Major TikTok food critic Keith Lee is currently trending right now thanks to a jaw-dropping sushi restaurant review. According to Yahoo! News, he posted a review from the Fob Sushi Bar location in Seattle on November 10. He got $15 worth of sashimi and nigiri and left a mostly positive review of the food, especially for the price. However, his viewers noticed something off about it that Keith didn’t pick up on in real time. “Nah, that fish definitely moved at 1:50,” one fan replied. “Your favorite one had a worm on it,” another claimed.
It’s hard to see with the lighting, but you can check out the video below. Not too long after the clip made the rounds online, Keith Lee did post a follow-up video confirming everyone’s suspicions. He said it “did appear that something moved.” However, he couldn’t completely concur whether it was a worm or not. Regardless of what caused the sushi to not look right, Fob responded to the controversial review and speculation labeling it “false.”
They affirmed to their social media followers that they “follow strict FDA and HACCP standards to ensure the highest quality and safety in every dish.” Instead, Fob Sushi Bar says that the “natural elasticity” of the fresh fish led to the movement. In that same follow-up post from Keith Lee, he was a little disappointed in the establishment’s response to his “allegations.” However, he didn’t viciously tear down the restaurant and was respectful in his reply.
“For the restaurant to post a statement indicating that me holding the sushi or me holding the chopsticks a certain way is why the sushi moved — I personally don’t agree with it. Because I’ve had sushi a thousand times, and I’ve held sushi a thousand different ways, and never once have I seen sushi behaving that way.” Given how popular Keith is the videos spread like wildfire, and it’s led to Fob’s temporary shutdown at their Seattle and Bellevue, Washington locations. In a statement, they wrote, “In response to recent food safety concerns, we have decided to close our FOB Sushi locations in Seattle and Bellevue until further notice.”
The summer music festivals of my youth were once a barren wasteland. Especially when it came to the food. For anyone that liked eating during a mass gathering of sweaty humans, you were given only the basics: a hot dog (roller or water boil), burger (in the foil bag, steaming through), chicken fingers, fries and if you were lucky there was a wild card item or two from Aramark or whatever corporate food vendor typically monopolized the concessions with their blandly passable offerings.
Fast forward to 2024, and festivals like Gov Ball now have 30+ food vendors, including NYC local brand names, food trucks, and even scratch kitchen pop-ups. The amount of vendors and amazing culinary choices — as well as gimmicky but appealing options — can give you whiplash while you try to decide how you want to spend your money.
Here at Uproxx, we’re pleased to do some of the dirty work, at your service. So we’re sharing the five best foods we tried at Gov Ball 2024.
A hyped up NY burger with “Social Club” in the name at Gov Ball, does it get any more IYKYK (*eyeroll*)? Does NYC need its own “Social Club” devoted to the sometimes pedestrian, sometimes high-falutin’, even gold foiled hamburger? Apparently, the only answer here is in the affirmative.
GBSC serves up a tasty perfectly crafted festival burger, with precise proportions of all of the non-traditional ingredients. Jalapenos provide the zip you’d hope for, the special sauce has just the right ratio of zest/creaminess, the pickles crunch gives the textural contrast without overpowering sweetness. Normally, the onions would be opted out on, but everything is sans substitutions at Gov Ball, and thankfully these onions are thin and flavorful enough to give some pungency without grossing out folks that may traditionally not order.
GSCB you won the burger battle at Gov Ball based on the rich thicker juicier flavorful patty, alone.
The best sweet treat at Gov Ball? The folks at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream may be able to claim that title, but if you waited 15-30 minutes in the sun for a milkshake or scoop of icecream, you already took an L in my mind. Easier was the line at Fan Fan, where several doughnuts were sampled, with the raspberry variety coming out squeaky clean on top.
The bright pink icing on top with slices of fresh raspberry is a scrummy (shoutout to Aunt Sister) setup, even in the humidity of June heat. The fresh doughy nut held subtle spikes of lemongrass flavor that cut the sweetness of the raspberry elements for well-balanced bites, making the overall experience not too weighty despite being a doughnut.
