A restaurant known as the "welcome gate" meat shop in Lao Cai suddenly caught fire; police are investigating, and netizens are rejoicing?

The "gateway meat" restaurant that went viral on TikTok due to its controversial content unexpectedly caught fire on the afternoon of December 19th in Yen Bai. This news immediately caused a social media frenzy with a series of surprising and conflicting reactions from the online community.

A column of black smoke engulfed the internet-famous eatery.

The fire broke out around midday at a busy city gateway, shocking many passersby. According to eyewitnesses, bright red flames accompanied by thick black smoke rose dozens of meters into the air, quickly engulfing the entire restaurant. Upon receiving the report, the Fire and Rescue Service immediately dispatched vehicles and personnel to the scene.

Following efforts to control the fire, it was completely extinguished, preventing it from spreading to neighboring businesses. Speaking to the press, the leader of the Van Phu Ward People's Committee confirmed that the affected establishment was the "Cong Chao" dog meat restaurant – a business familiar to local residents and the online community. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but much of the property inside the restaurant was destroyed. Currently, authorities in Lao Cai province are sealing off the scene to conduct an investigation and determine the cause of the fire.

The "shocking" menu sparked mixed reactions from the online community.

The fire attracted particular attention because this dog meat restaurant had previously "taken the TikTok platform by storm" with its bizarre food preparation videos. With nearly 79,000 followers on TikTok, the owner regularly posted content showcasing controversial menu items such as "dog paw bubble tea" or "dog meat in bean sauce." Despite achieving tens of millions of views, this content faced strong criticism from animal lovers and the public, who considered it offensive and inhumane.

As soon as images of the fire spread, social media forums erupted with conflicting opinions. Notably, alongside sympathy for the business owner's losses, a significant portion of netizens expressed schadenfreude, claiming this was the consequence of a business based on shocking and sensitive content. Many harsh comments argued that the restaurant's previous food promotion methods had appealed to public sentiment, leading to the fire being seen as public retaliation against its insensitive business model.

The owner's unexpected move after the incident.

Following the fire, the Facebook page of the "Dog Meat at the Welcome Gate" restaurant attracted attention when it suddenly changed its name and disabled comments, while its TikTok channel remained flooded with discussions. The restaurant has remained silent regarding the extent of the damage and its future operating plans.

The incident not only caused economic damage but also ignited a deep debate about culinary culture and the ethics of content creation on social media. While authorities investigate the technical cause, the public outcry shows no sign of subsiding. This story serves as a valuable lesson for businesses on balancing attracting attention with upholding social norms and values in the digital age.