‘Talk about whiplash’: Restaurant that got boost from popular TikTok food critic closes its doors

A Seattle restaurant, that saw a surge in customers after a TikTok food reviewer with 16.7 million followers stopped by, has closed its doors.

FOB Sushi Bar, with locations in Seattle and Bellevue, decided to close following health concerns.

“Your health and safety are our highest priorities,” the restaurant stated via an Instagram post. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to address the situation and will take all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again.”

The debacle started after influencer Keith Lee, known for his authentic food reviews and the “Keith Lee effect” that leaves small businesses with lines out the door, visited the Emerald City last week.

He posted about several Seattle spots including King’s Barbeque House, Senait Restaurant Ethiopian Cuisine and FOB Sushi Bar with co-owner Vincent Chen telling KING 5 that Lee’s visit was the “best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Rantz: Alleged sushi worm sets off Keith Lee TikTok controversy at Seattle restaurant

However, after Lee posted the FOB Sushi Bar review, other TikTok users claimed there was a worm in the sushi and that you can see it in the video.

@keith_lee125 Fob Sushi taste test 💕 would you try it 💕 #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee

The movement is very subtle and the restaurant claimed it was due to how Lee was holding the chopsticks and not because of a worm.

“The movement observed in the fish may result from natural elasticity or the pressure of the chopsticks when applied to its structure,” FOB Sushi stated in an Instagram post Saturday.

However, Lee released a video in response to the restaurant’s statements.

@keith_lee125 💕 Keith Speaks 💕 God Is Amazing 🙏🏽 #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee

He said that he is OK and that while “he cannot confirm or deny what it was,” he referenced a TikTok video of someone claiming they were hospitalized for a week due to eating at FOB Sushi Bar, with the caption “Keith Lee how ur stomach feeling?”

Therefore, the restaurant decided to close its doors for now, with no word on reopening.

“Talk about whiplash, though,” Ursula Reutin, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsraido said Monday. “The owners, they went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and I feel terrible for these business owners.”

Co-host of “Gee and Ursula” Gee Scott echoed that sentiment.

“What’s that old saying, if you live by the sword, you could potentially die by the sword,” he said. “And so while Keith Lee can do wonders for your business, just know he could also do this.”

Andrew Lanier, Gee Scott debate Keith Lee

Andrew Lanier, the producer for “Gee and Ursula,” wasn’t impressed with Lee when he first posted about Seattle restaurants.

“He is the most uninformed dude in the world when it comes to food,” Andrew said on the show Thursday.

Gee explained the appeal.

“I’ll tell you what it is,” Gee said. “People love the authenticity of him.”

“It just feels like the dumbest people in society get rewarded the most,” Andrew replied.

To which Gee quipped, “I’m feeling like you can’t come to my barbecues.”

However, Gee said while he feels what Lee has been doing is “fantastic” his only drawback is that he thinks Lee should only do positive reviews.

“If you don’t have a positive review for someone then don’t say anything, because it’s really hard,” Gee said. “Keith Lee, yes, this is fantastic for the ones that are doing well, what if he goes to a restaurant and says ‘Eh it wasn’t really that good.’ You all of your hard work, you’re in trouble.”

Where would you recommend Keith Lee visit in Seattle?

Gee and KIRO Newsradio fill-in Host Angela Poe Russell were asked which local spots they would recommend to Lee.

Gee’s answer: Pike Place Chowder.

“I’m telling you right now, Pike Place chowder,” he said. “Nobody has better clam chowder.”

Poe Russell’s answer was Top Pot Doughnuts.

“Whenever I have relatives come here, we are going to Top Pot Doughnuts,” she said. “They’re glazed, just amazing.”

John Curley Show fill-in hosts, producer weighs in

Joe Wallace, the producer of “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio said his wife “screamed like the Beatles were in town,” when she found out Lee was in Seattle.

“He went to four restaurants and evidently boosted the patronage of all these restaurants to their limits,” Joe said on “The John Curley Show” Thursday.

Fill-in Host for “The John Curley Show” Mike Lewis said Lee is “amazed by virtually everything he eats.” He added that he’s happy that the restaurants are getting business.

However, Lewis had some advice for Lee: “When you’re saying to the public, ‘I don’t know what that seasoning is, they didn’t tell me.’ Ask them,” he said.

Yet, KIRO Newsradio fill-in host Feliks Banel said, “I don’t think his audience cares about that. That would be more of a journalistic approach.”

Banel noted that before TikTok if someone did a TV show about a restaurant, the business would get a boost of customers and then service would die down until the rerun played. However, with TikTok “everything is a rerun all the time,” Banel said.

Therefore, the “Keith Lee effect” could last long after the popular influencer leaves the city. Lee’s latest Seattle restaurant was Hood Famous Bakeshop in Seattle.

@keith_lee125 Hood Famous taste test 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic @Hood Famous Bakeshop ♬ original sound – Keith Lee

This story was originally published November 15, 2024, at 4 p.m. It has been updated and republished since then.

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m.- noon on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Listen to John Curley on “The John Curley Show” weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.