Pyongyang (North Korean Restaurant & Karaoke)

I discovered Pyongyang thanks to a reader's comment on this blog who described the place as the best Korean restaurant in Jakarta.

While it may be exaggerated, Pyongyang is still a must-try, off-the-beaten-track dining venue, mainly because this is probably the closest you'll ever get to experience North Korean culture.

Pyongyang is not unique to Jakarta: It is a chain of restaurants, operated by the North Korean government, with branches all over Asia. They have been accused of being used for money-laundering, and you cannot help but wonder about the freedom of their imported, North Korean staff (read this wikipedia article for more information "Pyongyang (restaurant chain)".

From what I saw, the restaurant is divided into a 40-seat dining area downstairs, and private rooms upstairs, for both eating and karaoke. I wanted to visit but they were all full unfortunately. In the main area, the decoration is rather discreet, with only a few paintings of North Korean landscapes. On TV, they play a sort of documentary/commer! cial abo ut the beauty of North Korea... Truly fascinating...

The waitresses, all of them pretty and devoted are North Korean, and once in a while, they take the mic and start singing on the podium. It is amusing, a bit like that Mandarin place I went to in Kota called De Volvo.

The food is typically Korean, with some local specialties, such as the Cold Noodle Soup (Naengmyon). From other reviewers, I've read about a dog meat soup, but I couldn't find it on the menu. We tried three dishes: Kimchi (fermented cabbage, Rp44,000++), Bibimpap (mixed rice with vegetables, Rp68,000++), and a Mixed Mushroom Casserole (Rp160,000). The taste of the food was excellent, though a little different from what we are used to in South Korean restaurants. The Kimchi for instance was much less spicy, and the Bibimpap undercooked. Here are some pictures (I'm missing the Mushroom soup):

Appetizers (free)

Bibimpap (Rp68,000++)Kimchi (Rp44,000++)

Overall: Pyongyang serves delicious, authentic Korean cuisine, and if you are lacking ideas for original dining, its atmosphere is unique. Recommended.

Opening hours:
Everyday from 11am to 10pm

Pyongyang

North Korean Restaurant Jakarta
Jalan Gandaria No.58, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta

Phone: +62-21 7280-0889
Fax: +62-21 7280-0885