N. Carolina food critic ‘Mr. ChimeTime’ shakes up Detroit’s food scene, gets backlash for reviews

DETROIT – A popular food critic has visited the cold-weather city of Detroit to try out its local food scene and hidden gems, but his reviews have been met with some backlash.

And no, it’s not Keith Lee, although he is from the city.

Meet North Carolina food influencer Rashad Mooreman, aka Mr. ChimeTime.

He has more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, over 800,000 on Facebook, 538,000 on Instagram, and more than 564,000 on YouTube.

To say the least, he has a BIG influence on his audience, and his reviews can either make or break a city’s food reputation.

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In July 2023, he shook up the Houston area with his “not so kind” reviews about the city’s favorite and notable restaurants.

Mooreman started his Michigan food tour in December and told Detroiters that he would be coming to the city soon on Dec. 29.

The Facebook post received over a thousand likes as the comment section flooded with recommendations and excitement for his visit.

His videos took a huge turn for Detroiters on Jan. 5 after he posted a review stating that the Hood Bachachi food truck is the “biggest scam in Detroit, Michigan.”

He said his food took 45 minutes to prepare after being told it would only take 25-30 minutes. The video on Facebook received more than 19,000 reactions and over 3,000 comments, telling the food critic that he either went to the wrong place or location or recommended other places to try.

On Jan. 16, Mooreman posted a video confronting the employees at the Vegan Trap after he said he was met with an attitude while trying to place an online order and over the phone.

After an hour of calling the restaurant, he explained in the video that the woman on the phone was rude and kept cutting him off when he tried to address the problem he had with the online order.

He also said the business lied on social media about the altercation and recorded one of the employees hanging up in his face.

The business apologized to Mooreman for his bad experience.

“You guys don’t take anything from this situation, know this, if you’re ever in a situation to where the truth could be manipulated, It takes two seconds to hit that record button. Women lie, men lie -- video does not,” Mooreman said.

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Now, let’s get into his visit.

Things started well for the suburban area of Detroit after he posted his first review on Dec. 24.

“As we all know southern hospitality is a thing right, there should be something called ‘Michigantality,’” Moorman said. “Ever since I been up here, I cannot speak for the city of Detroit because I haven’t been there yet but I can speak for the surrounding cities. From Dearborn, Madison Heights, Sterling Heights, Hazel Park, Auburn Hills, Novi -- y’all have all treated me with so much love, and I just want to say I appreciate you.”

Here’s how the Detroit area restaurants ranked:

Kimchi Box

• Duk-Boki-Ki: 8.8/ 10 -- “This was done right.”
• Popcorn Chicken: 6.8/10 -- “This been sitting out for awhile.”
• Moz Dogs: 6/10 -- “Oh it sucks... bad!”
• Kimchi Fries: 6.8/10 -- ”It’s just OK.”

Bento39

• Katsu Curry: “This curry right here is a serious issue (in a good way).”
• Ginger Pork: “It’s really, really good... unmatched.”
• Sabashio bento: “It’s extremely tasteful.”
• Overall rating: 9.6/10

Honey Wings

• Honey Red Ranch Bites: 8.3/10 -- “This on point!”
• Spicy Cheesy Jalapeños: 8.5/10 -- “If you like loaded fries, this one is going to be a hit.”
• Original Dog: 9/10 -- “This right here, this is a corndog!
• Double Cheese Dog: 7/10 -- “It’s just overall beautiful.”
• Rainbow Dog: 7.7/10 -- “Don’t expect for this to be sweet but still pretty good.”
• BBQ Ranch Monster Dog: 9.5/10 -- “This is probably the best ones right here.”

Oakland Tea House

• Homemade Shrimp Dumplings: 8.5/10 -- “I’ve never had shrimp like this but chopped up shrimp with tuna.”
• Salty Crispy Chicken: 8.6/10 -- “For one, it’s definitely salty but not as salty as you think it is.”
• Gua Bao: 9.3/10 -- “The dough is amazing!”
• Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles: 9.1/10 -- “You don’t want to eat this by itself.”