Lobster Rolls & More – Lobster Roll
Author
Price: $27
Can you trust a lobster roll at a live event? Can you trust one outside the borders of Maine, period?
The lobster roll from Lobster Rolls & More at Gov Ball was pure goodness. The basic and fresh potato roll (though not enhanced by any time on a flat top, regrettably) was packed with enough lobster claw and tail meat to feel like you almost got your money’s worth (at $27, that ain’t easy), slathered in rich butter sauce that hadn’t congealed yet in the heat.
When a place specializes in juices, specifically being served inside the fruit they are juiced from, there is a certain appeal to carrying around said fruit filled with icy cold refreshing just-squeezed juice on a hot summer day (is it a festival flex?). John’s Juice makes their juices to order, and fills the hollowed out pineapples with thin shards of ice and small chunks of fruit, along with the fresh juice.
The result was the perfect respite on a 90 degree Festival day, as well as a great palette cleanser if you had something savory to eat first. They’re big enough to share with a friend you’re comfortable enough to share a drink with, and portable enough to carry around until you’re sick of it or ready to try out your moves with both arms free. And refills are only $2!
Though not hitting the heights or dynamically nuanced flavor spectrum of the GSCB, No Good Burger is more of a riff on the Shake Shack/Smashburger variety. Simply appointed and made to order with pickles and special sauce, the No Good burger is a thinner and drier variety. The pickles and sauce eat a little sweeter than the competition, but you can add your own condiments to balance out the sweetness, if that’s not your thing. As is, the bun sort of mellows out the sweet note, leaving you with a burger that’s easily portable and simply satisfying.
Though No Good Burger lost the Gov Ball bitter burger battle, it was still one of the finest items sampled during the Festival and a solid pick if other food waits are beyond your threshold (mine is admittedly 15 minutes or path of least resistance).
Keith Lee is an American professional wrestler and food reviewer known for his remarkable agility, charisma, and physical prowess. He has achieved a net worth of $4 million in 2024, as detailed by Eric Singer. As a towering figure in the wrestling world, Lee’s journey began through various wrestling promotions. This has culminated in his success in major leagues like WWE, emphasizing a career defined by hard work. Further, his story is compelling about how dedication and passion for one’s craft can lead to substantial success and financial stability.
A Meteoric Rise In Professional Wrestling
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 29: TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee is interviewed after attending a game between the. New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 98-81. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Keith Lee’s ascent in professional wrestling is a testament to his exceptional skill set and magnetic personality. Beginning his career on the independent circuit, Lee quickly made a name for himself with his unique combination of size, speed, and agility, traits not often seen in a wrestler of his stature. His performances in promotions such as Ring of Honor (ROH), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), and ultimately NXT and WWE, showcased his ability to captivate audiences and work matches that defied the expectations for athletes of his size. Lee’s historic win as the first-ever double champion in NXT, holding both the NXT Championship and North American Championship simultaneously, marked a significant milestone in his career and solidified his status as a major player in the industry.
Beyond The Ring: Ventures & Endorsements
Further, Keith Lee has diversified his income through various entrepreneurial endeavors and endorsements. Leveraging his popularity, Lee has ventured into merchandise sales. This includes apparel and accessories branded with his catchphrases and persona. His involvement in video game appearances and partnerships with sports nutrition companies further exemplify his understanding of brand building and marketability. These ventures, alongside his wrestling career, have played a crucial role in building his net worth, demonstrating the importance of personal branding and entrepreneurship in the modern era of sports entertainment.
Legacy & Influence
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 07: Kevin Hart, Keith Lee and guests attend. Hart House Hollywood First-Look on May 07, 2023 also in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Hart House)
Keith Lee’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond his in-ring achievements. He is known for breaking stereotypes about what heavyweight wrestlers can do. Additionally, Lee has inspired a new generation of athletes to pursue versatility and athleticism, regardless of size. His advocacy for positivity and perseverance, both in and out of the ring, has made him a role model. His contributions to wrestling also highlight a legacy that transcends his physical achievements.
