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In an intriguing twist, food lovers in China are gravitating towards an unexpected venue—a funeral home—thanks to a noodle dish that has taken social media by storm.
This culinary hotspot is located within the Erlong Funeral Home in Guizhou province, a region celebrated for its spicy and tangy cuisine.
Initially intended for the families of the deceased, the canteen’s offerings have garnered such widespread acclaim that non-mourners have begun to arrive in droves, some even masquerading as bereaved relatives in order to sample the beloved noodles.
In response to the influx of curious diners, Erlong Funeral Home has announced it will accommodate select members of the public, provided their presence does not disrupt those who are genuinely mourning.
The canteen serves a variety of noodle meals during breakfast and dinner hours, with each bowl priced at approximately 10 yuan (around $1.38 or £1.09). The standout dish, favored by patrons, features noodles generously topped with minced pork and peanuts.
An employee of Erlong indicated that, while the establishment primarily serves those attending to funeral matters, some patrons have been slipping in for a taste of the noodles. At times, the queues stretch for hours, highlighting the rising popularity of the fare.
As the worker noted, “It’s challenging to distinguish between genuine mourners and those here just for the food, especially when it gets crowded,” reflecting the complicated dynamics of the situation.
To better accommodate the demand, Erlong has pledged to provide 50 complimentary bowls of noodles each day to the public, with the stipulation that diners remain respectful towards the grieving families, as explained by the chef during a local media interview.
The noodle phenomenon appears to have ignited earlier this month, sparked by a social media post from a user who, while visiting friends in Guizhou, heralded the quality of the funeral home’s cuisine. The post stated, “The queue for food is longer than the queue to lay flowers for the deceased.” The user lamented not being able to enjoy the noodles because their friend’s family was not in mourning at the time.
Since that initial post, numerous people on Chinese social media platforms have recounted their experiences dining at Erlong. On Douyin, which is the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, one individual posted a photo of the bustling dining hall, noting the lengthy lines and expressing, “I heard the noodles here were very good. I thought about how short life was and decided to get another bowl.”
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