Lost Their Appetite at First Glance: "What's Wrong with the Naengmyeon Noodles? Truly Shocking"—AI Food Images Spark Controversy

Unrealistic Noodles and Food Shapes Raise "Gross" Reactions
U.S. Café Faces Backlash After Using AI Food Photos
Restaurant Industry Faces Trust Issues Over "AI Images"

A Korean restaurant in Canada is facing controversy for allegedly using food images generated by generative artificial intelligence (AI) on its menu. Consumers have responded that the overly neat noodles in naengmyeon and the forms of the food—shapes rarely seen in reality—have actually diminished their appetite. The controversy over 'AI food photos' is growing as their use spreads throughout the restaurant industry.

The menu shared by Mr. A included various Korean dishes, including naengmyeon (cold noodles). However, it looked quite different from the photos of the actual cooked food. SNS

On August 21, photos of a menu taken at a Korean restaurant in Canada were posted on social media and networking services (SNS), alongside a comment saying, "I saw a truly shocking AI-generated menu." Writer A shared that their friend, who visited the restaurant together, felt so uncomfortable after looking at the menu that they could barely look at it while choosing what to eat.

The menu that A shared featured various Korean dishes, including naengmyeon (cold noodles). However, the images differed significantly from photos of the actual cooked food. In particular, the naengmyeon noodles were arranged in an excessively uniform way, almost as if produced by machine, and the textures and shapes of the foods subtly deviated from reality, highlighting the sense of oddness often found in generative AI images. Viewers responded with comments such as, "It's like food imagined by an alien civilization," and "It's the first time I've found naengmyeon unsettling."

Some commenters pointed out that using AI-generated images like these could undermine trust and expectations for the food itself. Menu photos provide customers with important information to gauge the quantity, appearance, and ingredients of products before ordering. If images unrelated to the actual dishes are used, it can create anxiety—the feeling that "I have no idea what I will actually be served."

Similar reactions have been observed on overseas online communities. Recently, in discussions about restaurants using AI food images, people have repeatedly commented, "I want to see photos of the actual food," and, "Even if it's a blurry picture taken with a cellphone, at least it would show the real dish." Many have also said that overly polished AI-generated images actually decrease their appetite.

U.S. Cafe Faces Backlash After Using AI Images on Its Menu

There have already been cases where AI-generated food images have had a negative effect on restaurant business. Last July, the cafe 'Grind & Unwind,' which opened on Haight Street in San Francisco, displayed AI-generated images of sandwiches, coffee, and bread in its store windows, sparking strong criticism from local residents.

Last July, the cafe 'Grind & Unwind,' which opened on Haight Street in San Francisco, USA, displayed AI-generated images of sandwiches, coffee, and bread on its store windows, sparking strong criticism from local residents. SNS

Online, some said that the focaccia looked like a loofah, and many questioned why the cafe would use AI images instead of photographs of actual food. Ultimately, the owner removed the promotional materials featuring AI images after just one week and changed the store display so that real dishes were visible. The restaurant explained at the time that the AI images had been used as temporary promotions to announce the menu during the grand opening. From the perspective of a small restaurant, the main merits of generative AI are reducing costs and saving time that would be needed for professional photography and design. However, some point out that if customer reactions and aversion are factored in, using AI images is not necessarily an economical choice.

Significant Differences from Real Food Could Spark Accusations of False Advertising

Another controversy surrounding the spread of AI food images is the potential to replace professional expertise. Some who saw the AI-generated menu commented that taking good food or advertising photos requires specialized skill and experience. They worry that if AI images are indiscriminately used simply for cost reasons, professional staff with food photography know-how could disappear.

Above all, consumers’ attitudes toward AI-generated food images are not uniformly positive. In a 2025 survey in Korea, researchers studied the responses of 104 consumers to AI-generated food advertising images. The results showed that, even when the image was otherwise identical, awareness that it was AI-generated tended to lower perceptions of realism, visual satisfaction, brand attitude, and purchase intention.

When AI-generated images differ too much from the actual food being served, further problems can arise. Using generative AI images in a menu is not problematic in itself, but when the images significantly deviate from what is actually provided—especially since consumers are likely to interpret the photos as representing real menu items—there is a risk that issues of false advertising or trust could emerge.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.