Lee’s journey from the independent wrestling scene to the pinnacle of WWE, alongside his entrepreneurial ventures, paints the picture of a well-rounded individual who has mastered the art of personal branding and financial management. Overall, Lee’s story is not just one of financial success but a narrative that inspires perseverance, adaptability, and the pursuit of excellence.
In celebration of her infectiously danceable new single with Dua Lipa, “Sweetest Pie” Megan Thee Stallion has linked up with Goldbelly for a special pie collaboration that attempts to capture the spirit of the song. Megan’s H-Town Hottie Pie is inspired by the rapper’s hometown of Houston and goes big on the sweets — featuring a pecan pie loaded up with a combination of shredded coconut, pretzels, butterscotch chips, and gooey brown sugar with a golden glaze over the top.
According to the branding, it promises to taste like your “favorite bakery took a trip down the candy aisle” and it’s very much that. Literally, we’re talking about the “sweetest pie” your money can buy.
Sidenote: We’re eternally thankful Megan take the line “Wanna put his Nutty Buddy in my Fudge Round” too literally with this dessert. Sexual innuendo completely aside, Nutty Buddys and Fudge Rounds are some pretty bottom-tier snacks, so if this was a giant Nutty Fudge Round pie we would’ve had to pass. I’m sorry to the Little Debbie fans out there, you all have bad taste.
Anyway, the H-Town Hottie Pie is currently available for a limited time on Goldbelly for a price of $59. Before you drop that kind of cash on a gold spray-painted pecan pie, you’re probably going to want to know if it’s any good — so let’s eat!
Before we dive into the pie we have to talk about the packaging and presentation, because this is a Gold Belly product, after all. The pie ships frozen in a small box with bubble wrap and is stable at room temperature for a full week, or a full month if you re-freeze it. By the time I received and opened up the pie, it was fully thawed and ready to eat.
That’s great if you live in an apartment with an indoor mailing room like I do, but if you’re getting this delivered to your doorstep and live in a warmer climate, I could see heat damaging the consistency of your pie, which is made of mostly gooey sugar, not exactly the biggest resistor to melt-age.
Dane Rivera
The pie itself is housed in a special promotional box featuring Megan holding a sprinkled donut with her hair made-up to look like whipped cream. The photo matches some of Megan’s recent promotional material, namely her Apple Music profile photo, but I think it’s an odd choice to decorate this pecan pie with so much whipped cream donut imagery when none of that has to do with the pie.
But hey, we’re not here to talk about the conceptual consistency, we’re here to talk about the pie.
Dane Rivera
The pie itself looks like — and I say this with all due respect to both Ms. Stallion and Goldbelly — what I imagine C-3P0’s shit would look like if he was a robot capable of using the bathroom. Spray-painted food is a trend that no one asked for and people keep giving us. Stop. I think I speak for everyone when I say that eating spray-painted food, no matter how much you say ‘its edible!’ will always feel wrong.
When it comes to cutting into this pie we’re going to suggest you use a hammer and chisel because it’s incredibly hard to get a knife through this thing. So unless you’re totally fine with eating an ugly, uneven slice, don’t approach this pie as you would any other pie.
Dane Rivera
The brown sugar/corn syrup substance that sticks all this candied snack food together does a good job of binding the ingredients together, but it makes it hard to get through easily. It’s messy, is the point — most pecan pies are.
Once I finally bit into the pie though, all my criticisms melted away into a pool of sweet ecstasy. This pie is tooth-achingly sweet, brown sugar dominates the flavor with sweet and moist shredded coconut flavor on the aftertaste, mingling with subtly salty notes. While it relies on salted pretzels to act as a counterbalance to the sweetness, it leans much more comfortably on the sweet side of the flavor spectrum.
It’s a pleasure to eat bite after bite, but if you really want to kick it up a notch you’ll throw it in the microwave. A few seconds of heat took the already pleasant experience of eating this pie to the next level. Instead of receiving the flavors in sweet and salty waves, they melded together into a more harmonious whole. The warmed-up pie had a great texture and mouthfeel, courtesy of the combination of sugar, nuts, and shredded coconut, and an even better flavor that tasted like pecan pie reimagined by munchie-seeking stoners.
