Restaurant has been continuously cooking and serving from the same pot of soup for over 45 years

People are flooding to social media over a restaurant which serves '50 year old soup'.

A restaurant in the Ekkamai neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand has become known for simmering the same broth in the same pot for over 45 years.

While this may sound like a stomach bug just waiting to happen, there's much more of a story and reason behind the nearly five decades-long cooking process. And clearly, the restaurant must be getting something right if its reviews are anything to go by.

The family-owned-and-run restaurant named Wattana Panich has become infamous for the lengthy stewing time of the broth of its beef noodle soup - called 'neua tune'.

The popular dish includes ingredients such as stewed and raw beef, tripes, garlic, cinnamon, black pepper, cilantro root and around a dozen Chinese herbs.

In 2020, third generation owner of the business Nattapong Kaweeantawong told Great Big Story: "[Translation] For 45 years, the broth of our soup has never been thrown away after a day's cooking. We have kept the broth overnight and then used it to cook the next day's soup.

"[...] The broth has been preserved and cooked for 45 years, thus giving it a unique flavor and aroma."

But surely this isn't very hygienic or safe? I hear you scream.

But fear not, because all is not quite as it seems.

In an interview with NPR Kaweeantawong reassures that despite 'lots of people' thinking the pot is 'never' cleaned, the restaurant does 'clean it every evening'.

"We removed the soup from the pot, then keep a little bit simmering overnight," he explains.

That 'little bit' left simmering in the pot then forms the basis for the soup the next day.

And the method - known as perpetual stew - clearly makes all the difference to the flavor of the dish given the restaurant's reviews on Trip Advisor.

One reviewer who visited the restaurant earlier this year in January wrote: "This place needs no introduction being famous for their 50 year old soup. [...] So is it worth the hype? I’d say yes.

"It’s a very small but delicious soup, at a very affordable price."

Another added: "Half a century old soup with beautiful flavours, meats, noodles and spices. This place is highly rated for a reason. A must try for the foodies!"

"Without a doubt best beef broth we have ever tasted, noodles were fantastic. Could just eat broth all day long and I am not a soup person. So good," a third commented.

So there you have it. The question is, would you give it a try?