Lu Chui takes over the late-night eatery his grandfather left him, the Sleepless Inn. It opens after dark and closes at dawn. He has a strange gift: with his tongue, he can taste the resentment hidden in his customers. Bitterness means injustice, sourness means regret, spiciness means anger, saltiness means tears, and sweetness means longing. Those diners who cannot enter the world of the living find their way to his door, following the aroma of food, just to have a bite of home cooking that can soothe their souls. Each spoonful and chopstick’s worth brings peace to a soul and guides a person onward. But there’s a door beneath the stove. His grandfather warned him: Don’t open it.
