'Bring an LPG cylinder, get 50 plates of momos': Viral offer grabs internet’s attention

When cooking gas runs short, restaurant kitchens have to improvise quickly. Across India, eateries are feeling the strain as commercial LPG cylinders become harder to secure, forcing many outlets to rethink how their kitchens operate.One café decided to highlight the situation in an unusual way. Wok & Fork – Desi Chinese, which runs outlets in Bangalore and Mangalore, posted on Instagram offering customers 50 plates of momos in exchange for a commercial LPG cylinder, a proposal that soon sparked curiosity and jokes online. The promotional graphic shared by the café carried the message: “Help us cook, and we’ll feed you.”The post invited customers to bring a commercial LPG cylinder to the nearest outlet as part of the unusual exchange. The caption accompanying it read, “Gas for us, momos for you! Bring a commercial LPG cylinder & enjoy 50 plates.”The barter-style offer quickly began circulating on social media. Users filled the comments section with playful suggestions about bringing cylinders from home, while others wondered whether the café would actually honour the exchange.So far, no one has turned up with a cylinder. The café says it will honour the exchange if someone does arrive with one and plans to share the moment online.Speaking to The Times of India, the founder said the campaign emerged from a conversation about the LPG shortage affecting restaurant kitchens.“We came up with the idea while discussing the ongoing LPG shortage. A commercial LPG cylinder usually costs around ₹1,900, but recently some were being sold at almost three times the normal price. Instead of buying at that rate, we thought of turning the situation into a creative campaign.”Despite the light-hearted campaign, the issue remains a serious concern for restaurant owners. In several cities, irregular LPG deliveries have made it difficult for kitchens to function normally.Some outlets have already started making adjustments, including trimming menu options and shifting parts of their cooking to electric stoves.“We are not receiving LPG cylinders regularly, which has been affecting operations. We hope the supply stabilizes soon so everything can run smoothly again,” the founder said.While the post entertained social media users, with some even calling it a “return of the barter system,” the founder said the shortage has been affecting outlets in both Bangalore and Mangalore.“Many restaurants are struggling to get commercial cylinders,” the founder added. “Some were being sold at almost three times the normal price, so we had to find alternatives and adjust operations wherever possible.”Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)