SHANGHAI: A noodle shop in downtown Beijing went viral on social media after billionaire Jensen Huang paid it a visit, prompting the outlet to launch a “God of War in leather jacket” set menu the next day.
On May 15, the Nvidia CEO was spotted holding a large bowl of noodles and using chopsticks to wolf down food outside Fangzhuanchang No 69 Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles shop in the Nanluogu commercial area in central Beijing.
Huang was in China as part of US President Donald Trump’s delegation which met with President Xi Jinping.
Zha jiang mian, or Beijing fried sauce noodles in English, is a popular noodle dish in the city and is served with pork sauce and crunchy vegetable toppings.
Huang’s choice of dish is the shop’s signature black pig’s pork sauce noodles which he was served for free. A bowl of the noodles costs 38 yuan (US$6), reported the Beijing News.
Since the shop was crowded, Huang, accompanied by his entourage, stood outside its door and enjoyed the dish in a relaxed manner, viral videos showed.
He cordially interacted with other visitors, asking them in Chinese: “Have you ever eaten here before?”
“Hao chi,” Huang said hao chi, or “delicious” in English, as he praised the flavour of the noodles, adding “so good”.
He was also served a cup of yogurt costing seven yuan (US$1).
After the meal, Huang took some packed food before leaving in a car, the report said.
The restaurant then launched a set menu titled “God of War in leather jacket” the next day, including the type of noodles and the yogurt Huang had eaten.
Huang is affectionately called “God of War in leather jacket” in China for always wearing his signature black leather jacket.
His visit has sparked a boom in business for the noodle shop, with customers having to queue up for at least half an hour, said Jiang Panpan, the outlet’s manager.
Jiang told reporters that Huang ate the noodles at another outlet in Beijing last year.
While Huang was eating his noodles, some friendly Beijing residents offered him douzhi, or fermented soya milk, to try.
Despite being a traditional drink in the region, douzhi is disliked by many people due to its sour and pungent taste attributed to the fermentation process.
Huang took a sip but instantly frowned, asking: “What is this?”
Chinese internet users were amused by his “painful” expression, the report said.
He later visited a MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea shop and ordered a cup of fruit drink costing less than 10 yuan (US$1.5).
Huang’s appearance on Beijing’s streets attracted much attention online, garnering 200 million views.
Meanwhile many people noticed that his fingernails appear thick and brown.
Doctors, along with several health apps, speculated that Huang might have a fungus-induced minor health condition and recommended various treatment options for it. - South China Morning Post