I still wish it wasn’t spray-painted fucking gold though.
The Bottom Line:
Sweet, salty, nutty, and then sweet again. Once warmed up and topped with your favorite ice cream, you’re in for one of the sweetest pies you’re bound to eat all year. And a pretty damn delicious one.
There’s vomit on his sweater already — Mom’s spaghetti.
He’s nervous but on the surface he looks calm and ready To drop bombs but he keeps on forgetting…
It’s one of the most gripping opening stanzas in all of hip-hop history. It’s visual, visceral, and, in just a few syncopated syllables, shows Eminem’s mastery of the natural musicality of language. It’s such an effective opening that not only does it fill you in on the plot and story of the movie 8 Mile, you can practically taste B-Rabbit’s mom’s spaghetti (both as it goes down and as it comes up). But nothing about that opening line suggests that B-Rabbit’s mom has a handle on centuries worth of Italian culinary tradition.
Begging the question: Do we even want to try this dish?
The short answer is “yes.” Last September, Em and Curt Callo and Ann Stevenson (of Union Joints Restaurant Group), launched the 8 Mile-themed Mom’s Spaghetti in Detroit and absolutely crushed it. Em himself even made an appearance at the service window. So it’s not shocking that as the legend pulls up to LA for the Super Bowl halftime show, he’s bringing his mom’s spaghetti with him for another pop-up.
This Super Bowl weekend (starting today), diners will be able to try the Mom’s Spaghetti concept via Postmates — or in-person at a pop-up — housed at Uncle Paulie’s Deli in DTLA — while supplies last. Items on the full menu include a simple plate of parmesan-dusted spaghetti, toasted garlic bread, beef and vegan meatballs, and the S’ghetti sandwich (a favorite straight out of Eminem’s real-life upbringing). Postmates will also be holding a sweepstakes that offers ten people the chance to score a limited-edition jar of Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce, signed by Em himself.
Before you throw down your money on Mom’s Spaghetti, you’re going to want to know if it’s any good — so we tried the whole menu for you! But not before asking co-owner Curt Catallo and Chef Chris Springer some questions about what to expect.
“Mom’s spaghetti” almost sounds like slander in Lose Yourself. But I’d imagine this is a classic Spag Bol or what Italians would call a Bolognese or NY Italians would call ‘Sunday Gravy?’
Catallo:
I think the reason why that line connects in such an incredible way is that everyone knows that spaghetti reference… it could be Rabbit’s mom or anyone else’s… we’ve all had it. And I don’t think it’s slander, we’ve all been nervous before going into battle!
Springer:
The standard sauce is straight — like a jar sauce but totally scratch. We have the bolognese in Detroit, because Em’ asked for one.
What was your experience with that type of sauce and how did you develop this recipe?
Catallo: We started making the sauce in ‘17 for the Revival Pop-Up at the Shelter (in Saint Andrews) and took it to Coachella.
Springer: We worked with Paul Rosenberg and their crew to dial it in along the way. We had a big tasting and perfected it right when the pandemic hit, literally eating Mom’s when they canceled March Madness, and locked the recipe.
What hallmarks do you want the sauce to have? Is there a ‘Detroit style’ to this type of sauce or is it pretty much NY style? Or even true Italian?
Catallo: What we were going after for Paul and Marshall was a sauce that was totally straightforward and legit. It’s not my grandma’s sauce because it’s not supposed to be. Mom’s is a classic, straight red sauce.
Eminem’s raps always seemed to paint the sort of world where people would overcook pasta — do you keep things al dente?
Springer: When we make Mom’s we want it to taste like it’s an incredible leftover when you get it. We cook all the spaghetti ahead of time and reheat it in a wok with sauce to order. It gives it a snap.
