Apparently the humble hamburger has become something of a delicacy in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. To avoid any awkward hat tipping, Samtaesung (Food) and Cool Beverages calls their hamburgers “minced meat and bread”. Whatever they call them, they are selling like hotcakes. The lines at the eatery are long, and diners must now make reservations to partake in the meaty Samtaesung goodness.

According to rates displayed on the restaurant’s menu, the cost of a hamburger is 228 North Korean won, or more than U.S. $2 according to the official exchange rate, putting it outside of the budget of the average citizen.

According to the Pyongyang resident, customers can pay in North Korean won, U.S. dollars, euros, or Chinese yuan.

Initially, the resident said, Samtaesung was frequented only by people who had traveled overseas or those who wanted to try the food out of curiosity, but the hamburger joint soon became very popular.

He said that many Pyongyang residents are now fond of hamburgers, though the greasier taste of the food takes some getting used to.

“The third time you eat a hamburger, you really get to appreciate it. By the time you’ve had your fifth, you’re already addicted to the taste,” he said.

It would seem unlikely that anyone will end up smoking a final cigarette for having the audacity to open a hamburger restaurant in North Korea – as the restaurateur Kim Kyong Hui is Dear Leader’s little sister.

[p://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/burger-10152010151052.html">Radio Free Asia via Neatorama]