TikToker Keith Lee Slammed A Major City's Food Scene — And People Are Angry (2024)

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Now, I’m sure you’ve seen the discourse on social media regarding popular foodie and TikToker Keith Lee. Chile, one thing Lee is going to do is have social media in an uproar.

The 27-year-old food enthusiast is known for exploring various cities to sample their local cuisines, but his recent trip to the Washington, D.C. area left him underwhelmed. After announcing on TikTok that he’d be visiting the nation’s capital, many fans suggested restaurants for him and his family to try during his stay. He posted three review videos while in Washington but later revealed in a TikTok post that he would only share six out of the 12 restaurants he visited. He explained that the remaining reviews wouldn’t be “constructive” and might unfairly harm the reputation of the restaurants that didn’t meet his expectations.

In the video above, Lee showcases platters of food from various restaurants while withholding their names. In one clip, he mentions that the strong smell of one of the dishes prompted his family to return to the restaurant and ask if it had been cooked alongside shellfish — a potential issue for Lee, since he’s allergic to it. He also points out the unsanitary conditions at some establishments, noting that workers were preparing food without gloves while handling money.

Social media users recognized one spot instantly as Oohh’s & Aahh’s, prompting the restaurant to respond to Lee.

“We were actually very excited that Keith Lee was coming to the DMV. We really truly believe if he had the opportunity to try our cuisine and try our food, he would love it,” Keya Barnes, the director of operations for the establishment, told Fox 5.

“We do feel like it’s extremely unfortunate the food they did get from us, they weren’t able to try based on the way it was served. But I will say this: Keith Lee, if you’re still in the DMV, we would love it if you’d reach out. Even if you don’t want to try the food again, it is always our mission and goal to serve the best food possible and anytime that we make a mistake, we like to own it. And he always talks about being treated like a regular guest. If he were a regular guest, we would reach out directly and make this right.”

Observers on social media also chimed in, with some taking Lee’s side and others criticizing his approach to his food tours.

I’d say we need to understand the purpose of Lee’s food reviews: to shine a spotlight on restaurants that might not get enough love or attention, like mom-and-pop shops or newly opened restaurants. Sure, some might argue that he could’ve done a bit more research on the places he visited, but let’s not forget that these recommendations came from his followers.

This is also a wake-up call for restaurants to ensure their staff members are on their A-game at all times. No gloves while touching food? Cross-contaminating products? That’s a big no-no. It’s a learning experience for business owners; whether it’s Lee or a local resident coming in for a meal, they should always aim to provide an exceptional experience — and stay up to code.

Plus, so much of Lee’s work, and the reason why he does these food tours, is to help local restaurants. He understands the power of his reviews and knows they can make or break a business. So, not too much on him.