Sydney was recently the backdrop for an amusing prank by YouTuber Stanley Chen, who opened a fake ramen restaurant as part of an elaborate joke. Chen’s restaurant, Nise Jangara Ramen, which uses “Nise” to signify “fake” in Japanese, served instant noodles disguised as gourmet dishes to unsuspecting diners.
Chen’s prank involved creating a sophisticated online presence for his restaurant, complete with a faux website and alluring images of gourmet ramen. The site claimed that Nise Jangara Ramen offered an exclusive “experimental omakase ramen experience” available only for two nights each year. It falsely boasted of its international history, claiming pop-up events in various countries since 1953.
The prank garnered significant attention, with patrons queuing for up to 90 minutes, eagerly anticipating a high-end dining experience. Instead, they were served cleverly disguised packets of instant noodles. Despite the deception, many customers praised the food, describing it as “home-cooked” and complimenting the broth.
The video documenting Chen’s prank has since gone viral, sparking widespread discussion online. Reactions have been mixed: some viewers have lauded Chen’s creativity, while others have criticized the prank as insensitive. Comments ranged from appreciation for highlighting social media gullibility to remarks on the surreal nature of influencer culture and the extravagant cost of dining.
One viewer remarked, “I like this… making fun of how people get fooled by social media,” while another suggested, “If you’d never made this video, you could’ve just had a wildly profitable restaurant.” Others noted, “The power of marketing and FOMO,” and expressed surprise at the willingness to spend $45 on a bowl of ramen.
Overall, Chen’s prank has sparked a lively debate about marketing, social media influence, and consumer behavior.