# North Korea Opens International Restaurant Chain **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708 "2011-01-07T03:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/1 "2011-01-07T03:23:16Z")
Bizarre but seemingly true: [Karaoke! Espionage! Haute Cuisine!: Adventures in the North Korean Government’s Restaurant Chain](http://www.fastcompany.com/1713872/north-korean-restaurants-open-in-dubai-amsterdam). Named Okryu-Gwan (but the coming Netherlands location will simply be called [Pyongyang](http://www.pyongyangrestaurant.com/)). The story in the link claims there’s a branch here in Thailand, but everyone I know is scratching his head trying to figure out where it could possibly be. Never heard of it. The new Dubai branch is a big focus of the story, which mentions a report on it in Abu Dhabi’s _The National_ newspaper. I just happen to know several of the staff at _The National_, and they confirm that branch is real. Love this gem: **“The restaurants have also been also tied to the murky world of intelligence and espionage. A North Korean man defected to India through the Kathmandu restaurant. The man was reportedly the former manager of the Kathmandu Okryu-Gwan and fled to India with a large amount of cash taken from the restaurant.”** Sure, I always likes me a little espionage with me haute cuisine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/2 "2011-01-07T03:27:57Z")
And I thought it would be about Kim Jong-il becoming Iron Chef. Why is he contemplating an ear of corn? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/3 "2011-01-07T03:28:54Z")
I would _so_ go there if I still lived in China. It looks fascinating…and rather odd. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/4 "2011-01-07T04:43:00Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Why is he contemplating an ear of corn? He may be trying to decide if it’s too luxurious a food for his people. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/5 "2011-01-07T20:03:37Z")
I went to a North Korean place in Ulan Bator back in 2006…the tiny ‘friendship’ center in the back is an interesting addition. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/6 "2011-01-08T00:01:47Z")
Well, I _may_ have found the Thailand branch. There’s a local story that appeared three years ago: [Edible “Sunshine”](http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02/03/lifestyle/lifestyle_30064169.php). Must be that one. It’s called [Pyongyang Gwan](http://virtualreview.org/thailand/zoom/575445/pyongyang-gwan----in-bangkok). Despite supposedly getting rave reviews on Thai blogs, I’ve not come across anyone who’s actually heard of it. Seems to be very obscure. The place is on the very edge of the city, making it only slightly more difficult to get to than Siberia. And there’s a branch in Pattaya. This part is definitely outdated: **“And with the North’s government less bellicose lately, perhaps now is a perfect time to see North Koreans promoting their traditional culture and cuisine - and showing that K-pop need not all come from the South.”** ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/7 "2011-01-08T00:17:45Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Why is he contemplating an ear of corn? He’s always photographed looking at _something_. There’s an entire website full of just such photos. (sorry don’t have the link) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/8 "2011-01-08T00:18:43Z")
The restaurant must be the best restaurant because North Korea is Best Korea! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/9 "2011-01-08T01:13:25Z")
> [@campp](#): > > He’s always photographed looking at _something_. There’s an entire website full of just such photos. (sorry don’t have the link) Is this it? [Kim Jong Il Looking At Things](http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/10 "2011-01-08T01:16:51Z")
> [@campp](#): > > He’s always photographed looking at _something_. There’s an entire website full of just such photos. (sorry don’t have the link) That’s… OK. _Backs slowly away from campp_ ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/11 "2011-01-08T01:24:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is this it? > > [Kim Jong Il Looking At Things](http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/) I don’t know why but that’s fucking hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/12 "2011-01-08T01:58:28Z")
North Korean restaurant chain? This reminds me of the jokes people used to make about Ethiopian restaurants during the 1984-1985 Ethiopian famine. I thought North Korea still had a problem feeding its own people. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/13 "2011-01-08T02:03:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is this it? > > [Kim Jong Il Looking At Things](http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/) The photo of Kim Jong-il looking at wheat truly shows him to be “out standing in his field.” > [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > North Korean restaurant chain? This reminds me of the jokes people used to make about Ethiopian restaurants during the 1984-1985 Ethiopian famine. I thought North Korea still had a problem feeding its own people. We have Ethipoian restaurants in Bangkok. (But then, I saw them in Dallas too.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/14 "2011-01-08T03:05:21Z")
Uh, we have quite a few Ethiopian restaurants around here. They aren’t popular, but they exist. I’m in Michigan, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/15 "2011-01-08T05:24:56Z")
I didn’t mean that Ethiopian restaurants were non-existent in the USA back then, I meant that people would make jokes about the food you would find there, since the Ethiopa famine was in the news. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/16 "2011-01-18T04:20:27Z")
[The Korean tensions are turning into restaurant wars](http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362071,korean-tensions-spill-restaurants.html#). In Cambodia, at least. Excerpt: **“Ongoing tension on the Korean Peninsula has reached Korean eateries in Cambodia, local media reported Thursday, with boycotts of North Korean restaurants by South Korean tour groups and allegations of reprisal raids on South Korean restaurants by North Korean ‘agents’.”** ---
**Author:** ![ecseas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/17 "2011-01-19T07:25:38Z")
Kim believes he made the hamburger. I do think the descriptions of the food will be interested 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/18 "2011-01-19T07:50:54Z")
Umm, ok, fight my ignorance, what is North Korean ethnic cuisine like? ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/19 "2011-01-19T09:08:08Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The photo of Kim Jong-il looking at wheat truly shows him to be “out standing in his field.” The [corn-on-the-cob photo](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lcc3ui3iSD1qewv1lo1_500.jpg) looks disturbingly phallic. :eek: Pity there’s no photo of Kim watching _Team America: World Police_ while wearing an “America, Fuck Yeah!” t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708/20 "2011-01-19T09:34:30Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > Pity there’s no photo of Kim watching _Team America: World Police_ while wearing an “America, Fuck Yeah!” t-shirt. In a world full of Photoshop, it’s only a matter of time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-opens-international-restaurant-chain/566708.md?page=2)