Muscovites are buzzing about one of this fall’s biggest openings: a North Korean restaurant called Pyongyang. It is the first such venture from the DPRK in Moscow in 15 years.
Singing for Kim Jong Un
Locals say the restaurant occupies the space of the former Verba eatery. The name isn’t displayed in neon but handwritten in marker on a piece of paper taped to the counter. Inside, the atmosphere is distinct: North Korean television plays on screens, Pyongyang magazines are scattered on tables, and each evening the soundtrack features Russian pop singer Shaman performing for Kim Jong Un.
The menu highlights classic Korean fare, including ramen, barbecue, kimchi and «North Korean chicken.» Reviews describe the prices as mid-range. A meal of chicken wings, kimchi, soup and sea bass runs about $44.
Have your ID ready
The staff adds to the unusual setting. All employees are from North Korea, and the waitresses, dressed in tailored uniforms and heels, are said to resemble flight attendants. Language barriers sometimes cause confusion. One customer reported being asked to show his passport at the door to prove his citizenship.
Russian media reports that the draw of Pyongyang goes beyond its novelty. North Korea has operated similar restaurants in China, Southeast Asia, and Mongolia as a source of hard currency. While sending North Korean citizens abroad technically violates U.N. Security Council sanctions, data show that 13,221 North Koreans traveled to Russia last year, 12 times more than the year before. Most were officially classified as entering for «study» (7,887) or «business» (3,098).
