A Restaurant with Only Two Tables Sparks Michelin-Level Price Controversy
Owner Says, "With My Cooking Skills, I Deserve This Price"
A small restaurant in China has sparked controversy by selling a bowl of noodles for as much as 2,188 yuan (approximately 430,000 won). Despite having only two tables, the restaurant’s prices rival those of Michelin-starred establishments, drawing both attention and criticism from local internet users.
According to the South China Morning Post on September 14, this restaurant, located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in eastern China, has been offering a variety of dishes since August, including stir-fried noodles, fried rice, and noodle soup featuring local specialties. Except for one item, all dishes are priced over 2,000 yuan (about 400,000 won).
"My noodles are special"...Owner shows confidence
The controversial noodle dish contains 120g of onions, 130g of eggs, 10g of fresh caviar, 270g of swamp eel, 400g of red shrimp, and 210g of small abalone. Customers who want to add tomatoes must pay an additional 20 yuan (about 4,000 won) for every 20g.
The restaurant owner confidently stated, "With my cooking skills, I deserve to charge this price," adding, "My noodles are neither greasy nor tough, and they taste different from those at other restaurants." He explained that it takes 15 minutes to prepare a bowl of noodles and that all seafood is sourced directly from the market next to the restaurant. He proudly noted that so far, 12 people have ordered the noodles, with some even taking them to go all the way to Shanghai, an hour away.
No legal issues, but...
It is reported that many of the customers visiting this restaurant are influencers who create content about popular eateries. Online, criticism has poured in, with comments such as "It’s more expensive than a hotel in Shanghai," "If a small restaurant charges that much, the police should be called," "Who would even eat that?" "It’s expensive-way too expensive," and "The owner has no conscience."
A lawyer from Guangdong stated, "There are no legal issues since the restaurant clearly displays its prices and ingredients." However, he added, "If the price or the contents were falsely advertised, the situation would be different."
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