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When it comes to social media, it can be tough to separate truth from lies. With so many marketing tricks up the sleeves of companies and influencers, it can be difficult to know who to trust. Also, when it comes to food reviews, finding a true and honest critic can be especially tricky. You know the type: they’re sponsored by a restaurant, so they rave about the food, but when you actually go to the restaurant and try it for yourself, you’re left feeling less than impressed.
But have you heard about Keith Lee?
Keith Lee, an MMA fighter found fame and fortune on TikTok as a food critic extraordinaire. At the ripe age of 26, he discovered a knack for creating scrumptious cooking videos, all inspired by his lovely wife Ronni’s pregnancy cravings. Together, they share two beautiful children, and Keith couldn’t be more proud. But what started as a way to combat social anxiety and sharpen his interviewing skills, quickly turned into a delicious, lip-smacking adventure that had TikTok fans craving more by the end of 2022.
The food critic sensation went from unknown to TikTok royalty in no time. With his mouth-watering food content and relatable reviews, Keith had a massive following hooked on every single one of his food review videos. Starting off in 2022 with a humble million followers, Keith’s TikTok foodie empire has now grown to a staggering 9 million followers and counting.
But, like many of us, Keith’s journey wasn’t always a bed of roses. He faced his fair share of struggles, including bouts of depression and financial hardships, even losing his job at one point. But through it all, Keith never wavered in his determination and kept pushing forward, which ultimately led to his tasty rise to fame, literally.
Keith Lee’s Transformative Role in the Growth of Small Food Businesses
Keith Lee’s reputation as a respected food critic is well-deserved, particularly due to his dedication to highlighting small, independently-owned restaurants. Through his thoughtful and insightful reviews, Keith has played a significant role in elevating the profile of numerous establishments, bringing them recognition and success.
Here’s a few lists of some of the restaurants that have particularly benefited from Keith’s expert evaluations:
Frankensons
Frankensons, a small family-owned restaurant, was struggling to make ends meet. But that all changed when an employee sent a message to Keith Lee, asking him to try their food. As people saw Keith’s positive review, interest in Frankensons skyrocketed. Their TikTok account, which previously only had 2,000 followers, gained an astounding 70,000 in just a day. Now, it boasts over 370,000 followers.
Frank, the owner of a food restaurant, was featured on the KTNV news. In an emotional interview, he said, “I’ve sold more lemon pepper wings in the last two days than I have in the last four months.”
For 30 long years, Frank had nurtured a dream of opening this restaurant. But when the doors finally opened, the reality was far from what he had imagined. Business was slow and it was a constant struggle, with Frank counting himself lucky if he could scrape together $400 a day.
But after Keith’s food review went viral on the internet, Frank’s restaurant started seeing a steady stream of customers from all over. People were lining up even at closing time, and orders were coming in nonstop. And now, the video of Keith’s initial review of Frankensons pizza has been viewed over 33 million times, showing just how powerful positive word-of-mouth can be.
Four4corner Street Chicken
Recently, @mariomirante from TikTok challenged the one and only Keith Lee to check out Four4corner Street Chicken in Las Vegas, a Filipino family-owned food truck. According to @mariomirante, the food was so good that he felt bad for being the only customer there at night. But Keith, being the daredevil he is, took the challenge and headed to Four4corner Street Chicken. But he didn’t wanna ruin the surprise so he put on a super funny disguise upon getting the food.
Here’s the bottom line, Four4corner Street Chicken nailed it with a top-notch score of 10/10 in customer service and an impressive 9/10 in food.
Right after Keith Lee’s food review of Four4corner Street Chicken, the comments on their TikTok account were lit! Everyone was like “YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT TO BE BUSY” and “I can’t find the locations where y’all going to be!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please help!“
One commenter even said:
As a Filipino, nothing fills my heart with joy quite like seeing my fellow countrymen and women shining in the spotlight and sharing our rich culture with the world.
Southern Taste Seafood
Keith Lee was out for a bike ride when he came across the Southern Taste Seafood food truck, located at Desert Springs Hospital, and chatted with its owner, Gary. The next day, he returned to buy food and had a deeper conversation with Gary and learned about the struggles the food truck was facing, with Gary expressing that he was just trying to stay afloat and that sales were slow despite customers loving the food. It was an emotional conversation that highlighted the challenges faced by small business owners like Gary.
But if there’s one thing that stands out in Keith’s encounter with Gary, it’s the exceptional customer service provided by the food truck. In a previous food review, Keith had lamented the terrible customer service he received at Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips, so much so that he didn’t even buy the food due to health and safety concerns.
As Keith has a shellfish allergy, when he reminded the staff of his allergy, they dismissively told him that everything was contaminated as the same bowl and oil were used for all dishes. So, to avoid any potential health risks, he wisely walked away from the restaurant.
I can only imagine Gordon Ramsay having a “Kitchen Nightmare” episode about that.
