Swirl

Want to get a taste of North Korea, without actually going to North Korea? You might be surprised to learn that North Korea actually runs several restaurants outside of North Korea, primarily in China and throughout SE Asia. Siem Reap in Cambodia has one such location.

It's fairly nondescript on the outside. A simple wooden "Pyongyang Restaurant" hangs above the doorway, as tour buses packed with South Korean tourists funnel off their buses and into the restaurant herded like cattle. All for a chance to pay for rather overpriced food by Cambodian standards, but they pay for the chance to see and interact with North Koreans.

Every night, a 30min performance is put on in the style of the Mass Games. Beautiful, young North Koreans sing, dance, and perform to the delight and wonder of the predominantly Korean crowd. It's a bit unexpected that in the middle of Cambodia you can have an experience where North Koreans will serve you tea or some famous Pyongyang naengmyeon.

North Korean performers swirl and twirl at Restaurant Pyongyang.