"Who buys 50 pork buns at once?!" This incredulous tweet, paired with a photo of a store sign, recently blew up on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan, racking up over 130,000 likes. The sign was posted at "551 Horai," a legendary Osaka eatery located in the Osaka Airport South Terminal. But while the original poster was baffled, countless netizens clapped back, declaring, "50 buns? That's totally normal!" and chiming in on why it makes perfect sense.
The whole kerfuffle kicked off with a post from "Yokoto," a Tokyo-based university student. Upon seeing the sign, they couldn't help but tweet, "Who buys 50 of these?! That's insane!" The post quickly went viral. Yokoto even emphasized that these aren't frozen buns; they're all freshly made and piping hot! "How are you even supposed to eat 50 of those?!" they wondered.
Here's the kicker: "551 Horai" is an absolute icon in Japan's Kansai region. Tourists and out-of-towners often stock up big-time before hopping on the Shinkansen or catching a flight, grabbing them as souvenirs. One netizen even shared, "I asked my relatives if they wanted some before I left, and they told me: 'Grab me six boxes of 10!' Sometimes, 50 just isn't enough!"
What's more, many users chimed in saying they buy them to freeze for later. Some even place massive orders! "I once ordered 270 buns," one user recounted. "I gave the store a week's notice, but my entire car smelled like pork buns for a whole week afterward!"
For anyone outside Kansai, buying 50 "551" buns might sound wild. But for Osaka locals? It's just another Tuesday. Many people routinely buy them hot and then freeze them – it's a super common way to enjoy them.
Some netizens even saw the purchase limit as a classic example of Osaka humor: "They put up a 50-bun limit just so people will say, 'Then I can buy 49, right?' It's a win-win!"
The store itself clarified that the "50-bun limit" sign has actually been up since the pandemic. Back then, too many people were buying huge quantities, and they worried other customers wouldn't get any. Since all their buns are handmade, freshly wrapped, and steamed on-site, the limit helps manage supply during busy times and prevents resellers from clearing out stock.
Plus, this sign isn't a permanent fixture! If the daily production capacity is good and there's enough time to make more, buying over 50 buns isn't out of the question.
So, it seems the original poster's "Who buys 50 pork buns?!" rant stemmed from unfamiliarity with "551 Horai's" legendary popularity – and it accidentally sparked a massive online debate!
If you ever get the chance to visit Osaka, definitely check out this famous pork bun spot. Your editor gives it a huge thumbs-up!
via： togetter