China restaurant closed after videos show waiters feeding women diners mouth-to-mouth

A controversial restaurant in China, known for its boldly dressed waiters, caused an uproar and attracted the attention of authorities, leading to its closure, the South China Morning Post reported. The self-proclaimed 'Macho Restaurant' was in operation from April to July in the well-visited tourist spot of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, located in Yunnan Province in the southwest region of China.

However, the restaurant came under the scrutiny of the authorities earlier this month when videos of what happened inside the restaurant began circulating online. The restaurant promoted a Siamese theme, as evidenced by its name 'Thai Drum Thai Drum Thai Cuisine', and a 'Macho Restaurant Upstairs' sign was also placed at its entrance.

It featured tall and muscular men, some in singlets and others shirtless, engaging in seductive dance routines to entertain the mostly female audience, the report said.

More daring dance routines in the restaurant included acts such as "licking the pole", similar to pole dancing, along with suggestive dancing. Some of the "macho men" went so far as to feed female customers directly from their mouths, then wipe their mouths and even offer shoulder massages as part of the provocative experience, he added.

On Wednesday, however, the local authorities took action against the restaurant, saying that the performance violated social ethics and did not respect the cultural traditions of the region. As a result, the restaurant was ordered to cease operations and an amount of 10,664 yuan (approximately 1,22,639 rupees) earned through illegal means was confiscated. In addition, an additional fine in the amount of ten times the confiscated illegal income was imposed.

“Initially there were only six actors who offered relatively normal dance performances. When customers filmed in the restaurant and shared the videos online, the restaurant owner saw it as a promotional opportunity,” The South China Morning Post quoted a restaurant employee as saying.