Recently, the Erlong Funeral Home in southwestern China has garnered attention not just for its somber services but also for its culinary offerings. The canteen, known for serving delicious noodles, has attracted food lovers eager to taste the dish that has gone viral on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin. The noodles, particularly those topped with minced pork and peanuts, are priced modestly at 10 yuan per bowl (approximately $1.38).
As word spread online, people began to queue at Erlong, sometimes waiting for hours to indulge in the meal. An employee mentioned that amid the dining chaos, it has become challenging to distinguish between actual mourners and those jokingly masquerading as relatives of the deceased. In an effort to manage the growing interest, the funeral home has now made arrangements to offer 50 bowls of noodles daily to the public—free of charge—as long as it doesn't interfere with the grieving process of actual mourners.
The excitement kicked off when a social media user posted about the food experience while visiting a friend in Guizhou. This sparked a wave of curiosity and a flurry of similar posts recounting the indulgent flavors of the noodles. Even as queues increased at the funeral home, the culinary trend has sparked a conversation about the interplay of grief and cultural food experiences in the community, creating an unusual but fascinating blend of mourning and gastronomic delight.
As the phenomenon continues, it has compelled both locals and visitors to reflect on the unique relationship between food and culture, intimately intertwined with the somber yet vibrant backdrop of a funeral setting.
As word spread online, people began to queue at Erlong, sometimes waiting for hours to indulge in the meal. An employee mentioned that amid the dining chaos, it has become challenging to distinguish between actual mourners and those jokingly masquerading as relatives of the deceased. In an effort to manage the growing interest, the funeral home has now made arrangements to offer 50 bowls of noodles daily to the public—free of charge—as long as it doesn't interfere with the grieving process of actual mourners.
The excitement kicked off when a social media user posted about the food experience while visiting a friend in Guizhou. This sparked a wave of curiosity and a flurry of similar posts recounting the indulgent flavors of the noodles. Even as queues increased at the funeral home, the culinary trend has sparked a conversation about the interplay of grief and cultural food experiences in the community, creating an unusual but fascinating blend of mourning and gastronomic delight.
As the phenomenon continues, it has compelled both locals and visitors to reflect on the unique relationship between food and culture, intimately intertwined with the somber yet vibrant backdrop of a funeral setting.
