China Food & Drinks

When White People Discovered China’s ‘White People Food’ Trend

A month after the ‘white people food’ trend first became popular, Chinese netizens reflect on how the trend gained international attention.

Published

10 months ago

June 29, 2023

Manya Koetse

Earlier this month, the term ‘white people food’ (白人饭 báirénfàn) gained significant attention in English-language media after it became a trend on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.

“White people food” mainly refers to simple meals that are easy to prepare, prioritizing convenience over taste. Examples include crackers and cheese, celery with dip, boiled egg with cucumber, ham sandwiches, or pasta with tomatoes.

Mocking unappetizing, cold, and barely seasoned ‘white people food’ became popular among overseas Chinese posting photos on Xiaohongshu and others criticizing the bland lunchboxes brought to work by white colleagues.

Although the ‘white people food’ term itself is not new, it became particularly popular in late May of 2023 when a Chinese netizen posted a video of a white woman in Switzerland preparing her lunch on a train with just lettuce and ham.

The video symbolized the significant cultural differences between China and many Western countries, particularly in terms of food and lunch habits. A typical office lunch box consisting of bread, cheese, fruit, and a granola bar is not considered a ‘real’ meal by many Chinese — they argue it lacks warmth, spices, ginger, garlic, rice, noodles, veggies, etc.

As a response to the trend, an online challenge emerged where people attempted to recreate their own version of a white people lunch. This mini-trend caught the attention of English-language media outlets, including Buzzfeed, after a viral tweet by Ya Fan (@yanarchy) went viral.

Not all Chinese social media users criticize the quick and uninspiring lunch style commonly seen in the West. What started as a trend to ridicule the food eventually took on a positive note, with many young Chinese professionals praising the simplicity and convenience of these meals.

For busy office workers, preparing a homemade lunch and sitting down for a larger, warm meal can be time-consuming. Opting for a sandwich or salad is quick, efficient, and leaves more time and energy after lunch or at the end of a workday.

One Xiaohongshu user wrote about her salad with mozzarella, nuts, berries, and ham, stating, “After work, this can be prepared in just three minutes, no need to wait, it can be finished extremely quickly.”

Hashtag “White people food is really not bad at all.”

In this sense, ‘white people food’ also aligns with the concept of a ‘worker’s lunch’ (打工人午餐).

The phrase and hashtag “White people food is also food” (#白人饭也是饭) emerged in response to this trend. It carries a pun that references the Chinese translation of “Black Lives Matter” (“Black people’s lives are also lives 黑人的命也是命”) and the controversial phrase “White Lives Matter,” which gained attention in the context of the BLM movement and further garnered attention in China and beyond when Kanye West wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt (translated as “White people’s lives are also lives 白人的命也是命”).

The notion that “White people food is also food” is not solely sarcastic, as some social media users interpret it in a different light. They express a preference for incorporating these simple meals into their daily diet, not just due to a busy work schedule, but also because it aligns with a lifestyle that involves consuming smaller meals, exercising, and trying out new things.

“They discovered the white people food trend”

Now that the trend has extended beyond Xiaohongshu to foreign platforms, this very aspect has sparked further online discussions.

Chinese media outlet Phoenix News has also gathered opinions and comments from foreign users on social media regarding this trend, with the majority of them finding the trend amusing and humorous. They titled their post “The White People Food Popular Among Chinese Young People Has Been Discovered by White People” (“中国年轻人流行“白人饭”，被白人发现了”), hashtagged “White people food has been discovered by white people” (#白人饭被白人发现了#).

Although many Chinese netizens find it funny that the Chinese trend of eating style has gained popularity overseas, there are still those who question whether Western people truly enjoy this way of eating.

“It’s really how it is,” one Xiaohongshu user wrote. “I remember the first time my ‘homestay mom’ prepared lunch for me [as an exchange student]. When she gave me a ham sandwich, I thought she was teasing me, but later I found out that the entire family ate like this. It’s important to note that they were actually a Black family.”

Meanwhile, on TikTok (the foreign version), another trend called ‘Girl Dinner’ is gaining momentum. This trend refers to simple dinner plates featuring ingredients like cheese, cucumber, ham, pickles, olives, and other items. Although they are not labeled as such, these plates align with what is called ‘White People Food’ on Chinese social media. Many TikTok users praise these meals for their simplicity and view them as a form of luxury and indulgence.

