People pose as mourners to taste viral noodle dishes at Erlong Funeral Home, a canteen in southwestern China’s Guizhou province that has unexpectedly become a culinary sensation.
The funeral home, meant to serve grieving families, has found itself at the center of a bizarre dining craze after its humble yet flavorful bowl of rice noodles topped with minced pork and peanuts gained immense popularity on social media.
The dish, praised for its rich broth, fresh ingredients, and secret chili sauce, has drawn food enthusiasts who are now going to extreme lengths—pretending to be mourners—just to experience its taste.
The Unexpected Rise of a Funeral Home’s Noodles
Erlong Funeral Home never intended to become a dining hotspot. Like many funeral home canteens across China, it was designed to provide affordable meals to families and friends of the deceased, offering a quiet space to mourn and reflect.
However, the situation took an unusual turn when a local blogger shared his experience visiting the funeral home in February. He recounted how his mother had insisted on taking him there for a meal despite his initial reluctance.
“At first, I was hesitant because it is quite far from downtown, but my mother was adamant,” the diner recalled. “After trying the rice noodles, I found them absolutely delicious.”
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His post quickly went viral, and soon, word spread across Chinese social media platforms. The unique nature of the funeral home canteen, combined with the overwhelmingly positive reviews of the noodles, sparked a wave of curiosity. Food lovers from all over began making their way to the funeral home in hopes of trying the dish.
A funeral home in Guizhou has a rice noodle dish so good people are faking they're attending a funeral there. After going viral & telling the public their cafeteria is not open to the public, they're giving away 50 bowls for free daily due to heavy inquiry. pic.twitter.com/tZuBfS0klX
— 来都来了 (@SecondRingSZN) February 21, 2025
However, as the canteen was exclusively for those attending funeral services, people resorted to deception—posing as mourners just to gain entry and sample the now-famous meal.
The Secret Behind the Dish
So, what makes Erlong Funeral Home’s noodles so irresistible? According to employees, the secret lies in the meticulous preparation and the skill of the chefs.
“Many people rave about our rice noodles because our chefs are exceptionally skilled,” one worker told the South China Morning Post. “We use only fresh ingredients, our broth is simmered with pig bones for hours, and our chili sauces come from a secret recipe.”
The dish itself consists of a steaming bowl of rice noodles submerged in a flavorful broth that has been carefully prepared over several hours. It is then topped with minced pork and crunchy peanuts, adding texture and depth to the meal.
The combination of rich umami flavors, spice, and the comforting warmth of the noodles has left visitors in awe, making it one of the most talked-about meals on Chinese social media.
With more than five million views on Xiaohongshu, Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), and other platforms, the phenomenon has sparked humorous reactions from users who joke about the irony of people queuing for food at a funeral home.
One commenter quipped, “The queue for food is longer than the queue to lay flowers for the deceased.” Another joked, “Their chefs could start a restaurant on their own, calling it Funeral Home Rice Noodles.”
A Culinary Craze With No Easy Solution
Initially, the funeral home staff made it clear that they had no plans to open the canteen to the general public despite its newfound fame.
Employees emphasized that the primary purpose of the canteen was to serve grieving families, not casual diners looking for a viral food experience. However, as the craze continued to grow, Erlong Funeral Home reconsidered its stance.
According to a recent BBC report, the funeral home has now decided to offer 50 bowls of noodles per day to select members of the public. The only condition is that visitors must not disturb genuine mourners. This compromise aims to maintain the sanctity of the funeral home while allowing food enthusiasts to experience the dish that has captivated so many.
Despite this limited public offering, demand remains high, and people continue to attempt creative ways to gain access to the canteen. Some have tried to find acquaintances holding funeral services, hoping for an invitation to join them.
Others have taken a more direct approach, arriving at the funeral home dressed in somber attire and pretending to be mourners in order to secure a bowl of the sought-after noodles.
The unexpected popularity of the dish has sparked discussions about the intersection of food culture and social media trends. While some find humor in the situation, others question whether it is appropriate to treat a funeral home as a dining destination.
The incident highlights how viral trends can create unintended consequences, sometimes leading to ethical dilemmas about respect and tradition.
For now, Erlong Funeral Home remains a unique symbol of how an ordinary meal, when prepared with exceptional skill and care, can capture the imagination of an entire nation.
Whether the funeral home can manage its newfound fame while preserving the dignity of its grieving visitors remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the story of Erlong Funeral Home’s viral noodles will continue to be a fascinating chapter in China’s ever-evolving food culture.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