Matt $ Mo’s Italian Beef

• Italian Beef Sandwich: 8.5/10 -- “I never in my life had a sandwich dipped before but I think I like it.”
• Chicago Dog: 6.8/10 -- “It’s alright.”
• Italian Sausage Sandwich: 7/10 -- “Chef’s kiss!”

Maatouk Bakery

• Cheese Bread: 7.8/10 -- “Kind of reminds me of pita bread.”
• Zaatar Bread: 9/10 -- “You either going to like it or not.”
• Meat Bread: 7/10 -- “This reminds me of meatloaf, chopped up and spread on bread.”
• Pizza: 7/10 -- “It taste like pizza.”
• Meat Pie: 7.5/10 -- “A small empanada.”'

Lillie Mae’s

• Fried wings: 8/10 -- “This chicken right here is basic but good.”
• Cabbage: 5/10 -- “Midbage.”
• Porkchop: 4/10 -- “This flavor sucks.”
• Mac and Cheese: 3/10 -- “Garbage!”
• Turkey leg: 6/10 -- “It was cooked just right... but the taste is just OK at best.”
• Collard Greens: 4/10 -- “A thousand percent no!”

Dogwoods Deli.

• Mr. Beasley (Hot corned beef): 4.5/10 -- “It’s OK at best.”
• Dagwood’s (Afternoon Snack): 8/10 -- “It’s pretty good.”

Dearborn Meat Market

• Hummus: 8.2/10 -- “The texture is on point.”
• Parsley Salad: 8.5/10 -- “If you like your vegetables and you’re on a diet, I can see this being for you.”
• Makanek sandwich: 8.3/10 -- “This is a little to much sour for me.”
• Chicken Sandwich: 8.4/10 -- “Is this sour yes, but not as sour as the other one.”
• Skew ribeye: 5/10 -- “This looks too damn good to be this bland.”

Gift of India

• Masala and Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza: 9/10 -- “This is the best thing they could have created.”
• Chili Chicken Roll: 8.4/10 -- “This on point for sure.”
• Lamb Roll: 8.5/10 -- “I really like that one for sure.”
• Chicken and rice bowl: 8.8/10 -- “This is clutch.”

Corn on The Corner

• Kafta Sliders: 9.3/10 -- “The crunch was amazing.”
• Tajin Fries: 8.8/10 -- “That season is unmatched. These hands down are the best fries I ever had.”
• Nashville Chicken grilled cheese sandwich: 8.8/10 -- “This sourdough bread takes things to another level.”
• The Perfect Smash burger: 9.3/10 -- ″They smashed the hell out of these patties to perfection.”
• Elchapo (Hot Cheetos): 8.7/10 -- “This here is going back to the crib.”
• Banana pudding: “No.”

Sushi Coup

• Okonomiyaki fries: 8.7/10 -- “If this had a little bit more eel sauce, this would have been on point.”
• Spider Bowl: 8.5/10 -- “This whole dish is good.”
• Spicy Shrimp Sando: 9.4/10 -- “It’s very unique and very good.”
• Salmon Sando: 9.4/10 -- “Whoever created this is a damn genius.”

Middle Eats

• Falafel Wrap: 8.3/10 -- ‘This ain’t bad at all.”
• Chicken Shawarma wrap: 7.6/10 -- “It’s alright.”
• Steak Shawarma bowl: 8.8/10 -- “That dillio sauce takes everything to a whole new level.”

The Smackin - Ridiculously overpriced

• Steak and Cheese Egg Roll: 7/10 --“Is two egg rolls and a side of fries worth $16? Absolutely not -- but it’s decent.”
• Fries: 6.5/10 -- “OK at best.”
• Wings: 6.8/10 -- “The wings are OK at best too.”
• Lobster Grilled Cheese: 6/8/10 --“The grilled cheese is built different.”
• The Eiffel Tower: 7/10 -- “The garlic aioli is carrying the whole sandwich.”

Ok, Detroiters, here’s what Mr. ChimeTime had to say about your city!