“Girl Dinner” on Tiktok is just like “White People Food” on Xiaohongshu.

For many Chinese individuals, the latest ‘White People Food’ trend may be a convenient way to eat, but they do not perceive it as a form of indulgence. “White people food is truly magical. Just four pieces of sliced bread with some veggies, fruits, and meat sauce, and I already feel full after eating two. I have white people food for lunch every day to save time, but it doesn’t bring me any joy. It’s merely a survival-oriented way of eating.”

By Manya Koetse

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Manya Koetse

Manya Koetse is the founder and editor-in-chief of whatsonweibo.com. She is a writer, public speaker, and researcher (Sinologist, MPhil) on social trends, digital developments, and new media in an ever-changing China, with a focus on Chinese society, pop culture, and gender issues. She shares her love for hotpot on hotpotambassador.com. Contact at manya@whatsonweibo.com, or follow on Twitter.

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China Brands, Marketing & Consumers

Zara Dress Goes Viral in China for Resemblance to Haidilao Apron

Who’s gonna buy this Zara dress in China? “I’m afraid that someone will say I stole the apron from Haidilao.”

Published

1 week ago

April 19, 2024

Manya Koetse

A short dress sold by Zara has gone viral in China for looking like the aprons used by the popular Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao.

“I really thought it was a Zara x Haidialo collab,” some customers commented. Others also agree that the first thing they thought about when seeing the Zara dress was the Haidilao apron.

The “original” vs the Zara dress.

The dress has become a popular topic on Xiaohongshu and other social media, where some images show the dress with the Haidilao logo photoshopped on it to emphasize the similarity.

One post on Xiaohongshu discussing the dress, with the caption “Curious about the inspiration behind Zara’s design,” garnered over 28,000 replies.

Haidilao, with its numerous restaurants across China, is renowned for its hospitality and exceptional customer service. Anyone who has ever dined at their restaurants is familiar with the Haidilao apron provided to diners for protecting their clothes from food or oil stains while enjoying hotpot.

These aprons are meant for use during the meal and should be returned to the staff afterward, rather than taken home.

The Haidilao apron.

However, many people who have dined at Haidilao may have encountered the following scenario: after indulging in drinks and hotpot, they realize they are still wearing a Haidilao apron upon leaving the restaurant. Consequently, many hotpot enthusiasts may have an ‘accidental’ Haidilao apron tucked away at home somewhere.

This only adds to the humor of the latest Zara dress looking like the apron. The similarity between the Zara dress and the Haidilao apron is actually so striking, that some people are afraid to be accused of being a thief if they would wear it.

One Weibo commenter wrote: “The most confusing item of this season from Zara has come out. It’s like a Zara x Haidilao collaboration apron… This… I can’t wear it: I’m afraid that someone will say I stole the apron from Haidilao.”

Funnily enough, the Haidilao apron similarity seems to have set off a trend of girls trying on the Zara dress and posting photos of themselves wearing it.

It’s doubtful that they’re actually purchasing the dress. Although some commenters say the dress is not bad, most people associate it too closely with the Haidilao brand: it just makes them hungry for hotpot.

By Manya Koetse

Follow @whatsonweibo

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China Food & Drinks

Where to Eat and Drink in Beijing: Yellen’s Picks

From Yunnan classics to fusion cuisine, these are Janet Yellen’s picks for dining and drinking in Beijing.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2024

Manya Koetse

Janet Yellen, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, seems to have some excellent advisors, at least when it comes to choosing spots for food and drinks in Beijing.

Yellen just concluded her second trip to Beijing within a year, and once again, it’s not her official talks but rather her choices in food and drink venues that are sparking discussion on social media.

Her initial visit to Beijing was in July 2023, during which she held meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other officials.

This time, from April 4th to 9th, Yellen’s agenda included engagements with top Chinese officials in both Guangzhou and Beijing. The primary focus was on addressing ongoing bilateral tensions and managing trade relations between the US and China. In addition to official meetings, Yellen also met up with students and business leaders.

Yellen’s selection of bars and restaurants drew interest online. Yellen is known to be a food enthusiast, and likes to visit local restaurants wherever she goes.

In Guangzhou, Yellen dined at Taotaoju (陶陶居), a renowned Cantonese restaurant where she had roast goose and shrimp dumplings.

If you’re curious about the places she visited in Beijing during her first and second trip, check out our short ‘Yellen’s Beijing’ list below.

