North Texas food reviewer who visited Taste Community named to Time’s Top 100 list
Dallas-based social media influencer Keith Lee was recently recognized by Time Magazine as a Top 100 Creator.
He’s been present on social media since 2021 and in just four years, he’s accumulated more than 19 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.
His content consists of food reviews, specifically for Black and family-owned mom-and-pop shops. Lee has turned struggling restaurants into places with lines out the door.
His said his dream is to one day open his own restaurant, but for now is giving back to already existing establishments.
Lee moved to Dallas from Las Vegas in November 2024, but his impact on North Texas started before that. Here’s a look at where he’s visited around town.
Keith Lee’s impact on Texas
Lee visited Hutchins Barbeque in Frisco, giving it a stellar review that resulted in lines out the door. He loved it so much, he visited what he thought was the same restaurant, The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque in Trophy Club. Though the two are from the same family, they are not the same restaurant. Nonetheless, Lee helped out both establishments.
Lee also made an appearance at Fort Worth’s Taste Community Restaurant, leaving a $4,000 donation without trying the food just to promote the message of the restaurant.
“This is a place that should be shined, celebrated and highlighted everywhere in this community, not only in this community but the world,” he told his millions of followers about Taste Community.
Most recently, he partnered with the viral La La Land cafe by creation his own Matcha latte. All of the proceeds from the drink went directly to Kerr County Flood Relief.
These examples are part of the reason why Time appointed Lee with the honor of a Top 100 creator.
“A ringing endorsement from social media food critic Keith Lee can put a mom-and-pop shop on the map,” Time’s judges wrote. “There’s even a name for this phenomenon: the “Keith Lee effect.”
You can find his reviews on Instagram and Tik Tok @keith_lee125.
How did Time Magazine determine the Top 100 Creators list?
This is the first-ever Top 100 Creator List that Time has published.
“Led by changes in consumer behavior that accelerated during the pandemic, digital creators, the entrepreneurs who have built businesses through significant online followings, have emerged to shape our culture. They are changing what we watch, how we spend our time, what we buy, and how we vote,” judges wrote about the people on the list.
The list is compiled of primarily English-speaking creators from 15 different countries. They all make their living from platforms including Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Substack. They are also creators who built their platforms from the ground up.
The list was determined by world-wide Time magazine correspondents, editors, and contributors. The magazine also used a partnership with #paid to analyze each creator’s engagement and data.
The list was categorized by titans, entertainers, leaders, phenoms and catalysts. Lee was recognized as a phenom.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM.