Recently, a self-service restaurant in the alleys of Tianqiao District, Jinan, offering meals at 5 yuan, has gone viral after receiving a negative review about its “small portions.” Many netizens have jokingly rallied in support of the restaurant. On May 23, a reporter visited the restaurant.
A small shop packed with just three customers
Turning from Lishan Road and weaving through a few small curves, you’ll find yourself in one of the remaining urban villages of Jinan—Liuhang, merely a street away from Daming Lake. This is where Xiaomeng, a post-90s young man, opened his 5 yuan self-service restaurant.
(Right: Shop owner Xiaomeng)
At 4 PM on the 23rd, when the reporter met Xiaomeng, he was busy, sweating profusely while stir-frying shredded tofu, preparing for the evening’s business. The reporter saw that the shop, about ten square meters, was mostly occupied by the kitchen. The serving area took up the other half of the space, while two folding tables filled the small dining area.
“Primarily serving takeout, but also dine-in, though it’s a bit cramped; three people make it crowded,” Xiaomeng jokingly said. He cooks 6-8 dishes every evening, all common seasonal vegetables. For 5 yuan per serving, customers can pick the dishes they like, as long as they fit in a meal box; rice is sold separately for one yuan per portion, which customers can serve themselves. “There are many delivery riders and construction workers nearby, my main customer base, focusing on affordability, large portions, and fullness,” Xiaomeng explained.
Soon, customers came by. “What’s on the menu today?” “We’re having a feast today, with meat dishes ready soon,” Xiaomeng replied, still engaged in stir-frying. “Alright, I’ll come for my meal in a bit,” a customer said, who buys meals from Xiaomeng about half the month.
Xiaomeng told the reporter that business was already decent before his shop became famous. “We open at 4 PM every day, serving till around 9 PM, selling all the dishes prepared each day.” However, he couldn’t have anticipated that his small space, where “even turning around is a hassle,” would experience such a heartwarming twist.
A negative review sparks a heated online discussion
The story dates back three months ago when Xiaomeng was still struggling through a “sluggish life.” “I’ve been out of college for years, facing various setbacks, eventually working part-time at a food and beverage company,” Xiaomeng recalled. “Off work, I spent my time gaming in my rented room, feeling quite wasted.”
This urban village in Jinan is home to many migrant workers, often found eating buns and salted vegetables on the steps at night. Although there are many restaurants nearby, not many serve quick meals exclusively. Xiaomeng figured he could open an affordable fast-food shop catering to workers while seeking a side business opportunity.
With limited funds, he found a place that costs just 830 yuan per month. After calculating costs, he priced the meals at the lowest possible, 5 yuan per self-service boxed meal. In his free time, Xiaomeng took to filming short videos to promote his shop and expanded awareness online through group purchases.
However, just last month, during the second month of operation, Xiaomeng received a negative review commenting on “small portions at high prices.”
“Seeing the negative review was a bit of a shock, but it can’t be helped; it’s impossible to satisfy everyone,” Xiaomeng continued his business, filming videos until his “three is a crowd” video gained popularity unexpectedly, bringing emphasis to the negative review.
Initially, discussions were centered on the review. Later, as though discovering a new continent, netizens flooded the comment section with “Does the 5-yuan self-service include imperial crabs?” “Boss, I’ll have a fragrant steak, medium-rare,” and even more exaggerated were additions like “Australian lobster” and “Buddha jumps over the wall” on the group’s recommendation page. Watching the comments, Xiaomeng laughed till he cried, interacting with netizens—”Turns out being teased can be so warm.”
Strangers sending “luxurious supplies”
“A month’s worth of hard promotion can’t compare to one negative review,” Xiaomeng jokingly said. In the past two weeks, “fans” have been visiting his small shop more and more. Pointing to the dozen boxes of chicken tail drinks at the entrance, Xiaomeng told the reporter that they were sent by a fan from Guangzhou, along with home-pickled alligator meat and beef, “all for ‘adding dishes’ to my shop.”
The heartwarming responses continued: “Visiting Jinan next week, bringing you two pounds of home-cooked yellow beef,” “Sending you some windbreak-fried crabs”…
Running a shop alone is truly busy, and Xiaomeng once considered transferring the shop. “Just a few days ago, I felt working twice as hard in one day was too tiring, and closed for several days,” Xiaomeng said, noting how people kept urging him to stay open.
“It’s everyone’s kindness that has lifted my small shop,” Xiaomeng said. “I have faced many setbacks over the years without achieving much. Now the fast-food shop’s business is improving and life has become richer and more colorful. Everyone’s encouragement gives me the motivation to keep going.”
Now, Xiaomeng returns the ingredients sent by fans to customers, dubbing them “fan-exclusive dishes.” “Most around here are laborers, living tough lives. I’m also passing on the goodwill,” Xiaomeng said jokingly, “Now with 5 yuan, you get beef and alligator meat, and a drink; hopefully, no more ‘negative reviews.'”
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