Lalal, a popular vlogger, recently found herself in a surprising situation when she ended up with a $1,300 bill for a hot pot meal in Shanghai.
On the 27th, Lalal's YouTube channel released a video titled "A Vlog of a $1,300 Meal Due to Language Barrier in China."
In the video, Lalal and her friends visited a hot pot restaurant in Shanghai. Unfamiliar with the Chinese language, they used a translation app to confirm their order, asking if the amount was suitable for four people.
The restaurant staff, noticing the large order of vegetables and meatballs, kindly suggested adjustments to their order.
The group enjoyed a variety of dishes including fish, snail dishes, rice pot, chocolate pudding, and hot pot. Lalal expressed her delight, saying, "This won't make me gain weight," "It's all protein, so it's fine," and "It's so delicious."
Lalal also commented, "This is what real Chinese food is like. What have I been eating in Korea?" showing her satisfaction with the meal.
However, upon receiving the bill, the group was shocked to see the total amounting to 8,479 yuan, approximately $1,300.
Confused, they turned to an online AI service, Chat GPT, for advice on the food prices.
The AI responded, "Did you misread it as 1,700 yuan? That's strange," and added, "$1,300 for four people? That's like a luxury hotel suite dinner price. $1,300 is abnormally high."
In the end, Lalal humorously suggested, "Let's just cherish the great memory and head back to Korea," causing laughter.
Since the video's release, online communities have been buzzing with various opinions. Some netizens commented, "I live in Shanghai, and that's an impossible amount," "Did they get ripped off?" and "It seems like a scam." Others speculated that the high price might be due to a menu targeting foreign tourists, considering Shanghai's cost of living.
Reporter Na-yeon Jo, TenAsia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr