Luosifen, the controversial smelly Chinese soup noodle dish that went from obscurity to durian-level fame

The noodle dish divides opinion sharply, with some families sending relatives eating it out on the street to avoid the stench

Others say the flavour is life-changing and claim the soup is addictive once tasted

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Smelliest food in the world, luoshifen, or snail-based rice noodles, is creating a buzz on Chinese social media and attracting President Xi’s attention. Photo: Handout/Tom Leung

Published: 9:00am, 29 Apr 2021Updated: 11:50am, 30 Apr 2021

Like durian in some Asian countries, the smelly food in China that people love or hate is luosifen, or “river snail rice noodles” in English.

This controversial dish is in the spotlight on Chinese social media after President Xi Jinping inspected the Luosifen Production Hub in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Monday.

“It tastes marvellous. The more you have it, the more deeply you will love it,” wrote one person on Weibo.

“I think both luosifen and durian are the food that let you feel they are actually fragrant,” said another user.

A bowl of Luosifen, snail noodles, a rice noodle with snail soup, is pictured at the restaurant, Eighty-Eight Noodles, in Beijing, China. Photo: Simon Song

A third commenter wrote: “I am a loyal fan of luosifen. I often tell my friends who dare not try this food: ‘How do you know it tastes bad if you don’t have a try? I didn’t eat it before. But after I ate it, I found a new world’s door has opened to me. It’s really yummy. Trust me. Or how about I treat you?’.”