“JHope effect” - Fans react to the BTS' J-Hope inspiring the rise in plant-based restaurant visits after his recent Weverse live

BTS’ J-Hope has sparked a wave of interest in vegan tofu pad thai (a Thai dish) after he enjoyed the dish during a live Weverse broadcast on November 12, 2024. During the stream, he was seen eating it from a Los Angeles restaurant aptly named "H.O.P.E," creating a buzz among fans who noticed the restaurant’s name serendipitously matched his own.

His genuine delight while savoring the cuisine left a strong impression on viewers, who soon grew curious to try it themselves. As fans flocked to taste the dish and shared their experiences online, sales at H.O.P.E reportedly saw a notable boost.

Fans also found it charming that he seemed to unintentionally promote a restaurant that shared his name, leading them to “connect the dots” with playful excitement. His enthusiasm for the meal resonated with fans, who left comments celebrating his joy and their eagerness to experience the dish that caught his attention.

“No one gets left behind. He loves his organic tofu,” a fan remarked.

“Jhope spent half of his time praising Tofu,” a fan stated.

“Okay i get he is promoting, just like how i wanted to promote veganism,” a fan said.

“My man also love vegis,” another fan said.

Other fans also commented.

“I went to the restaurant called H.O.P.E. that J-hope ordered from!! Got his exact order.. ORGANIC TOFU IS REAL!!!! hehe going to rewatch his live and eat with hope!” A fan wrote.

“So j-hope really chose to order from a restaurant called HOPE,” another fan remarked.

“Every business establishment just needed a subtle BTS link and then boom!” A fan praised.

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J-Hope promotes organic tofu from a Los Angeles based restaurant

BTS’ J-Hope recently connected with fans through his second Weverse live since his discharge from the military, creating an exciting moment for ARMYs. Dressed in a casual black T-shirt, sporting a gold watch, and showing off his shorter hairstyle, he appeared relaxed and playful as he interacted with viewers and answered questions.

During the live session, fans kept asking about a possible world tour, and J-Hope teased them, saying,

“You guys want a tour, right?”

His lighthearted response delighted fans, who loved seeing him engage in a bit of playful banter.

In addition to the interaction, the BTS star was seen enjoying a cup of vegan tofu pad thai, which he frequently praised throughout the live, emphasizing the words “for real” as a nod to its organic quality. The dish was from H.O.P.E (Healthy Organic Positive Eating), a Los Angeles-based restaurant known for its vegan and Thai-inspired cuisine.

Fans quickly picked up on this and began researching the restaurant, sharing details about its location, menu, and special dishes with others online. Many even visited H.O.P.E and shared their experiences on social media, which caused an unexpected surge in interest for the restaurant.

A simple interaction turned into a trending topic, with fans calling it as unofficial marketing by J-Hope, as his enjoyment of the dish brought organic publicity to H.O.P.E and sparked a wave of support from the ARMYs.