Media

Las Vegas-based TikTok sensation Keith Lee made good on last week’s promise to visit Arizona, posting reviews of several Valley restaurants this week for his 15.9 million followers on the platform.

Where did he go?

His first review was Republica Empanada, a 10-year-old Latin American eatery in downtown Mesa. You can watch it here.

Next up was Myungrang Hotdogs, a small Korean hot dog shop in west Mesa that’s part of a huge international chain. Watch it here.

Lee then headed to Phoenix to Ace of Wingz, which received more than 15,000 votes in a poll on Lee’s social media. Watch it here.

And in his latest video, Lee meets the Pretty Precise Step Team, which sells bottled lemonade to support its programs for minority at-risk youth. Watch it here.

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📲 Keith Lee, the former MMA fighter turned food critic whose TikTok videos are followed by more than 15 million people, is coming to check out restaurants in Arizona.

Recommendations sought

In a social media post, Lee says he’s looking for recommendations in four categories:

  • ‘‘Mom-and-pop’’ spots with good food that need marketing help;
  • Popular spots (as voted on via his social media channels);
  • Restaurants representing different cultures or ethnicities;
  • Most popular restaurants on DoorDash.

Lee orders his meals to go, then eats and films his no-frills reviews in his vehicle. A favorable review can spur thousands of his fans to visit a restaurant the next day.

Lee gave no indication when he will be in Arizona (presumably the Valley).

Did you know?

Lee’s two most recent trips – to Atlanta and Houston – generated considerable backlash when he wasn’t impressed by some local favorites.

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🔪 Valley chefs Matt Jordan and Gio Osso will face off tonight on the Food Network’s “SuperChef Grudge Match” with the winner getting the loser’s favorite knife and $10,000.

Jordan (left) is a corporate chef for Nestle Professional. Osso (right) is chef of Virtu Honest Craft in Scottsdale.

The premise of the episode, ‘‘Frenemy Feud,’’ is Jordan holds a grudge against Osso because he failed to promote him to chef de cuisine at Virtu in 2017.

The episode also will feature a second contest between two other chefs. Showtimes vary depending on your TV provider.

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Chilte, Lom Wong make Esquire’s list of best new restaurants of 2023

By Jess Harter Thursday, November 30, 2023

🏆 Another day, another list of restaurant rankings.

This time it’s Esquire’s annual list of the Best New Restaurants in America, and two downtown Phoenix restaurants are among this year’s 50 honorees.

One is Chilte, the Mexican restaurant at the restored Egyptian Motor Hotel. The other is Lom Wong, the Thai restaurant next to the Cambria Hotel.

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Former AZCentral.com restaurant critic revives PHXfoodnerds website

By Jess Harter Sunday, September 24, 2023

⌨️ Great news for those who are passionate about the Valley’s food scene: Former AZCentral restaurant critic Dominic Armato has resurrected his food discussion website PHXfoodnerds.

The bulletin board-style site explores categories such as Phoenix Eats; Kitchen, Market & Garden; Events & Gatherings; and Far From Home.

Armato, who created Valley food blogs Skillet Doux and The Killer Dish, launched  PHXfoodnerds in 2012 but had to abandon it when he was hired by AZCentral in 2015.

Armato left AZCentral in 2020. Earlier this year he began writing monthly restaurant reviews for the alt-weekly Phoenix New Times.

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Phoenix filmmakers launch docuseries with episode on Belly

By Jess Harter Friday, March 3, 2023

🎬 ‘‘Uncanny Valley,’’ a docuseries going behind the scenes of the local restaurant industry, launches online today with the first episode featuring Asian fusion restaurant Belly Kitchen & Bar.

The episode won best documentary/short documentary at the Toronto Indie Shorts, Santa Barbara Film Awards, and LA Sun Film Fest.

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Dominic Armato, who critiqued restaurants for the Arizona Republic and AZCentral.com from 2015-2020 before resigning to take a much-needed break from the business, has hooked up with the alt-weekly Phoenix New Times, where he will write one monthly review on a freelance basis.

His first review dropped today.

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Kudos to Craft 64, which earned a respectable 7.5 rating during a visit by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy over the weekend.

🍕 Aside from his online sports conglomerate, Portnoy has cult following for his YouTube show ‘‘One Bite Pizza Reviews,’’ which has critiqued more than 1,000 pizzerias over the past 10 years.

Portnoy also checked out Pizzeria Bianco, giving it a 7.3. Watch his reviews of Craft 64 and Bianco.

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Edible Phoenix magazine finds new owner, will continue publishing

By Jess Harter Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Edible Phoenix, an award-winning quarterly magazine that chronicles the Valley’s slow-food scene, has a new owner and editor, assuring the 17-year-old periodical will live on.

🚜 What it covers: The abundance of local foods in Phoenix with articles featuring farmers, food artisans, chefs, and food-related business owners.

The background: Founder and editor Pamela Hamilton, who launched Edible Phoenix in 2005, announced her retirement in September and put the magazine up for sale in hopes someone would continue her work.

The new owner: Shannan Perciballi, a Tempe native and ASU graduate, has worked in many facets of the restaurant and beverage industry since 1984.

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