This may take you on a rollercoaster of emotions as he criticizes some of the local favs.

“I want to make myself very clear, all the surrounding cities in Detroit, Michigan had held their end of the bargain,” Mooreman said. “The food outside of Detroit is awesome. Detroit, Michigan, do not (explicit) this up!”

From food trucks to strip clubs, here’s how the city of Detroit restaurants ranked:

Detroit Strip clubs - rating 1-4

1.) The Pantheion Club

• BBQ Wings: “The wings are like that, saucy, meaty, thick. This that dark, sweet barbecue sauce. This good too.”

2.) Legends Gentlemens Club

• Buffalo Wings: “For this to be the wrong order, these sure are pretty freaking good.”

3.) Truth Gentlemen’s Club

• BBQ wings: “These are not chicken wings!”

4.) Ace of Spades

• BBQ Wings: “The wings are trash.”

Best Detroit-style pizza - rating 1-8

1. Green Lantern Pizza: “It is amazing and hands down the best. It was crispy, covered in cheese, covered in sauce, the pepperoni was crispy, the pizza squares amazing.”
2. Pizza Papalis: “This pizza is a complete beast, cheesy, fluffy, airy, crunchy, my teeth literally got stuck in the cheese.”
3. Grandma Bob’s Handmade Pizza: “Grandma Bob’s was a whole vibe, the sauce was OK at best.”
4. Sicily’s Pizzeria: “This pizza was just sexy... it almost had the perfect balance of everything... but when it came to the sauce... it wasn’t enough.”
5. Cloverleaf Pizza: “Although this was good, this was one of the thinnest pizzas out of all the pizzas that I had.”
6. Loui’s Pizza: “The sauce itself wasn’t hitting on (explicit). That was very upsetting and I was expecting more.”
7. Buddy’s Pizza: “The pizza itself was cooked perfectly but for this to be the originator of Detroit-style pizzas, I was just expecting a little bit more.”
8. Shield’s Pizza: “This pizza was one of the thinnest of all the pizzas and I didn’t appreciate that.”

Best Corned Beef in Detroit - rating 1-5

1. Lou’s Deli: “This one right here is one of them ones. This sandwich right here is going to be tough to beat.”
2. Mr. Corned Beef: “The meat is a lot more tangier than the first one I had... that’s going to be tough to beat.
3. Rob’s Deli: “That is tough right there! For the price, they give you a lot of meat... when it comes to the meat, it’s really good.”
4. Bread Basket Downtown Detroit: “It does have a strong beautiful beefy taste that I can’t just get pass.”
5. D Motown Deli: “It’s very soggy, not saying it’s a problem but its the first thing I recognize.”

Best Coney Dogs in Detroit - rating 1-4

1. Parkside Coney Island: “This one has a nice snap to it... chili is a little different too... I love the fact they gave me a lot of onions.”
2. Robert’s Coney Island: “This one is the sloppiest and biggest out of all of them.”
3. Lous Coney Island Detroit: “You can see the seasoning in the chili but its not really giving off a distinct taste.”
4. L George’s Coney Island: “Taste like a regular Walmart hotdog.”

Food Trucks

Detroit 75 Kitchen - Highest rated food truck in Detroit

• BBQ Chicken Eggrolls: 9/10 -- “This a very nice vibrate flavor.”
• Atwater St. Chicken: 7.5/10 -- “They really did put a lot of seasoning inside... when it comes to the chicken, it’s dry AF.”
• 3rd St. Detroit Cheesesteak: 7.8/10 -- “What’s carrying this sandwich is those sweet pickled jalapeños.”
• Garlic Fries: 6.8/10 -- “They don’t taste like Garlic fries.”

Hoodbachi Grill - “Scambachi”

• Boss Bachi: -- “We have a food truck in the hood charging Benihana prices for hibachi.”
• Yum Yum Sauce: “It’s really good.”
• Overall rating: 4/10

Restaurants

Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles

Chicken and Waffles: “Chicken fried to perfection... when it comes to flavor, nonexistence... the waffle its self, super thin... super chewy.”

