Food critic Keith Lee gets shock surprise when he returns to his favorite BBQ spot to uncover major scandal

A food critic has inadvertently discovered the unfortunate back story behind two popular Texas barbecue restaurants after reviewing their food. 

Keith Lee, who has more than 16 million followers on TikTok, is popular for his takeout reviews, often conducting them while still hot in his car. 

Lee, who also relies on suggestions from his followers, ordered from Hutchins BBQ in January of this year - a restaurant that has stood since 1978 with locations in McKinney and Frisco, with lines out the door.

Last week, Lee decided to pay the venue a return visit, so he thought. 

Lee thought he was visiting a separate outpost but it turned out he was visiting a new location set up only last year by different members of the same family after a spectacular falling out over expansion plans. 

TikTok food critic Keith Lee who has more than 16 million followers inadvertently weighed into a family feud

Lee visited Hutchins BBQ in January of this year but then visited The Original Hutchins Barbeque last week thinking they were another branch of the same restaurant

In his follow-up, Lee visited The Original Roy Hutchins Barbecue Restaurant, which, confusingly, also declares that it was founded in 1978 but in actual fact opened in 2023.

Lee could be forgiven for thinking the two restaurants were run by the same owners, however warring family members have left the two businesses in direct competition with one another. 

The food fight began in 2023 when one side of the Hutchins family had pushed to expand their popular barbecue chain. 

When one side of the family resisted expanding, they decided to set up their own version of the barbecue restaurant in the hopes of using the family name and cashing in on its wide appeal. 

Roy and Wes Hutchins, owners of The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque, use red oak to smoke their meat. 

From left, Zack, Wes and Roy Hutchins of The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque

The two restaurants have very similar names but are run by two sides of a feuding family

Tim and Trey Hutchins, who own the two other Hutchins BBQ locations use post oak. 

Lee had no idea that he was in fact trying out a different barbecue restaurant for the first time. 

Upon reviewing his scores, it turns out that he had actually awarded the second location better scores than on his original visit - although overall he had in fact helped both businesses out with glowing reviews.

'I think the location might make a difference too because it tastes a little different than I remember, but still good,' Lee even suggested. 

TikTok followers were quick to point out the mistake Lee had made, no doubt educating some viewers in the process who may also have believed both venues were run by the same owner.

One reviewer on Facebook pointed out the absurdity of the two restaurants similarities and that a bad experience at one location could negatively affect the other.

One reviewer on Facebook pointed out the absurdity of the two restaurants similarities and that a bad experience at one location could negatively affect the other.

'It's too confusing and purposely alludes to the fact that it's the 'original' when it's not,' Luke Purvis wrote on a review. 

'It minimizes 'Roy' and adds 'Since 1978' which is technically true but this restaurant brand in particular has only been open since 2023. Even Hutchins themselves just went through a rebranding and maybe 'Since 1978' is an agreement between the family. 

'I get that it's simply a disagreement about franchising but almost every 'casual' person I know thinks they're the same but they're not. They're both fantastic in their own way but one misstep from either side can ruin the brand for either side.'