When food influencer TikTok foodie Keith Lee says he’s coming to your city, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself and the local eateries in your town.
After going scorched earth on the Atlanta food scene in October, the Tiktoker with more than 15.2 million followers announced he was taking the “Keith Lee effect” to Houston, Texas on Nov. 18.
“I can’t wait,” he said excitedly. “Houston — Houston gonna be one of them ones.”
Lee’s objective: to uplift local mom-and-pop joints with “great food, great customer service, but need help with marketing.”
His reviews offer smaller restaurants a ton of organic promotion. He asks followers to make suggestions or tag him in videos to see what the locals crave.
Viewers were ready to give their suggestions and ask their neighbors to behave.
“HOUSTON. ACT RIGHT,” Apollo McBadass wrote.
Several others also pleaded with Lee not to waste his time at a local restaurant called The Turkey Leg Hut.
“Houston, remember he said good food but they are struggling so don’t tell him places like Turkey Leg Hut,” JosieJones1908 said.
So here are the places The Keith Lee Family Food Tour went in Houston, Texas:
Several commenters asked who recommended this restaurant because of several points Lee made in his review — a lack of flavor on some dishes or too much talk in others. One combo meal was $50.
“As a Houstonian who has been to stick talk and tasted these same bowls, I agree! Very salty but still pretty decent!” Princess Star wrote.
“$60 and you got a catfish plate AND oxtails ?! cry’s in NY,”
cannabisuarus.wreck. wrote.
This brunch landmark, which many Houstonians said is already extremely popular and doesn’t need “the Keith Lee effect,” this restaurant was one of Lee’s and his wife’s favorite spots.
The restaurant features a drool-worthy combo of fried chicken and pancakes, which Lee and his wife said were some of the best hen they’d ever had.
“10’s all around,” his wife said.
This dessert bar and woman-owned business came in hot for a Lee to review their treats, including a signature banana pudding, a Biscoff frozen cheesecake on a stick, and an Oreo cro-waffle — a waffle/croissant hybrid.
Lee was so impressed that he left a $2,000 tip.
“I love Houston — this is delicious,” he said.
This Jamaican restaurant had a rough week before Lee showed up. He was tagged repeatedly on one of their Instagram posts showing that a bonnet-wearing woman had recently stolen their tip jar.
After he reviewed the food, Lee and his family went to replace the tip jar money, tripling it.
“Houston is healing his soul after Atlanta 😭,” Missy commented.
The owner of the food truck appealed to Lee’s content creator side and made a video of what she’d serve him — and they did exactly that.
“So far, Houston is almost up there with New Orleans in my eyes when it comes to the best food,” Lee said before taking a bite of the salmon cheesecake. “It’s close.”
One bite of the salmon cheesesteak, Lee was immediately a fan.
After the review, he said he went and ordered another one.