Keith Lee named Portland among his top three food destinations, saying the Rose City “pushed out Houston” from his favorite cities list.
PORTLAND, Ore. — TikTok food critic Keith Lee has ranked Portland in his top three favorite cities from “The Familee Food Tour,” placing the Rose City alongside New Orleans and Chicago as his most memorable food destinations.
Lee, who has over 17.2 million followers on TikTok, shared his rankings Friday in a video posted to his social media platforms as he reflected on his cross-country food tour before taking paternity leave.
“Portland was our last food tour, but I’m happy we ended on Portland because in my opinion, it was top three, it pushed out Houston,” Lee said in the video. “I know, Houston, I love Houston, but it pushed out Houston in my top three. So my official top three right now is New Orleans, Chicago and Portland, Chicago and New Orleans being like 1A and 1B.”
The food critic’s Portland visit generated significant attention from local restaurants and food enthusiasts, with thousands of social media users flooding his posts with recommendations for mom-and-pop establishments throughout the Portland metro area.
Lee announced he will be taking paternity leave through January 2026, with Portland serving as the final stop on his current tour.
Lee and his wife Ronni are expecting their third child, who will join their two daughters, Karter, 4, and Riley, 2, the couple casually announced in a TikTok video in late March. Lee initially gained fame by cooking for his family and ranking meals on TikTok — his authentic, homegrown content eventually evolved into widely watched restaurant reviews, earning him millions of followers.
“We are officially on paternity leave. We’re gonna be on paternity leave until January. The baby not here yet. But the baby about to be here and we’re taking off until January to make sure not only is my wife OK, but I get time to spend my baby,” he said.
Following his food tour hiatus, Lee revealed plans to launch a new venture as an ice cream truck operator in Dallas. “So that mean, Portland was our last food tour,” he said. “That’s where the ice cream truck comes in at. I’m gonna buy an ice cream truck. Not only am I gonna buy one, I’m gonna just go around Dallas and pass out ice creams.”
Lee’s rankings highlight Portland’s standing in the national food scene, with the city earning recognition alongside established culinary destinations New Orleans and Chicago.
KGW has reached out to Lee’s team for comment.
Dining and Cooking