Spaghetti w/ Balls/Vegan Balls
Dane Rivera
As Catallo alluded to, the Mom’s Spaghetti concept is less about offering a gourmet experience and more about capturing the flavor of delicious leftovers. Like when you pour through the door after a late night, half-buzzed and half-asleep from your midnight adventures, crack open the fridge, and dive into carb-loaded comfort food. I’m happy to say that it completely captures that magic. From the take-out style packaging to the reheated wok noodles, this stuff tastes good and is as much a people-pleaser as “Lose Yourself.”
The appropriately juvenilely named Spaghetti with Balls is Mom’s Spaghetti’s main menu item. It can be ordered solo, or with beef or vegan meatballs. The spaghetti itself does have that snap to it that Springer mentioned, looking at the dish I was fully expecting soggy noodles that would turn to mush in my mouth, but I was surprised to find a pleasing firm-but-chewy texture to them.
Dane Rivera
The sauce was another surprise, it smells incredibly pungent — the garlic fills your immediate surroundings and that’s not a pure compliment! But the sauce does its job, it keeps the noodles interesting, and adds a lot of brightness and some complex savory umami qualities. It’s delicious, not life-changing but altogether makes for a dish worth ordering — especially with the garlic toast that it’s served alongside.
The meatballs, both beef, and vegan are a lot more forgettable. I’m not sure if this was a result of losing some flavor in transit, but both the beef and vegan balls were a bit on the dry side. Not to the point of being inedible, but entirely skippable. The beef meatball was the juicier of the two, and featured a nice savory balance of salt, garlic, and peppery flavor.
Dane Rivera
The vegan balls also had a good flavor, if a bit drier. They were much more noticeably plant-y and featured a spicier onion-forward flavor. If you need the protein to complete the meal, go for whichever ball sounds better for you, but I think you’re better off just ordering the spaghetti on its own.
Or, better yet, opt for this next option…
S’getti Sandwich
Dane Rivera
When I first saw the S’getti sandwich I thought it was kind of dumb (carbs on carbs!). Then I realized that when I’m eating spaghetti leftovers, I’m usually utilizing the garlic bread in exactly this way. This sandwich isn’t the dumb one, it’s me!
Putting spaghetti on top of your garlic toast is a delicious experience, and Mom’s Spaghetti just builds it for us. This is the essential order from the pop-up. It combines the best of what the restaurant concept offers — the buttery garlic french toast, which is crunchy but soft on the inside, and the snappy bright noodles — and further elevates both with a slice of delicately salty melted mozzarella. It’s last night’s pasta plus a grilled cheese sandwich. Delicious and genius!
The dish has a great mouthfeel, it’s crispy and crunchy, chewy, but not mushy, and features a savory garlic flavor that settles on the palate nicely. B-Rabbit never rapped about his mom’s S’getti sandwich, but he damn sure should have!
The Bottom Line:
Order the S’getti sandwich. It doesn’t conjure up nostalgia for 8-Mile but it’s legitimately delicious and deserves a spot alongside your other Super Bowl food favorites this weekend. Also, for true stans of Em, it’s a dish he actually ate when he was a young kid, more like B-Rabbit than the modern Eminem we know today. And that’s pretty cool.
We don’t talk enough about the meteoric rise of Chance the Rapper. Just 10 years ago, Chance was known less as “the rapper” and more as Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, a Chicago high school student who had been suspended for 10-days for marijuana possession. That 10-day suspension gave Chance the opportunity to drill down and focus on his passion for rap, giving the world his debut mixtape 10 Day, a release that put Chance’s name on everyone’s radar and even garnered comparisons to fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West.
He followed up that release just a year later with the modern classic, Acid Rap, and then the beloved ColoringBook, which led to more critical acclaim, a record label bidding war, and multiple tv appearances. Chance showed up on everything from The Eric Andre Show to Ellen DeGeneres, eventually landing a dual role as host and musical guest on SNL (he was also the Obama family’s favorite rapper and regular guest). By the decade’s end, Chance would score a small role in The Lion King, befriend and collaborate with his hero Kanye West (producing Kanye’s best late-period song, “Ultra Light Beam”) and serve as the new host of the relaunched Punk’d.
