It’s no secret that American food has its own way of standing out compared to other countries. However, what seems to be comfort food overseas is now a hot topic amongst American TikTok users.
It all started with a starch beloved worldwide: the potato. You can have it fried, mashed, gnocchi’d, or—if you ask the United Kingdom food truck Spud Bros Express owners—baked and crisped into a jacket potato. The company began as a family business starting in 1955, and is now run by two brothers who have recently captured the attention of millions of TikTok users.
In the past weeks, specifically, their popularity surged because of their offered choice of topping for their potatoes. Viewers expected the options of cheese and beans, but for many TikTok users—like @darian.batts—a scoop of tuna was nowhere on the bingo card.
Like the internet does, some people took the information and ran with it. American users were either tempted to try the combo themselves or waved their hands at the idea. One customer visited the food truck to see what all the hype was about, and their previous appreciation for tuna seemed to play a role in their positive review.
Word got around and even reached the ears of Keith Lee during his visit to the UK. However, after recording his reaction to Spud Bros’ trendy tuna addition, Lee’s review never saw the light of day on his TikTok account. This (of course) led viewers to start digging, and they found behind-the-scenes footage of the review. Fair warning, it was not as well received as the previous customer.
And just like that, the ‘Keith Lee Effect’ was in full motion. One of the owners posted a video response which users are unsure whether to take it seriously because of the caption, “It’s been a fun ride Chewna”. In the clip, the owner mentioned taking tuna off the menu.
The brothers appear to be using this opportunity of Lee’s review to advertise the tuna even more than before. Long lines in front of their truck, putting up a picture of a tuna at the front, and using their song Potato Rap (Remix) over their videos to promote the menu item. Additionally, in an attempt to appeal to American users, @thespudbrothers featured a new menu item called the ‘All American Spud’ that featured cheese, homemade chili, crispy onions, sour cream, and jalapenos (which might look familiar to customers who have gone to the Los Angeles Spud Guys’ location).
The controversy does not seem to be discouraging the brothers seeing as their pushing back with new content almost every few hours. They’re showcasing their menu items and servicing their community—ending each day by gifting free potatoes to their last customers.