Taedonggang Fish Restaurant in Pyongyang
Sitting on the banks of the Taedong River, the Taedonggang Fish Restaurant is one of Pyongyang’s most distinctive modern restaurants.
Opened in July 2018, the enormous complex was designed to resemble a ship floating beside the river. It covers around 24,000 square metres and can accommodate roughly 1,200 guests, making it one of the largest restaurants in the North Korean capital.
Inside, the restaurant combines live fish tanks, dining halls, private rooms, seafood counters and river views. For visitors to North Korea, it is an interesting example of the large leisure and dining developments that appeared across Pyongyang during the 2010s.
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A Giant Restaurant Shaped Like a Ship
One of the first things visitors notice is the unusual design.
The long building sits directly beside the Taedong River and was deliberately constructed to look like a large passenger ship. From the upper levels, visitors can look across the river towards places including Moran Hill, Rungna Island and the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium.
The location makes the restaurant particularly impressive in the evening, when Pyongyang’s riverside buildings and monuments begin to light up.
Live Fish Tanks Inside the Restaurant
The most unusual part of the Taedonggang Fish Restaurant is found on the lower floor.
Large indoor ponds and tanks contain different species of freshwater and marine life, including sturgeon, salmon, rainbow trout, carp and shellfish.
Rather than simply ordering from a conventional menu, parts of the restaurant were designed around the idea of serving extremely fresh fish.
The scale of the tanks gives the ground floor an almost aquarium-like appearance and makes the restaurant very different from most other dining venues in Pyongyang.
What Can You Eat at Taedonggang Fish Restaurant?
Unsurprisingly, seafood and freshwater fish dominate the menu.
Different dining areas specialise in Korean dishes, sushi and other styles of cuisine. The restaurant was designed with public dining halls, family rooms, Korean traditional dining rooms and separate spaces serving international-style dishes.
Fish such as sturgeon and rainbow trout are particularly associated with the restaurant, while processed seafood products are also sold inside the complex.
Exactly what is available can vary, as is common with restaurants throughout North Korea.
Why Was the Restaurant Built?
The Taedonggang Fish Restaurant opened during a period when a number of major leisure, sporting and entertainment facilities were being developed in Pyongyang.
Kim Jong Un visited the restaurant before its opening in June 2018 and was reported by North Korean state media to have taken an interest in its design, food quality and operation. The restaurant officially began serving customers the following month.
North Korean media presented the development as a new public catering facility for residents of the capital.
Like many large-scale projects in Pyongyang, the restaurant also serves a representational purpose, showcasing a modern side of the capital to both domestic customers and visiting foreigners.
A Restaurant Used for Major Events
The Taedonggang Fish Restaurant has also hosted high-profile visitors.
In September 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in ate dinner at the restaurant during his summit visit to Pyongyang. South Korean officials said the venue had been chosen partly because they wanted a location where the visiting delegation could dine alongside ordinary North Korean customers.
North Korean state media has also reported that the restaurant has been used for official receptions and visiting foreign delegations.
What Is It Like to Visit?
For international visitors, Taedonggang Fish Restaurant is quite different from the stereotypical image many people have of dining in North Korea.
The building is enormous, the interior is modern and the live fish tanks dominate much of the experience.
Depending on the tour programme, visitors may eat in one of the larger dining areas or in a separate room. As with restaurants elsewhere in North Korea, access and availability depend on the itinerary arranged by the local tourism authorities.
The restaurant is particularly interesting because it provides another perspective on everyday life in Pyongyang. Visitors may see local families and groups dining there alongside domestic tourists and foreign guests.
Where Is Taedonggang Fish Restaurant?
The restaurant is located beside the Taedong River in central Pyongyang.
Its riverside position places it close to several of the capital’s major sights, including Rungna Island and the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium.
Because North Korea does not operate like a conventional independent travel destination, international visitors cannot simply arrive and visit the restaurant by themselves. A visit would need to form part of an organised itinerary.
Can Tourists Visit Taedonggang Fish Restaurant?
Restaurant visits in North Korea are always dependent on local arrangements, opening conditions and the itinerary approved for a particular group.
Visitors should therefore see Taedonggang Fish Restaurant as a possible dining experience rather than something that can always be guaranteed in advance.
Visiting Pyongyang with Beyond The Borders
Taedonggang Fish Restaurant is one of many unusual places found throughout Pyongyang.
At Beyond The Borders Tours, our North Korea tours are designed to explore more than the country’s major monuments and historical landmarks. Food, restaurants, cultural experiences and everyday places all help provide a broader understanding of the country and the people who live there.
