Humorous Food Signs

[R.E. Turner]

The funniest food-related sign I've ever seen was for Dairy Queen's Flame-Thrower burger. Sure, it wasn't funny in and of itself, but it was awfully funny hanging on the front of the local DQ - for about two weeks after the restaurant was gutted by a fire. I'm still kicking myself for not stopping for a picture... (And it's awfully hard to simultaneously kick myself while rolling on the floor laughing at the above-pictured Chinese menu! Hrrnk, indeed!)

[Jeni Hicks]

Sadly, no picture - but on my honeymoon in Kenya we stopped for gas on our way to Amboseli, and across the street from the pump was the sign I will never forget:

"Guest House and Butchery"

Jeni

[BeeZee]

Well, last night I ordered the following in a Chinese restaurant

Hot Pot - white mean chicken with eggplant

Guess I'd be mean if I was stuck in an iron pot...

[BCinBC]

A colourful update on something that has been cited in several ancient cultures.

[Sugarella]

A colourful update on something that has been cited in several ancient cultures.

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Incidentally, this also belongs in the Deal Breakers thread........

[BCinBC]

^ Thanks for the heads up!

[Susan G]

Route 17 in western New York State had a billboard for years:

Mrs. Murphy's Smorgasbord

One wonders how it stayed in business so long!

[Oyster Guy]

One of the funniest signs I saw is in Toronto in the Beaches area.

It has a large neon sign out front that says good food but some of the letters are burnt out and it says GOOF.

This place is actually known as "The Goof" locally.

[markabauman]

Many years ago, there was a pizzeria on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY named "Roma Pizza". One day the "R" fell off the sign. Henceforth, and still following a few changes of location, the business has become known as Oma Pizza.

[docsconz]

Many years ago, there was a pizzeria on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY named "Roma Pizza". One day the "R" fell off the sign. Henceforth, and still following a few changes of location, the business has become known as Oma Pizza.

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So that's how they got the name! That makes sense. I don't know how they are lately, but when they were in their original location they made some of the best pizze in the area.

[H. du Bois]

In Manhattan during the 1980s, on 8th Avenue in the 50s - a Chinese restaurant with a sign advertising "Vegetarian Pork."

In Japan, during the 1990s - an energy drink called "Pocari Sweat."

[jhlurie]

Many years ago, there was a pizzeria on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY named "Roma Pizza". One day the "R" fell off the sign. Henceforth, and still following a few changes of location, the business has become known as Oma Pizza.

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Heh. Everytime I pass by the Bendix diner (a very famous greasy spoon, featuring among other things, a blind waiter who's worked there for many years), in New Jersey, there's a different letter burnt out on their neon sign. I wonder how that affects what people call it.

Click for fancy artwork of Bendix, curiously with all of the neon letters successfully lit: http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--100550...endix_Diner.htm

[Eilen]

Just came across this one in Portland, Oregon.  The place has closed -- moved to another location, according to the note on the door -- so I hope some civic do-gooder or deranged bar owner has arranged for the sign to be prserved for a sniggering posterity.

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I'm fortunate(?) enough to live about five blocks from the new Hung Far Low location--it's now in the "new" Chinatown, or, the area of Portland that is rapidly increasing in its Asian population and thus in the number of Asian restaurants.

[Lady T]

In some translation programs,  "hors d'oeuvres" means "out of work" (as in "jobless").  So, if you're dining in the restaurant where you work and your server is an ESL student given to literal translation, you might wan to go with the soup. 

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I...definitely wan to go with the soup.

[rooftop1000]

In Manhattan during the 1980s, on 8th Avenue in the 50s - a Chinese restaurant with a sign advertising "Vegetarian Pork."

In Japan, during the 1990s - an energy drink called "Pocari Sweat." 

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Someone gave my daughter a can of this a few days ago....I think she said it tasted like Tea soda...or Gatorade soda...I cant remember she talks alot

tracey

[moosnsqrl]

In some translation programs,  "hors d'oeuvres" means "out of work" (as in "jobless").  So, if you're dining in the restaurant where you work and your server is an ESL student given to literal translation, you might wan to go with the soup. 

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I...definitely wan to go with the soup.

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Of all the unfortunate times to make my one annual spelling/type-o error

[bleudauvergne]

In Manhattan during the 1980s, on 8th Avenue in the 50s - a Chinese restaurant with a sign advertising "Vegetarian Pork."

In Japan, during the 1990s - an energy drink called "Pocari Sweat." 

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This drink was also sold in China in the 1990s. It was very attractive when I had a hangover, for some reason.

[Sugarella]

Just came across this one....it's copyrighted so I have to put the link.....

http://www.welaf.com/resources/files/1135826053.jpg

[Domestic Goddess]

I finally found the right thread to post this picture I snapped a couple of years ago. I don't think I would like to get some of their slushies...

Holy crap!

[jgarner53]

In a night market/food court in Chiang Rai, Thailand, I saw a sign offering "fried dork." Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me that night.

[emilyr]

According to this article, the Beigjing Tourism Bureau is going to get rid of some of the "Chinglish" translations around the city in an effort to help foreigners better understand Chinese culutre through food.

Would you be afraid of "burnt lion's head" or "virgin chicken?"

[Jakea222]

We have a board in the kitchen so the many FoH staff see the new specials. We had Sea Bass and "somebody" maybe me, erased the B and you had never seen the double take looks from the staff and teh European servers were confused....

[Peter the eater]

Holy **** I have been crying with laughter catching up with this thread.

When I was in grade twelve (in the 1980's) and had calculus on a Friday afternoon, my mates and I went for a beer and a Chinese lunch at the mall. For over a year the menu read "Human Beef Special" and "Lucky Family Surprise". Wish I had a photo.

[Morten]

"we serve vegetarians just tell us how you like them"

I found a poster for a resturant on the internet many years ago that stated that. Cant rember wich one, but it made me giggle

[Dianabanana]

In a nearby town you can get a beer at the Tam O'Shanter Tervan.