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TikTok food critic Keith Lee boosts business at Virginia restaurants

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TikTok food critic Keith Lee boosts business at Virginia restaurants


A TikTok food critic with millions of followers demonstrated how he can make or break a restaurant with a single video when he visited the D.C. area this week. 

Las Vegas native Keith Lee stopped by Okonomi Asian Grill — also known as the “Asian Chipotle” for its custom rice bowls — in Fairfax, Virginia, and business has been booming.

“I literally opened this by myself,” owner Alex Kang said. “So, six months I was doing 130-hour workweeks.”

There were times when he only got six orders a day.

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“I can’t sustain this with six orders,” he said. “That’s like 60 bucks. What can you do with 60 bucks?”

Ever since Lee posted a video about Okonomi, they’ve had to put signs on their door saying they can only serve people who order online because they’ve been so busy.

“It’s definitely wild,” Kang said. “I mean, it’s any restaurant owner’s dream to have this much exposure.”

Lee also went to the Flavor Hive food truck in Alexandria where one of the specialties is the walking nacho. Customers bring their own bag of chips – any size, same price – and they fill it up with meat and toppings.

“We had people bring in a size for a whole village,” owner Shihan Chowdhury said. “We still fill it up.”

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Flavor Hive also serves quesadillas and tacos.  

“It looked really good,” customer Alexia Urieta said about Lee’s TikTok. “When you saw the picture, you could see the flavor in the picture. So. really wanted to come out and try it.”

For those who can’t afford the food, Flavor Hive will give it to them for free.

“Some people will come and say, ‘Hey I don’t get paid until this day, I don’t get paid until that day, can I pick up a meal?’ We’re always open to that,” Chowdhury said.

Lee donated $3,000 to Okonomi because they’ve been dealing with theft issues recently. Kang said he’ll use some of the money to feed local teachers and the rest to provide bonuses to his staff. 

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Duke run defense set for tough matchup against Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten in Week 12

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Duke run defense set for tough matchup against Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten in Week 12


At 7-3, the Duke Blue Devils could build upon an already impressive 2024 football season over the final two games. The first of those chances comes on Saturday night when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Blue Devils’ defense has been their strength so far this season, specifically the secondary. However, their run defense hasn’t been the greatest, which could make for a poor matchup with the Hokies.

Duke has allowed 149.3 yards per game on the ground this season, 71st among FBS teams. The Blue Devils improve on a per-play basis, moving up to 44th at 3.83 yards allowed per carry, and they’ve only given up 10 rushing touchdowns in 10 games, but it’s a far cry from their pass defense (12th in yards per attempt).

On the flip side, the Virginia Tech rushing offense ranks 36th in the nation with 185.3 yards per game. The Hokies are one of five ACC teams averaging more than five yards per attempt, and that is mostly carried by running back Bhayshul Tuten.

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On the season, Tuten amassed 951 yards and 12 touchdowns on 146 attempts, an average of 6.51 yards per tote. He’s eclipsed 100 yards five times, including a 266-yard performance against Boston College that included three trips to the end zone.

Quarterback Kyron Drones also deserves attention for the Hokies’ offense on the ground. The redshirt junior has added 336 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Those two have more than 69% of the team’s rushing production in 2024. If Duke is to win this game, the key will be limiting Tuten and Drones.



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Obituary for Virginia Frances Stoots at Beckley Peace Chapel

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Obituary for Virginia Frances Stoots at Beckley Peace Chapel


Virginia Frances Stoots, age 81, of Beckley, WV received her heavenly promotion to be eternally with the Lord on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Born in Hotchkiss, WV on May 11, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Arnold Hatfield and Margaret Archie. Virginia was a retired manager from Ginos



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15-year-old accused of shooting teen near Lake Edward in Virginia Beach

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15-year-old accused of shooting teen near Lake Edward in Virginia Beach


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A 15-year-old boy is charged with shooting a teen over a week ago near Lake Edward in Virginia Beach, police say.

The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 10 in the 5000 block of W. Hastings Arch.

Police say officers responded to the shooting following an alert from ShotSpotter, which is technology that can detect gunshots.

Watch related coverage: Suspect arrested in deadly shooting at busy Portsmouth intersection

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Suspect arrested in deadly shooting at busy Portsmouth intersection

Officers then found a 15-year-old boy from Virginia Beach who had been shot, police say. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Last Thursday, police charged a boy — also a 15-year-old from Virginia Beach — in connection to the shooting. He’s charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, police added.

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The shooting is still under investigation. Police ask anyone with information to call detectives at 757-385-4101 or Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.





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