While most restaurants dream of long queues and packed tables, there is one eatery in China that found itself wishing for the exact opposite! Overwhelmed by its sudden popularity, the owner of a chicken hotpot spot in China’s Guangdong publicly urged people to stop visiting. Instead of keeping diners away, the unusual appeal only made the restaurant more famous, drawing even bigger crowds of curious foodies eager to see what all the fuss was about.
This Chicken Hotpot Place In China Urges Customers Not To Come!
Most restaurant owners dream of viral publicity, especially when food influencers spotlight their eateries and bring in a flood of new customers. But the owner of Mo’s Chicken Hotpot in Guangdong, China, feels quite differently. After food influencer Liu Yuxin, who has 16.3 million followers, visited the restaurant in March 2026 and praised its dishes, the small eatery was suddenly overwhelmed with customers.
One of the restaurant’s most talked-about features is a red sign with yellow lettering that reads: “After eating the soup here, some customers may need to use the restroom. This is normal.” The notice explains that the effect comes from the natural herbs used in the broth, which are believed to help remove “dampness” from the body, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Following Liu’s vlog, the eatery began attracting massive crowds, with queues stretching for hours. At one point, more than 200 groups of customers were reportedly waiting, with some facing delays of over three hours.
According to the South China Morning Post, the restaurant specialises in chicken hotpot infused with TCM herbs. Despite the surge in popularity, the owner, Mo, has repeatedly pleaded with food vloggers not to feature his restaurant. In one video by a food influencer with more than 10 million followers, Mo can be heard telling visitors that his “life will become hard” if they make his food look too delicious on camera. Far from slowing the crowds, however, his unusual request only fuelled even more curiosity among diners.
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The Restaurant That Doesn’t Want To Be Famous!
Since the video went viral, the small restaurant in Foshan’s Shunde District has been packed with customers, with many waiting for hours to get a table. In an interview with Jimu News, Mo revealed that his birthday wish this year was to retire early and live a peaceful life. Unlike most restaurateurs, he said he dreams of quieter days when he serves only around 10 tables before spending his free time singing karaoke or practising tai chi.
His repeated appeals for people not to visit have led some social media users to speculate that he is using “reverse marketing” to attract even more customers. However, Mo’s daughter shared a video showing her father collapsing at the restaurant while cleaning up one night, saying he was “completely drained” by the overwhelming crowds.
Despite his pleas, the restaurant’s popularity has only continued to grow. It has since earned nicknames such as “the restaurant that least wants to be famous,” while Mo himself has been jokingly dubbed “the biggest slack-off restaurant owner.”
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What are your thoughts on this restaurant and its owner? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@thisisGBA & X/foshanfoodie
FAQs
Why is Mo's Chicken Hotpot restaurant in China going viral?
The restaurant went viral after popular food influencer Liu Yuxin, who has 16.3 million followers, visited the eatery and praised its food in a vlog, leading to a surge in customers.
Why doesn't the owner want more customers?
Owner Mo says the overwhelming crowds have left him physically and mentally exhausted. He prefers running a small, manageable restaurant and hopes to retire early.
What makes the restaurant's hotpot special?
The eatery is known for its chicken hotpot made with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs, which are believed to help remove "dampness" from the body.
