When North Korea does something well in country, they then tend to test the water in China, with Dandong being the first port of call. And this is exactly what has happened with the new Taedonggang Beer trend.
Basically, they wanted to open a beer bar from North Korea in Dandong and decided that the Hwasong Beer House was the best model. Well, they’ve now replicated it and this place is not just good, but perhaps now the best bar in Dandong! Certainly the best North Korean one at any rate.
Table of Contents
The Taedonggang Beer Brand
Taedonggang is basically not just the national beer of North Korea, but also a bloody good one. And not just good, but one that has improved greatly over the years. Back in the day it was not pasteurised, which meant it went off, but tech has now improved to such a level that it can even be exported. The main bottled brew has a rich, almost bitter, craft beer like taste and is frankly not comparable with the piss water that is Cass or Snow, for example.
Because it is such a trusted drink, the North Koreans have slowly grown it as a brand and really run with it. In the past this meant things like river cruises and beer festivals, but of late has meant full on beer houses. In Korea these are technically state owned, as per the economic system of the country, but for all intents and purposes act like franchises. This is a model that has long been used in China and beyond via their Pyongyang Restaurants and is now being done with the beer houses.
These are best understood in the context of the Hwasong Taedonggang Beer House, which you can read about here.
The Taedonggang Beer House Dandong
From the outside you can straight away see that this is a Korean place, simply because of the size, lights and indeed how loud it is. This is again replicated inside where the overly pretty waitresses, of which there are many, greet you. Tables are in the classic public and private fashion, before you are given the menu.
It is here that the new Dandong offering blows anything that came before out of the water. They not only offer one, but seven out of the eight draft beers that are brewed in Pyongyang. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago and just how they manage even the transport is anyone’s guess. It does though at least seem so far that they remain well stocked. Gotta love that Dandong to Pyongyang train. As well as draft they also have other bottled beers from Taedonggang, such as the Extra Dry, Ryongsang, as well as Chinese stuff. Why though one would come here and drink Chinese crap like Snow is anyone’s guess.
The menu though is probably a bit more limited than in Pyongyang, concentrating more on Korean classics like kimbap, cold noodles and kimchi, lots and lots of kimchi. Weirdly this is complemented with Cantonese rather than dong-bei cuisine, but overall the system works. Expensive by Dandong standards, but in line with other North Korean joints in the town such as the Koryo Hotel Restaurant.
Where is the Taedonggang Beer Bar Dandong?
Address;
60L Binlang Middle Road
Zhenxing District
Dandong
Close enough to the railway station, the bridge and all of the other fun things that Dandong has to offer travellers.
Click to see my Borderlands Tours with YPT