In brief
A noodle dish from Erlong Funeral Home in Guizhou has attracted foodies posing as mourners, leading the establishment to accommodate public diners while ensuring respect for grieving families. The dish, famous for its spicy flavors, has gone viral on social media, prompting long queues for a taste.
In an unusual twist, food enthusiasts in China have turned to a funeral home as their latest dining destination. The Erlong Funeral Home, located in Guizhou province, has become famous for its incredible noodle dish, which has garnered attention on social media. As the news spread, many diners began to show up, some even pretending to be mourners in order to enjoy the noodles.The canteen at Erlong typically serves meals to bereaved families and guests, but its noodles have become a viral sensation. Reports suggest that the dish is particularly loved for its spicy and sour flavors, sold at an inviting price of just 10 yuan per bowl ($1.38; £1.09). One popular variant features noodles topped with minced pork and peanuts.Despite the canteen's original focus on serving grieving customers, the influx of curious foodies became hard to manage. An employee noted that the lines often extend for hours, with some diners pretending to be relatives of the deceased, blurring the lines between genuine mourners and patrons. In response to the overwhelming demand, Erlong Funeral Home has opted to allow the public to join in for a limited number of servings, offering 50 bowls of noodles free each day, provided they maintain a respectful atmosphere for those mourning. The rise in popularity seems to have been sparked by a social media post from a visitor who praised the food during a trip to Guizhou, comparing the wait for noodles to that of paying respects to the deceased. The subsequent online chatter has led to a cascade of noodle lovers documenting their experiences on platforms like Douyin, where one user amusingly mused about the fleeting nature of life while ordering another bowl. With the noodle craze showing no signs of abating, the Erlong Funeral Home continues to balance its dual identity as a place of mourning and a sought-after culinary hotspot.
