In a surprising twist, food enthusiasts in China are making their way to a funeral home in Guizhou, drawn by a viral noodle dish that has captivated social media. The Erlong Funeral Home, located in the southwestern province, initially prepared its canteen meals solely for grieving customers. However, after word of its renowned noodles spread, throngs of diners—some masquerading as mourners—have begun visiting the establishment.
In response to this influx, Erlong has announced a new policy allowing a limited number of the public to dine at its premises, provided they respect the space and do not disturb those attending to funeral matters. The canteen serves a variety of noodle dishes available during breakfast and dinner, with each bowl priced at 10 yuan (approximately $1.38 or £1.09). The standout favorite features minced pork and peanuts atop the noodles.
An employee at Erlong mentioned to Jiupai News that the canteen traditionally catered exclusively to those handling funeral arrangements. Nevertheless, many have attempted to sneak in for a taste, resulting in long lines, with wait times sometimes reaching two hours. "It's challenging to discern between the mourners and the food lovers when the place is crowded," the worker noted.
To manage the growing interest, the funeral home has decided to offer 50 bowls of noodles daily to select members of the public for free, as long as it does not disrupt the mourning process, according to a local media interview with the chef.
The noodle craze erupted earlier this month when a social media user recounted their experience visiting Erlong while relaying that the food was exceptional. Their post on Xiaohongshu, a popular platform, sparked significant attention. They commented on the surprising length of the food queue, which seemed to surpass that of people paying their respects to the deceased.
Following this revelation, many social media users on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, have shared their own experiences of savoring the noodles. One user mentioned, "I heard the noodles here were very good," reflecting on the brevity of life while indulging in a second bowl.
