In recent days, the Erlong Funeral Home in southwestern China has become a culinary hotspot, attracting legions of food enthusiasts eager to sample its famed noodle offerings. The canteen, originally meant to serve the families of the deceased, has seen an influx of visitors posing as mourners to get a taste of the highly sought-after dish.
As the buzz about the funeral home’s noodles spread, Erlong began to entertain the idea of allowing limited public access to their food offerings, with the stipulation that patrons must respect the needs of actual mourners. The establishment serves a variety of noodle dishes for breakfast and supper, all priced affordably at 10 yuan per bowl (approximately $1.38). The star dish among them is a flavorful noodle topped with minced pork and crunchy peanuts.
A worker at Erlong recounted to Jiupai News that the initial policy was to serve only those handling matters related to funerals. However, the growing queue of food lovers—some creating elaborate ruses to pass as relatives—has prompted adjustments to the canteen’s rules.
"Sometimes, it gets so crowded that it’s difficult to keep track of who’s here for the food and who’s genuinely grieving,” the worker shared, reflecting on the challenges faced during peak hours.
In response to the burgeoning demand, the funeral home announced it would make available 50 bowls of noodles to the public each day, free of charge, as long as diners remained respectful and did not disrupt the mourning process.
The publicity surrounding the noodles appeared to surge following a post from a social media user earlier this month, highlighting the dish while visiting friends in the region. They noted that the line for food was longer than the one to pay respects at the memorial services.
"I didn't get to eat the noodles, because my friend's mum didn't know anyone who was having a funeral,” the social media user recounted, further fueling interest as many shared their culinary experiences on platforms like Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.
The unexpected combination of mourning and dining has turned the Erlong Funeral Home into an unlikely attraction, marrying gastronomy with a cultural norm in a fascinating way. As foodies continue to flock to this unusual destination, the conversation around food and grief in China takes on a new flavor.
As the buzz about the funeral home’s noodles spread, Erlong began to entertain the idea of allowing limited public access to their food offerings, with the stipulation that patrons must respect the needs of actual mourners. The establishment serves a variety of noodle dishes for breakfast and supper, all priced affordably at 10 yuan per bowl (approximately $1.38). The star dish among them is a flavorful noodle topped with minced pork and crunchy peanuts.
A worker at Erlong recounted to Jiupai News that the initial policy was to serve only those handling matters related to funerals. However, the growing queue of food lovers—some creating elaborate ruses to pass as relatives—has prompted adjustments to the canteen’s rules.
"Sometimes, it gets so crowded that it’s difficult to keep track of who’s here for the food and who’s genuinely grieving,” the worker shared, reflecting on the challenges faced during peak hours.
In response to the burgeoning demand, the funeral home announced it would make available 50 bowls of noodles to the public each day, free of charge, as long as diners remained respectful and did not disrupt the mourning process.
The publicity surrounding the noodles appeared to surge following a post from a social media user earlier this month, highlighting the dish while visiting friends in the region. They noted that the line for food was longer than the one to pay respects at the memorial services.
"I didn't get to eat the noodles, because my friend's mum didn't know anyone who was having a funeral,” the social media user recounted, further fueling interest as many shared their culinary experiences on platforms like Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.
The unexpected combination of mourning and dining has turned the Erlong Funeral Home into an unlikely attraction, marrying gastronomy with a cultural norm in a fascinating way. As foodies continue to flock to this unusual destination, the conversation around food and grief in China takes on a new flavor.
