You've probably been there. A hot new place just opened up. But just getting in requires a reservation and an hourlong wait.
Who wants to wait an hour to eat? Lots of people, especially the folks waiting for Japanese beef croquettes at Asahiya, a family butcher shop in Takasago City. For them, even a year-long waitlist would be a dream. Currently, the wait list for Extreme Croquettes tops 40 years. In your 20s, get yourself on the waitlist for the deep fried beef, potato, and cheese creations. And when you are ready to retire, you might be able to celebrate with a beef croquette.
What led to the crazy wait times? Asahiya has long been popular in the local community. However, the waitlist didn't stretch into the decades until the early 2000s, when their beef croquettes became an internet sensation.
They started selling Kobe beef croquettes online as a way to promote their Kobe beef products. The croquettes sold for a mere $1.80 each. At the time, the meat alone cost about $2.70, meaning they were selling at a steep loss. To limit losses, they decided to produce only 200 croquettes a week, which led to a perpetually growing waitlist.
The good news is that only the Extreme Croquettes, made with genuine Kobe beef, have a multi-decade waitlist. If you opt for the premier croquettes (still made with Kobe beef), you'll have to wait just four years, according to CNN.
