North Korean restaurant: What to expect
An existing branch of the restaurant chain, Haedanghwa, in Amsterdam marks a departure for North Korean enterprise by setting up house in the west.
And the lone European outlet has already garnered some surprisingly positive reviews.
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Hide AdPromising “not only culinary delight”, but also “the chance to learn about the ancient Korean culture”, the restaurant may be considered a gateway to the North Korean way of life - although a very carefully sanitised one at that.
According to food review site Yelp, the restaurant has been given a rating of three and a half stars out of five.
The upscale eatery is apparently fairly pricey, but offers a polished and upscale dining experience.
The Kimchi - a fermented vegetable side dish - is said to be less spicy than it’s South Korean counterpart, while they also offer kalbi; a kind of Korean bbq pork or beef dish.
Highlights of the Amsterdam branch’s menu include:
• Pyongyang Raengmyon: Cold buckwheat noodle soup topped with Haedanghwa Kimchi and various garnishes in copper bowl.
• Jonghab Bulgogi: Assortment of 5 different kind of meat marinated with specially formulated sauce served with lettuce and Korean bean paste.
• Myongtae Janggwa: Fried pollack coated with homemade sauce.
• Babjogae Bokum: Fried scallop, tree ear and mixed vegetable.
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Hide AdOne review online praises the staff, who wear traditional dress: “Randomly throughout the night, they sing karaoke, dance, do some drum dance, and play piano. What other entertainment could you want?”
However, until Kim Jong-Un confirms any outlet opening in Scotland, you can still broaden your palate by sampling one of Edinburgh’s South Korean restaurants.