ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in North Korea
Five dishes to try in North Korea, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in North Korea
Pyongyang naengmyeon 평양랭면
Buckwheat noodles in chilled beef broth with meat, egg and pickles.
How to have it: Okryu-gwan restaurant in Pyongyang is famous for it; tours usually include a visit.
Kimchi 김치
Fermented napa cabbage with chilli, garlic and ginger.
How to have it: Served with every meal; northern kimchi is often milder and more watery than southern styles.
Injo-gogi-bap 인조고기밥
Rice wrapped in sheets of soybean 'artificial meat' with chilli sauce.
How to have it: A cheap market snack born from food shortages; rarely offered to tourists.
Haeju bibimbap 해주비빔밥
Rice topped with seasoned vegetables, meat and sesame.
How to have it: Haeju's version is a regional classic; offered at some Pyongyang restaurants on tours.
Taedonggang beer 대동강맥주
Pale lager brewed in Pyongyang with equipment bought from an English brewery.
How to have it: Served at hotel bars and restaurants on organised tours.
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Questions
What food is North Korea famous for?
Pyongyang naengmyeon (buckwheat noodles in chilled beef broth with meat, egg and pickles) comes first on our list, followed by Kimchi, Injo-gogi-bap, Haeju bibimbap and Taedonggang beer.
What is the national dish of North Korea?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for North Korea is Pyongyang naengmyeon: buckwheat noodles in chilled beef broth with meat, egg and pickles. Okryu-gwan restaurant in Pyongyang is famous for it; tours usually include a visit.
Which dishes in North Korea are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Injo-gogi-bap and Taedonggang beer. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in North Korea?
Injo-gogi-bap (rice wrapped in sheets of soybean 'artificial meat' with chilli sauce).
What do people drink in North Korea?
Taedonggang beer: pale lager brewed in Pyongyang with equipment bought from an English brewery.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.