Fried Catfish: “It’s literally just OK at best.”

Salmon and grits: “The grits buttery, not creamy and cheesy at all... the gumbo sauce is complete trash... the salmon is surprisingly isn’t bad at all.”

Overall rating: 3.8/10

Southern Fire Bistro & Lounge

• Fried Chicken: 9/10 -- “That chicken is on point.”
• Fried fish: 8.9/10 -- “A fish like this is what I like.”
• Collard green: 5/10 -- “These really suck, no flavor at all.”
• Mac and cheese: 4.5/10 -- “This right here, is nothing but cheese and pasta.”
• Meatloaf plate: 5/10 -- “They didn’t season the beef at all.”
• Green beans: “They are just green beans, nothing more, nothing less.”
• Mash potatoes and gravy: 6.5/10 -- “I personally, the mash potatoes are actually pretty good. I wish I would have got that without the gravy.”
• Cornbread: 6.8/10 -- “This cornbread or pound cake?”

La Jalisciense

• Churros: 8.2/10 -- “One thing about churros, they’re going to hit every time.”
• Torta: 5.5/10 -- “I’m not feeling the steak at all.”
• Tostadas: 7.5/10 -- “Be prepared for it to be super cheesy.”
• Shrimp Quesadilla: 7.8/10 -- “This going to make you slap somebody.”
• Tamales (spicy chicken): 8.8/10 -- “This right here is one of the better ones.”
• Chicharrón: 7.2/10 -- “The meat is good. The guacamole is beast.”

IGGY’s Eggies

• Hash Brown Eggie: 8.8/10 -- “The IGGY sauce takes this to another level.”
• Bodega: 8.5/10 -- “It looks and taste good.”
• IGGy’s Piggy in a Blanket: 9.2/10 -- “Some syrup would have took this right over the top.”

What’s the Dill - Gem in Detroit

• What’s the Dill Sandwich: 9.4/10 -- “So this is a very interesting concept.”
• The Kenwood Sandwich: 9.6/10 -- “That’s pretty legit too.”
• The Big Dill Delight Sandwich: 8.4/10 -- “This one has a lot of meat on it. All you’re going to taste is the bacon.”

Taylor Made Burgers - The best burgers in the hood

• Wings: “This is still a hit.”
• Taylor Burger: “It’s definitely juicy for sure.”
• Seven-mile Corned beef: “I wish they wouldn’t have added the burger on here.”
• Cheese broccoli: “It’s just cheese and broccoli and definitely watery.”
• Overall rating: 7.2/10

Breadless - Another breadless gem

• Jerk City Chicken: 9.5/10 -- “That jerk chicken is a monster.”
• The Charti B: 8.7/10 -- “What’s really taking this sandwich over the top is the sweet pickles!”
• Detroit Oyster Club: 9.4/10 --“This is a good sandwich, I like this.”

MooreSoul Food

• Baked chicken dinner: “This skin right here -- beautiful.”
• Cornbread: “That was nasty AF.”
• Turkey Chops: “For the price, they do give you a lot of food.”
• Potato salad: “The potatoes are chopped nicely.”
• Green beans: “They’re alright.”
• Collard Greens: “A little bit of salt and red pepper flakes would have set this off.”
• Overall rating: 8.2/10

Asian Corned Beef

• Corn Beef, Ground Beef, Cabbage & Swiss Cheese: 6.5/10 -- “Taste like it’s been sitting under a heat lamp for a while.”
• Pastrami w/ Swiss Cheese: 7.8/10 -- “This one got more crunch to it.”
• Shrimp: 7.8/10 -- “This going to be the one!”
• Grilled Chicken & Swiss Cheese: 7/10 -- “My only problem with these is the exterior is extremely chewy.”
• Corn Beef & Swiss Cheese: 7.3/10 -- “They slacking on the cheese a bit.”

Mr. ChimeTime has reviewed more than 30 restaurants in Detroit. As we continue to post more about his reviews, we would like to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.