What if someone ordered dinner… days after they had already died?
It sounds like the plot of a supernatural horror movie, but the Hong Kong Ghost Takeaway Incident has become one of Asia’s most discussed paranormal mysteries. Combining eerie phone calls, mysterious ghost money, unexplained food deliveries, and four mysterious deaths, this chilling tale continues to fascinate believers and skeptics alike.
Whether it is a genuine supernatural event or simply an elaborate urban legend, the story has remained one of Hong Kong’s most unforgettable ghost mysteries.
A Busy Night Turns Strange
In December 1989, a young waiter named Zhao was working in an extremely busy Hong Kong restaurant. With only two waiters on duty, every phone call meant more work.
Late one evening, the restaurant phone rang.
On the other end was an elderly woman with an incredibly weak voice. She quietly ordered:
- Stir-fried rice noodles with an extra egg
- Beef chow fun
- Fried rice
Although frustrated by another delivery during the dinner rush, Zhao prepared the order and rushed to the apartment listed on the receipt.
A Customer Who Never Opened the Door
When Zhao arrived, something immediately felt wrong.
No one answered his first knocks.
Eventually, after repeatedly banging on the door, it slowly opened only a few inches.
A small hand stretched through the narrow opening holding payment.
The elderly woman quietly instructed him to leave the food outside before immediately shutting the door.
The encounter felt strange, but Zhao thought little of it and returned to work.
The Mystery Begins
Later that evening, Zhao’s manager discovered money missing from the cash register.
Even stranger, the missing cash had been replaced with ghost money—fake ceremonial currency traditionally burned during Chinese funerals as offerings to deceased loved ones.
The manager accused Zhao of stealing.
However, Zhao insisted he had done nothing wrong.
The Same Delivery Happened Again
The following night, the same elderly woman called once more.
She ordered the exact same meal.
Again, Zhao delivered the food.
Again, the door barely opened.
Again, a hand reached out with payment.
Again, he was instructed to leave the food outside.
That night, the manager once more discovered ghost money replacing real cash in the register.
Now everyone was convinced something unusual was happening.
The Manager Investigates
Determined to uncover the truth, the restaurant manager personally handled the third delivery.
When he arrived at the apartment, everything happened exactly as Zhao had described.
The woman never revealed herself.
Only a small hand appeared from behind the partially opened door.
The payment looked completely genuine.
Satisfied, the manager returned to the restaurant.
Hours later, while counting the register, he reached into his pocket—and froze.
The money he had collected had somehow transformed into ghost money.
Unable to explain the impossible event, he contacted the police.
Police Make a Horrifying Discovery
Officers arrived at the apartment later that night.
After receiving no response, they forced entry.
Inside they discovered an unforgettable scene.
Four badly decomposed bodies lay throughout the apartment.
Investigators determined they had died from carbon monoxide poisoning nearly a week earlier.
Yet something made the case even more disturbing.
The apartment contained numerous takeout containers from Zhao’s restaurant.
Who had ordered the food?
Who had accepted the deliveries?
Who had paid using ghost money?
The Most Unexplained Detail
During the autopsies, investigators reportedly found something impossible.
Inside the victims’ stomachs was the very food Zhao and his manager had recently delivered.
Medical examinations allegedly indicated that the food had been eaten only one or two days before the bodies were discovered.
However, according to investigators, the victims had already been dead for several days before those deliveries ever occurred.
This contradiction has never been satisfactorily explained.
Ghost Money Explained
Ghost money, also called hell bank notes, is ceremonial paper currency commonly burned during traditional Chinese funeral rituals.
Many families believe these symbolic offerings provide financial support to loved ones in the afterlife.
Because of this cultural practice, finding ghost money replacing real currency made the incident especially unsettling for many people in Hong Kong.
Urban Legend or Paranormal Reality?
Over the years, the Ghost Takeaway Incident has spread across books, television programs, websites, and paranormal discussions.
Believers argue the elderly caller and mysterious payments were evidence that the victims’ spirits remained trapped inside the apartment.
Skeptics believe the story has grown into an urban legend, with details becoming exaggerated through repeated retellings.
To this day, no universally accepted explanation exists.
Why This Story Still Fascinates People
The Ghost Takeaway Incident combines several elements that make legendary mysteries unforgettable:
- Mysterious phone calls
- Ghost money
- Carbon monoxide deaths
- Impossible autopsy findings
- Unidentified delivery customer
- Supernatural folklore
- Unsolved paranormal mystery
Whether viewed as folklore or fact, it remains one of Hong Kong’s most famous ghost stories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Hong Kong Ghost Takeaway Incident real?
The story has circulated for decades and is widely discussed throughout Hong Kong. However, many researchers consider it an urban legend due to the lack of verifiable official records.
What is ghost money?
Ghost money is ceremonial paper currency burned during Chinese funeral traditions as an offering for deceased relatives in the afterlife.
What caused the deaths?
According to the story, investigators concluded the four occupants died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
Why is the story considered paranormal?
The mystery centers on how food was allegedly ordered, paid for, and later found inside the victims’ stomachs despite reports that they had already died before the deliveries occurred.
Has the mystery ever been solved?
No definitive explanation has been accepted. Both paranormal believers and skeptics continue debating the incident.
Final Thoughts
Few paranormal stories blend cultural traditions, unexplained events, and unsettling coincidences as effectively as the Hong Kong Ghost Takeaway Incident.
Whether you believe it was a supernatural encounter or simply an enduring urban legend, the mystery continues to captivate audiences decades later. The unanswered questions surrounding the mysterious phone calls, ghost money, and impossible food deliveries ensure this story remains one of Asia’s most haunting tales.