Mourning Made Tasty: China’s Funeral Home Noodles Draws Foodies’ Curiosity

Erlong Funeral Home in Guizhou has turned into a pilgrimage site for food lovers after its delectable noodles gained popularity on social media, prompting some to pose as mourners to try the fare. The establishment is now accommodating a limited number of outside diners while ensuring respect for its grieving patrons.

Food enthusiasts are finding an unusual yet flavorful destination in a funeral home in Guizhou, China, as the establishment's noodle dish has taken the internet by storm. Located within the Erlong Funeral Home, the canteen initially catered exclusively to families of the deceased. However, as the word of its culinary delights spread like wildfire across social media, foodies began to flock to the site, some even disguising themselves as mourners.

Erlong's canteen serves various types of noodle dishes, popular among which is the bowl of noodles topped with minced pork and peanuts, priced at a mere 10 yuan (approximately $1.38). A staff member shared with Jiupai News that they were initially focused on serving individuals dealing with funeral matters, yet the volume of food seekers often blurred the line between the true mourners and curious customers.

Witnessing the overwhelming demand, Erlong has adapted its operations to offer 50 complimentary bowls of noodles daily to the public—provided they remain considerate of those in mourning. Reports suggest that the noodle craze began earlier this month after a social media influencer highlighted the tasty offerings during a visit.

A post on Xiaohongshu revealed that the foodie found longer queues for the food than at the mourning service itself, while on Douyin, users continued to share their experiences, and some marveled at the fleeting nature of life while indulging in another bowl of noodles. The unique blend of grief and gourmet has transformed this funeral home into an unexpected culinary phenomenon in China.