The chief executive of Nvidia recently experienced Beijing’s local cuisine firsthand during a culinary adventure through the Chinese capital — with mixed results that caught the attention of onlookers and social media users.
Jensen Huang was photographed by bystanders and news outlets at No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Noodles, where he sampled zhajiangmian, a regional noodle dish topped with a rich soybean-paste sauce combined with vegetables and meat.
“It’s so good,” he commented while eating from the bowl outside the restaurant’s front door, surrounded by curious spectators who recorded videos and snapped pictures of the tech executive.
However, when Huang tried douzhi’er — a traditional fermented soybean beverage with a tart flavor and grayish-green appearance — his facial expression told a different story. Clips showing his reaction became popular content on Weibo, China’s major social networking site, on Friday afternoon. The beverage represents a quintessential Beijing tradition, though it appeals to only certain palates.
Following the challenging drink experience, Huang promptly purchased a sweetened beverage from Mixue Bingcheng, a popular Chinese drink franchise, to cleanse his palate.
The Nvidia leader was exploring Nanluoguxiang, located in Beijing’s eastern section, an area famous for its characteristic traditional single-story residences known as hutongs. This neighborhood combines commercial establishments, dining venues, and residential spaces. While urban development has removed many of these historic structures over time, Beijing has maintained this particular area as a preserved cultural district.
