Get those restaurant recommendations ready, Baltimore.
Keith Lee, the TikTok food critic known for his reviews of mom-and-pop and Black-owned restaurants, is headed to the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area, or DMV, to sample some local cooking.
In a video posted to his TikTok early Monday, Lee said he will be in the DMV “very soon.”
“It’s hard to see on my face, but my level of excitement (is) through the roof,” he said.
In the video, he asked for recommendations for “restaurants from different backgrounds, different cultures or different ethnicities.” (Also of note: Lee has a shellfish allergy, which might make dining in Maryland, famed for its crabs, a little more complicated.)
A nod from the food influencer, who previously had a career as a mixed martial artist, stands to give a big boost to local restaurants. Lee has 16.5 million followers on TikTok and 2 million on Instagram.
He’s also occasionally courted controversy with his takes. Earlier this year, the critic drew the ire of some San Francisco residents after cutting short a trip to the Bay Area, citing safety concerns and uninspiring dining options.
Lee often crowdsources his visits, asking followers to send their recommendations of places to try. In his video Monday, Lee said he’ll check his emails and Instagram direct messages, as well as social media tags and mentions, for locals’ advice on where to dine in the DMV. He said he also plans to run a poll on Instagram for followers to vote on some of “the most popular restaurants that embody the food scene in your opinion.”
“If somebody you know has a mom-and-pop shop or a family-owned spot that has great food and great customer service but could use some marketing for absolutely free to them, let me know,” he said.
Lee’s followers are already shouting out some Baltimore favorites in the replies: Ekiben, Koco’s Pub, Royal Spice and Granny’s Restaurant are among the local spots to get a mention so far.
Others argue that Baltimore shouldn’t be lumped in with D.C. and Virginia on Lee’s visit: “Baltimore needs its own tour,” one person commented. “We have the best food.”