Even your grandma knows who Chance the Rapper is. And while that doesn’t sound like the coolest flex, it certainly signifies just how huge Chance has really become.
If those bonafides aren’t enough to convince you, Chance has now landed the ultimate collaboration — his very own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor — Mint Chocolate Chance. Now Lil’ Chano from 79th sits alongside other cultural giants like Jerry Garcia, Phish, and Stephen Colbert as his new flavor joins Ben & Jerry’s permanent roster of flavors.
But is Mint Chocolate Chance any good? We tried the new ice cream flavor to find out!
Mint Chocolate Chance
Dane Rivera
Mint Chocolate Chance, perhaps unsurprisingly, features a cool and refreshing mint chocolate base with chunks of brownie bites inside. Think mint chocolate chip ice cream with the chips replaced by giant pieces of soft, fudgy brownie. The flavor was apparently inspired by Chance’s childhood practice of mixing his favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream with his mother’s homemade brownies.
“It amazes me that no one thought to combine brownies and mint chocolate chip and I can’t wait to share it with everyone,” Chance said of the new flavor.
He’s right — how the hell is this a new flavor? It seems like one of the most obvious flavor combinations of all time! So it shouldn’t surprise you when I say that it works, because Mint Chocolate Chance is goddamn (forgive me Chance) delicious. The ice cream is wonderfully rich and creamy, it’s so thick and dense that it actually bent my spoon the first time I tried to scoop it out of the pint. Use an ice cream scooper. The brownies are sourced from New York’s Greyston Bakery, which prides itself on its use of real quality ingredients, and that commitment to craft shines through here.
Dane Rivera
A lot of times ice cream fillings, while always appreciated, are of subpar quality. It’s easy to hide grainy cookie dough or a subpar almond under layers of sweet, rich ice cream, who’s going to notice? Me, that’s who. So I’m really loving how good these brownie bites are, they are somehow still soft despite being totally frozen. It’s not quite as delicious as adding a warm fresh-baked brownie to your bowl of ice cream, but it comes pretty damn close. The mix of brownie and mint tastes like the best Andes mint you’ve ever had.
If your mouth is watering but ice cream is something you can only stomach a spoonful at a time, you’ll be happy to know Mint Chocolate Chance is also available in non-dairy form. The dairy-free version is made utilizing sunflower butter, which helps to keep the ice cream dense and creamy and not weird and icy like most dairy-free ice creams tend to be. The flavor isn’t quite as good though, it’s a bit duller in comparison to the OG Mint Chocolate Chance. Maybe that’s something I wouldn’t notice if I wasn’t eating them side by side, but I’m not about to sit here and tell you they taste nearly the same, they don’t really.
Dane Rivera
As is the case with most celebrity Ben & Jerry’s flavors, a percentage of sales of Mint Chocolate Chance will go to charity, in this case, Chance’s own five-year-old non-profit SocialWorks, which concerns itself with empowering Chicago youth through arts, education, and civic engagement, with programming that focuses on education, homelessness, mental health, and performing and literary arts.
Chance, who cut his teeth at open mics at libraries and after-school programs alongside fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, has come full-circle in his career. Scoring his own delicious ice cream flavor from one of the most well-loved ice cream brands in the country feels like a fitting trophy as he approaches the ten-year anniversary of his first mixtape.
The Bottom Line:
A great addition to Ben & Jerry’s permanent lineup but opt for the dairy version over its less flavorful dairy-free counterpart. Imagine the thickest, creamiest mint chocolate ice cream you’ve ever had with big fudge brownies bites in each bite. Simple. Easy. Delicious.
Good eats and great weed go hand in hand. The whole thing about weed giving you the munchies isn’t completely true (some weed does and some weed doesn’t) but one thing is for certain — weed makes food taste better. I don’t just mean marginally better. Eating while stoned can be a downright religious experience. After taking a fat rip you start laser focusing on the varying flavors, textures, and smells of your food. Suddenly a burger goes from a good lunch to a vivid sensory experience that borders on the psychedelic.