‘In & Out’ Yunnan Restaurant

Yellen at Yizuo Yiwang, photos via Weibo.

● Name: ‘In and Out’ in English, Chinese name: Yī Zuò Yī Wàng 一坐一忘

● Specialty: Yunnan cuisine

● Notable: Yellen visited this local favorite near Beijing’s embassy area in the summer of 2023. Among other things, Yellen was served spicy potatoes with mint and stir-fried mushrooms, leading to online jokes about how the food would affect her. The mushroom dish that she had is called jiànshǒuqīng (见手青), which literally means “see hand blue”, in reference to turning blue when handled. It is the lanmaoa asiatica mushroom species that grows in China’s Yunnan region known for its hallucinogenic properties (when treated and cooked properly, they don’t cause hallucinations read more here). After Yellen’s visit, ‘In & Out’ used it as part of their marketing strategy and the restaurant released a special ‘Treasury Menu’ (or ‘God of Wealth’ Menu 财神菜单), promoting themselves as the first place where Yellen had dinner during her Beijing visit.

● Price: Dishes range from 38 yuan ($5) to 298 yuan ($41)

● Address: Chaoyang, Sanlitun Beixiaojie 1 / 朝阳区三里屯北小街1号

Grand Hyatt’s ‘Made in China’

Yellen’s lunch at the Grand Hatt, image via Weibo.

● Name: ‘Made in China’ in English, Chinese name: Cháng’ān Yī Hào 长安壹号餐厅

● Specialty: Northern Chinese cuisine, including Peking duck / Fusion

● Notable: This is the venue where Yellen had lunch with a group of female economists and entrepreneurs in July of 2023 (you can see the speech she gave during lunch here). She apparently likes this restaurant a lot, since she visited it again for dinner on April 8 of this year. For her 2023 lunch, we know that Yellen ordered steamed fish head with chopped pepper (剁椒鱼头). The famous Hunan dish was among the most expensive dishes on a special menu (850 yuan/$117) for Yellen’s visit at the time. This time around, she also had Peking Duck. The award-winning Made in China restaurant, which is simply called “Chang’an no 1” in Chinese (after its address, 长安壹号餐厅), has been around for two decades, and the Beijing head chef Jin Qiang has been there from the start – he has since welcomed numerous heads of state and government leaders from around the world.

● Price: Appetizers start from 58 yuan ($8), seafood dishes around 500 yuan (69 yuan), Peking Duck 388 yuan ($53)

● Address: Grand Hyatt, Dongcheng, 1 East Chang’An Avenue / 东长安街1号东方广场

Lao Chuan Ban

Yellen at Chuan Ban, image via Dianping.

● Name: Chuan Ban, Chinese name: 川办餐厅 aka ‘Lao Chuan Ban’ (Old Chuan Ban 老川办)

● Specialty: Sichuan food

● Notable: Chuan Ban, established as part of the Sichuan provincial government office and open to the public since 1995, is renowned for its authentic Sichuan cuisine. During her visit to Beijing, Yellen and her group dined at this famous restaurant on April 6 this year. They enjoyed a variety of dishes including Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐), Sichuan-style cold noodles (四川凉面), clear noodles in chili sauce (川北凉粉), smashed cucumber salad (拍黃瓜), and Zhong dumpings in spicy sauce (钟水饺).

● Price：Dumplings for 18 yuan ($2.5), beef noodles for 16 yuan ($2.2), salt and pepper shrimp for 46 yuan ($6.3), fried lamb chops for 188 yuan ($26) – there’s something for everyone in different price ranges.

● Address: Dongcheng, 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie / 东城区建国门内贡院头条5号

Jing-A Brewery

Yellen having a beer, image via Weibo.

● Name: Jing-A Brewery, Chinese name: 京A

● Specialty: Craft beer

● Notable: After five days of meetings during her 2024 China visit, Janet Yellen enjoyed a beer together with US ambassador Nicholas Burns at Jing-A, a brewery founded by wo Beijing-based American friends in 2012. In one of her tweets, Yellen explained that the microbrewery imports American hops for their beers — “a small representation of how the U.S.-China bilateral economic relationship can benefit both sides” (link).

● Price：Beers starting at 35 yuan ($4.8), snack dishes starting at 58 yuan ($8)

● Address: Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun, Chaoyang， 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang, Beijing / 朝阳区幸福村中路57号

By Manya Koetse

Follow @whatsonweibo