Weeks after a viral copypasta propelled its meat patty rice into the spotlight, Yuen Long’s Tai Bo Cafe is rumored to be opening a second branch in the district—a move that has sparked online debate over whether the expansion is coming too soon.
The discussion began after a nearby resident posted about discovering a new shopfront near Long Ping MTR station, bearing a banner that read “Tai Bo Cafe New Branch Trial.”
The poster said they had confirmed with the owner that the outlet was indeed a new branch, offering the same signature meat patty rice and tomato soup as the original shop.
Despite the cafe’s sudden fame, the rapid expansion has raised eyebrows among netizens, many of whom expressed surprise at the pace of growth and questioned the sustainability of a business fueled by months of internet hype.
“Not to offend, but the owner is taking a huge risk, as online trends can be more volatile than stock options,” one commenter wrote.
Another echoed the sentiment, suggesting the persistent queues might be “an illusion created by a trend.”
Some users also raised concerns about the new location’s viability, noting that foot traffic on the street is “lower than that of the original shop.”
Speculation further emerged that the expansion could be linked to reports that the landlord of the original premises has put the property up for sale at HK$13 million, prompting suggestions that the move may be partly driven by necessity.
The eatery has yet to publicly confirm any expansion plans.
The algorithm behind the hype
The cafe’s unlikely rise began last month when exaggerated reviews declaring its meat patty rice “Asia’s most outstanding” began flooding social media platform Threads.
The source of the buzz was later traced to a single persistent netizen who had been posting the same promotional comment under various threads since last May.
This repetitive and quirky approach unexpectedly triggered the platform’s algorithm, turning “Tai Bo Cafe meat patties” into a viral catchphrase.
Caught off guard by the sudden surge in customers, the cafe’s owners previously urged diners traveling from farther away to visit at a later time to avoid overwhelming their small team.
