Pyongyang Cold Noodles

Pyongyang Cold Noodles, also known as raengmyŏn (랭면) is one of the most famous dishes from North Korea. There are records of it dating back to the Joseon Dynasty which ended in the 19th century.

The Dish

As you might have guessed from a dish called Pyongyang Cold Noodles, it’s served cold. The broth is dongchimi and the noodles are buckwheat. You get a generous helping of gochujang on top which is a red chili paste. There are also thin slices of radish and other vegetables.

To eat it, you mix everything together in the bowl. The noodles are very long, representing longevity, so you may struggle to eat them.

I’m not a fan of cold food so although I happily tried it and finished it all, it’s not something I’d choose to eat again. I was definitely a much bigger fan of other famous dishes such as the Gasoline Clams.

Where to Eat It

If you visit North Korea, then it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll eat Pyongyang Cold Noodles at some point on your tour. It was one of the very first dishes we had in North Korea, so even on a short trip, you’re likely to get the chance to try it. Most tours stay in the Yanggakdo Hotel which has a Cold Noodle bar in the basement. I never visited it, but if you liked it then you definitely have the chance to eat it again.

Luckily, you don’t have to go to North Korea just to get a chance to try them. There are several restaurants in Seoul that you can visit, where it became quite popular after a meeting with Kim Jong Un.

North Korea also have their own restaurant chain with locations mostly in Asia. The chain is called Pyongyang and serve a variety of North Korean dishes including Pyongyang Cold Noodles.

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Have you tried Pyongyang Cold Noodles? Is it something you’d be interested in trying? Let me know!