In stark contrast, Gary, the small food truck owner, went out of his way to ensure that Keith’s food was prepared in a clean and safe manner, as he was made aware of Keith’s shellfish allergy. It serves as a reminder that even small business owners like Gary can provide excellent customer service. I guess it’s a lesson for Gordon’s staff to learn from.
But the good stuff doesn’t just end there. Gary’s story struck a chord with many people, as the post detailing his struggles quickly gained traction online. Within an hour of its posting, it had been viewed over 3 million times, and currently, it has reached over 20 million views.
This led Keith to give Gary a call, only to learn that he had been receiving a large number of orders and cash app donations without even ordering. Despite being confused by this sudden influx of business, Gary was grateful for the outpouring of support. Keith succinctly explained the reason behind this outpouring of support, saying “good people like seeing other good people do well.”
The effect of Keith’s food review video was astounding, as Gary received $30,000 in donations within 24 hours of it being posted. Crazy, huh?
How Keith Lee’s Reviews Stand Out Among Other Food Influencers on TikTok
Raw and Authentic Food Reviews
Are you tired of the same old, sugarcoated food reviews on social media? Well, not Keith Lee. He’s not your average influencer, swayed by restaurant sponsorships. Keith’s all about authenticity and that’s what sets him apart from the rest of the foodie crowd on the platform. He’s all about giving real, unbiased opinions on the meals he’s trying. However, we all know that a food review can make or break a restaurant’s reputation. And as a major social media influencer, Keith holds a lot of power in his taste buds. With one honest review, he could send a small business booming or bring it crashing down. It’s a heavy responsibility.
Remember that taste is a subjective thing. Just because something tickles Keith’s fancy, doesn’t mean it will do the same for you. That’s why he always reminds us that his reviews are just his humble opinion, and encourages everyone to form their own opinions and taste for themselves. After all, variety is the spice of life, and everyone has their own unique taste buds. So don’t just take Keith’s word for it, go out there and explore the world of food.
Values Customer Service
Keith isn’t just about the food, he also cares about the service. He’s always on the hunt for restaurants that go above and beyond for their customers and gives them a shoutout in his reviews. But, he’s also real with it, if the service is bad, he’ll tell it like it is. Because he’s all about the full dining experience, making sure the food is delicious, and the people serving it are just as great.
It is truly refreshing to see food reviews that place emphasis on customer service. Have you ever witnessed a situation where food service workers were mistreated for small inconveniences? Furthermore, it is disheartening to see some waitstaff being pranked, such as having chocolate icing smeared on their face and laughed at, or drive-thru workers being startled by loud honking while they are handling orders. What’s even more unfortunate is that these workers may not always feel comfortable speaking up or defending themselves for fear of losing their jobs.
Recognizing good customer service is a powerful reminder that we should treat all individuals with respect and empathy. No one is above anyone else and we should not feel entitled to vent our frustrations or anger on them, unless it is a reasonable and justified response.
By highlighting the importance of good customer service in his reviews, Keith not only helps restaurants improve, but also assists customers in making informed decisions about where to dine. It is also a way of giving credit to the hardworking individuals behind the scenes who are often overlooked. Overall, recognizing good customer service is vital for both the restaurant industry and customers. And, we are grateful to Keith for consistently showing appreciation for these unsung heroes.
Inspires People
Not only is he a fun-loving food critic who reviews meals while sitting on a Paw Patrol chair, but he’s also an inspiration to his followers.
Keith has been openly discussing his personal battles with an eating disorder, an issue that has been a significant focus in his professional athletic career. Despite the common perception of athletes as the epitome of health and fitness, the reality is that a staggering 45% of female athletes and 19% of male athletes also struggle with eating disorders, as Keith himself has experienced.
In an interview with Insider, Keith shared that many people in the wrestling world have body issues, but no one was really talking about it. He said that it just came with the job. It’s sad that these hidden struggles go largely unmentioned.
And let’s not forget, just because an athlete may struggle with an eating disorder, it doesn’t mean they’re any less of an athlete. They’re still out there pushing themselves to the limit, breaking records and making us all proud. They’re simply human, with the same flaws and challenges as the rest of us.
So, Kudos to Keith for shedding some light on this important issue. Let’s support them and give them the space to talk about their struggles, and let’s all work together to break the stigma around eating disorders in the athletic community.
Well folks, Keith has not just been wrestling with an eating disorder, he’s also had to grapple with the beast that is social anxiety. But instead of letting it hold him back, he’s using it as a driving force behind his latest venture: TikTok food critic stardom! You see, Keith initially began uploading videos as a way to confront and conquer his anxiety, as well as to sharpen his interview skills for his MMA career.
But the surprises don’t stop there, Keith’s TikTok account has also led him to an even more rewarding outcome. He has inspired and helped many small, especially struggling food business owners, which in turn helped them to reach more customers, and helped them to grow their businesses.
Not only is Keith a professional athlete, but he is also a social media influencer, who is using his platform to make a difference in the world, and that is truly something to cheer about.
So, if you’re looking to join in on the delicious journey of Keith Lee’s food reviews, be sure to give him a follow on Instagram (keith_lee124) and TikTok (@keith_lee125).
