. If you have ever been to a Korean restaurant anywhere in the world then likely you will be able to imagine having your table covered with a myriad of tiny dishes, filled with different types of pickled or cooked vegetables. The most common of these is kimchi which has many different variations, but the most common are cabbage and radish.
Others that are common features are spinach that is blanched and mixed with sesame oil, cooked bean sprouts, boiled eggs with mayonnaise, and sometimes even slices of processed meat.
Bibimbap
This is a classic Korean dish that can be found in nearly everyone Korean restaurant worldwide. It is a clay pot filled with rice and other sides such as raw egg, kimchi, bean sprouts and meat. The clay pot is warmed in the oven to make the bottom of the rice crispy, and it is usually served with Korean chilli bean paste, known as gochujang.
Kaejang (dog meat soup)
Yes, you read that right. Korea as a whole is one of the placess in the world where dog meat is consumed. Kaejang is considered a delicacy for Korean people and is eaten on special occasions. The meat itself is usually slow cooked and is very soft and tender. And if you're wondering what it's like, usually when you ask what an "odd" meat is like, the answer is "it's just like chicken", well in this case, it’s actually kind of like beef.
And if you're wondering if you're going to be fed it inadvertently, or be tricked into it, we can assure you that you will not. It's very much a delicacy, and something that costs more than other types of meat, so there is no way that you're going to accidentally eat it.
Soju
Soju is an alcoholic beverage usually made from rice. It is clear and has a strong taste and smell with many different varieties. Soju is very much available worldwide, thanks to the spread of Korean food from South Korean immigrants. However, soju in the north is typically stronger than that found in the south, ranging from 20-40% in alcohol volume.
Beer
Beer in North Korea in general is fantastic and the standout brand is Taedong beer, brewed in Pyongyang. There also exists several other varieties from microbreweries that use different combinations of wheat and rice to make beer. Stouts are also common with flavours of chocolate and coffee.
Read about our favourite restaurants in Pyongyang.
