A dish served at the eatery. [Photo/WeChat account: duchenghz]

A modest restaurant tucked inside Xiaoheshan community in Hangzhou's Xihu district has gone viral this week, drawing crowds both online and offline.

Sali Yuan, a 13-year-old eatery serving Arabian and South Asian cuisine, may have an unassuming storefront, but inside, it is a world of its own.

Push open the glass doors, and the aroma of curries and freshly baked naan rises alongside a wall filled with photos and foreign banknotes. Each snapshot documents the bonds forged between the restaurant and generations of international students from nearby universities.

Owner Hu Kai recalls opening in 2012 with simple pastas and pizzas. But as more students from Yemen, Somalia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Morocco arrived, they began asking for the flavors of home. Today, Sali Yuan's butter chicken, biryani, shawarma and masala curries are celebrated for their comforting authenticity, making the tiny shop a familiar stop for students of many backgrounds.

Xiaoheshan's vibrant culinary mix — South Korean eateries run by local "ajummas", Turkish wraps by Central Asian owners, Japanese cuisine by a Chinese-Japanese couple — reflects the district's growing international community.

Supported by Xiaoheshan's long-term governance efforts, the area hosts activities such as African drum workshops and language corners and runs a dedicated "Home for Expatriates" to help foreign residents navigate daily life.

Together, these initiatives continue to make this hillside neighborhood a welcoming, multicultural home for students from around the world.

The wall of foreign banknotes at the eatery. [Photo/WeChat account: duchenghz]