Bikini-clad staff serve up restaurant success story

A bikini-clad waitress at Daoxianji (CEN)

How exactly do you make porridge sexy?

For most, the answer is to liven up a little fruit and honey. But a restaurant in China has had a different idea.

Daoxianji, which serves Congee – otherwise known as gruel – has decided to get its staff to dress up in beachwear instead.

Every day women in bikinis and men in swimming trunks serve food to customers in the city of Shenyang, capital of north-eastern China’s Liaoning Province.

Male staff also dress in beachwear (CEN)

The staff also have the name of the restaurant – which loosely translates as ‘fresh rice’ – painted onto their bodies at the start of each shift.

Since the move, business has been booming.

The staff of 20 women and 10 men boosted sales so much that they have been rushed off their feet to keep up with demand for bowls of gruel from both male and female customers.

The restaurant specialises in Congee, a rice porridge (CEN)

However, critics say that the decision to dress staff in beachwear sends the wrong message especially to younger customers.

Weibo user Ginsy08 said: “This restaurant’s business is selling food, not swim wear. It is just irresponsible.”

But the restaurant managers insist the move is not sexist as both male and female staff don beachwear to wait tables – although do admit to targetting staff with good looks and nice figures.

Congee is a type of rice porridge popular in many Asian countries. When eaten as plain rice congee, it is most often served with side dishes.

The Shenyang restaurant has seen business soar (CEN)