In an unexpected twist of fate, a funeral home in Guizhou has become a culinary destination from the long lines of curious diners waiting to slurp down its rice noodle dish. Originally intended for grieving families, the Erlong Funeral Home’s canteen has seen an influx of diners, some even posing as mourners, to experience the dish.

Apparently, the phenomenon began in early February when a local blogger shared his dining experience at the funeral home, detailing how his mother introduced him to their rice noodles. This account quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms, notably Douyin, sparking widespread curiosity, leading to the eventual lines at the premise. 

The canteen offers its signature rice noodles daily during breakfast and late-night hours. Priced at an affordable 10 RMB (approximately $1.38 USD) per bowl, the noodles come in various toppings, but the minced pork and peanut variant has emerged as a crowd favorite. The surge in popularity has led to extended wait times, sometimes up to an hour, as patrons line up to sample the dish.

The canteen’s sudden and peculiar rise to fame has presented challenges for staff. Given that the dining area was initially intended for families attending funeral services, the influx of unrelated diners has raised concerns about maintaining the solemnity of the environment. Reports indicate that some visitors have pretended to be relatives or friends of the deceased to gain access to the canteen. A staff member noted the difficulty in distinguishing genuine mourners from food enthusiasts, especially during busy periods. 

In response to the overwhelming interest, the funeral home has implemented measures to accommodate the public while preserving the sanctity of its primary function. They now permit a limited number of external visitors to dine, provided they do not disrupt the grieving families.

For more noods, check out what else we’ve covered, like eating pork brain noodles in Macau.

Cover image via Instagram/@this_is_shaanxi.