I was not pleased at all that the train from Sinuiju to Pyongyang no longer had a restaurant cart. There are though pretty food vendor girls offering scran. So, when I was offered rice and noodles I responded in the positive.
What I was presented with namely “North Korean Instant Rice and Chicken” though somewhat weird. The waitress opened what looked like ramen, separated two parts of the container and then added water to something very science like. The rice came with small condiment packs that looked like space food, and we were told to wait around ten minutes.
And wait we did, as it literally started to cook in front of us inside what was basically a ramen box. No stove, no heat plate, just chemistry doing its thing on a rattling train through North Korea. The result? Much better than expected.
Click to read about street food in Rason.
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WTF is North Korean Instant Rice and Chicken?
These self-heating meal packs sit within a wider category of instant field rations that use a chemical reaction to generate heat and cook food without external fire or electricity. The concept originally developed in East Asia through military ration systems in China, before becoming widely commercialised as convenience food for travel, outdoor use and emergency meals.
North Korea’s version follows the same basic principle but is adapted into the broader Juche framework of self-reliance, producing domestic versions of imported or external ideas. While detailed technical development is not widely documented, the format is consistent: sealed packaging, a heating element that activates with water, and pre-prepared rice and protein components designed for portability and simplicity.
How did it taste?
Honestly I was quite literally depressed when it came out as it looked like everything I hate when it comes to instant noodle-style food. Forget ramen shops or nicely cooked rice at home, this is not that. And I had even less optimism when we nearly burned our hands trying to open the pack.
Then my fork nearly snapped when I hit the rice, but we added the chicken which came in a surprisingly rich sauce along with some veg, covered it again, waited a bit, and the results were genuinely excellent. The rice wasn’t clumped, the texture was solid, and the chicken actually had depth of flavour. It just worked far better than expected.
I honestly gotta say fair play to the DPRK on this. This might not be the peak of culinary innovation, but it absolutely fits the whole Juche idea of self-reliance. And as far as train food goes, my first proper meal on the rails to Pyongyang in six years… it absolutely did the job.
Click to see my North Korea Tours with YPT!