I know this because I write about food and weed constantly. So when I heard famed stoner and musician Wiz Khalifa was launching a food concept (appropriately dubbed HotBox) to pair with his Khalifa Kush weed brand, I knew it was something I had to experience.
Made in collaboration with the virtual restaurant brand NextBite, HotBox by Wiz Khalifa is a delivery-only virtual restaurant that is currently available in Miami, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York City, Houston, and more and is actively expanding to additional cities nationwide. The food is sourced from local restaurants that meet the specific ingredients and preparation practices required by NextBite — so the dishes should be pretty consistent, no matter what city you’re ordering from. The menu is a stoner’s paradise of indulgent carb-rich snacks like Hot Cheeto dusted cheeseburgers, zesty buffalo wings, tater tots, mac and cheese, cookies, and more.
None of Wiz’s food is actually infused with cannabis. But the brand and Wiz himself confirmed in a Zoom tasting I attended that they were actively exploring the idea while also looking for ways to offer plant-based options to the menu. The lack of any cannabis-infused treats may seem like a missed opportunity, but I think the food actually stands a chance of tasting better without any infusions. Better, in my opinion, to smoke up and treat this as a post-stoned meal.
Which is exactly what I did.
The Weed: Khalifa Kush
Dane Rivera
Before we get into the menu, we should probably talk about Wiz Khalifa’s cannabis brand Khalifa Kush — currently available in California in preroll and flower form. The cannabis is sourced from Northern California’s Bay Area by Colorado-based cultivator RiverRock Cannabis and is apparently the only weed Wiz smokes. He affectionately refers to the brand simply as “KK” on social media. I’d call bullshit on that as purely a piece of marketing but, having smoked the brand, I can actually buy it.
Khalifa Kush has a pungent flavor and provides a sensory-enhancing high with a THC level in the mid 20% range. Smoking the pre-roll had me feeling good and hypersensitive to my surroundings, while still keeping me from feeling weighed down and sluggish. It didn’t have the best flavor to it (I was smoking a pre-roll after all) but the high was powerful and definitely lifted my spirits. Not a bad pairing to go with a menu launch… but with all the weed I smoke for work (living the dream over here) my tolerance is through the roof, so I plan to be as harsh with the HotBox food as I am when I’m ranking french fries, chicken sandwiches, or any other food.
Nice try though Wiz!
The Bottom Line
If you want to smoke what Wiz smokes in the studio, this indica-leaning hybrid is definitely worth a pickup.
The Food: Ranked From Worst To Best
5. So Baked Hybrid Cookies
Dane Rivera
Nope, not hybrid like a weed strain, this is simply a mix of caramel, chocolate, and pretzel, all mixed up into a single cookie that is served with a salted caramel dipping sauce. This cookie is easily the weakest link on the menu. It’s not it tastes bad — it’s a damn cookie we’re talking about — but it’s not really that good either. The cookie is dense, a bit dry and is more cookie than you want in a single sitting (which, consequently, means it’s perfect for being stoned) and despite having pretzel bites and a salted caramel dipping sauce, this thing comes off as much more sweet than it does salty.
A better balance between the salty and sweet flavors might’ve made this cookie a winner but as it stands, it’s just okay. Don’t let those stoner goggles fool you into thinking you actually want to order this. You’re just high.
The Bottom Line
Unless it’s free with the meal, skip this one, you’re not missing out on anything.
4. Taylor Gang Tots
Dane Rivera
I’m a little torn on these. First of all, tater tots, while delicious, just don’t travel well. When hot and crispy tater tots are trapped in a wax-lined paper box, the heat that emits off of them and bounces off the walls of the container turns what should be a crispy masterpiece into a soggy mess. That’s exactly what happened to these tots so if you really want these to shine you’re going to have to put just a bit of work into it. After a few sad tots, I grabbed my order, spread the tots on a sheet of aluminum foil, and threw that shit into the toaster oven for a good ten minutes until they were nice and crispy again.
The tots themselves are delicous, they’re fluffy, a bit buttery, and full of flavor, but given that they don’t travel well, we can’t rank these much higher than this placement. Especially considering if you’re stoned and hungry, you’re going to be less motivated to put the work into helping these tots shine.
The Bottom Line
Delicious, but tater tots don’t travel well so if you don’t have the patience to reheat these in a toaster oven to get them crispy again definitely skip these.
3. Bigger Blazier Buffalo Wings
Dane Rivera
My HotBox order came with the Bigger Blazier Buffalo Wings order, not to be confused with the menu’s Bigger Better Buffalo Wings, so I can’t speak to how much “blazier” they are compared to the OG, but as far as buffalo wings go these are pretty excellent. I prefer a crispier exterior, but given the travel time I knew I wasn’t going to get that. I didn’t feel the need to reheat these though like the tots. The chicken is tender and juicy while the buffalo sauce gives a nice zesty and spicy kick. The wings are served alongside a side of ranch or bleu cheese dressing and the ‘ol standard wing accompaniement of carrot and celery sticks.
The HotBox wings match the sort of quality and depth flavor you’d find from a WingStop or Buffalo Wild Wings. It’s not mind-blowing, but the wings are perfectly serviceable and I find little if nothing to complain about.
The Bottom Line
A pretty solid wing effort. Wiz would be wise to add a few more flavors, hopefully a dry rub is in the cards.
2. Fully Packed Bowl
Here is where things get really interesting. Wings and cookies are all fine and good, but the Fully Packed Bowl truly lives up to the stoner food utopia promised by this culinary concept. It comes off as a greatest hits package of the entire HotBox menu, a bed of tater tots is bathed in a blanket of saucey macaroni and cheese drizzled with the same zesty buffalo sauce used on the wings accompanied by crispy chunks of fried chicken and some Hot Cheeto dust sprinkled on top of it all. The bowl has crunch, thanks to the fried chicken (the tots still leave something to be desired) and Cheeto dust combination, and is full of savory salty flavors that serve as the perfect stoner cat nip.
You have to be high to even want to eat this thing, but from your first forkful on you’ll be pleased that you took that big rip before diving in.
The Bottom Line As decadent and delicious as it sounds. The Fully Packed Bowl combines an appetizer sampler’s worth of flavors with the form factor of nachos. It’s the most stoner-friendly item on the menu and a must order.
1. Blazed OG Cheetos Burger
Dane Rivera
I know I just sang the praises of the Fully Packed Bowl, the best stoner food I’ve had all year, but what really blew me away from the HotBox menu was the Blazed OG Cheetos Burger. I’m not the biggest Hot Cheetos fan — yes, I ranked every single flavor of Flamin’ Hot ever, but I wouldn’t count myself as a true fan and I certainly am not a fan of Hot Cheeto dust in food. I find it incredibly gimmicky. Or I should say, I “found” it incredibly gimmicky, because the Blazed OG Cheetos Burger has completely changed my mind. It might be banned in Europe, but Hot Cheeto dust is a fantastic blend of artifically spicy flavors that deliver on the heat without drowning out any of the other flavors.
Get this dust in the hands of a professional chef ASAP! The Blazed OG Cheetos Burger comes with a thick and juicy burger patty, American cheese with Hot Cheetos dust embeded into it, as well as lettuce, tomato and what HotBox is calling Thrill Sauce on a brioche bun. For whatever reason, my burger didn’t come with the Thrill Sauce but it was so good it honestly didn’t matter.
The beef has a nice depth of flavor, it’s juicy, salty, and perfectly cooked. The burger quality matches the same sort of flavor you’d find at a Fat Burger or Shake Shack. Not quite as juicy, but definitely a contender for best deliverable burger in the fast food space. If you’re going to order one thing off of the HotBox menu I still suggest you try the fully packed bowl, but in terms of which menu item has the best flavor, it’s hard to beat this. Though I haven’t tried the delicious looking chicken sandwich that is on the menu which Wiz counted as a personal highlight.
The Bottom Line So good I wish it was a double!
You can order Wiz Khalifa’s HotBox online at the official website or through third party delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, Postmates, and GrubHub.
