Mikey Chen travels the world to film his reactions to food – ranging from what he finds in a 7-Eleven in Seoul to one of Disney’s amusement parks. The YouTuber and self-proclaimed lover of all things noodles, dumplings, and buffet-style dining has amassed over 4 million subscribers, who love him for his relatable, easy-going nature.
Like many of his devoted fans, I’ve been watching Mikey’s videos for the past two years, and have recently made him part of my morning routine. After you watch one of his videos, you’ll see why he has so many loyal followers, and why I decided to sit down to write this blog post about him.
So, without any further ado, here are my top 15 reasons why – out of the millions of YouTube videos I could watch each day – I consistently choose the guy who likes to film himself eating food.
1. Watching Mikey Chen eat will put you in a better mood
There’s something oddly satisfying, even comforting, about watching someone savoring food, especially when that “someone” is Mikey Chen. I always feel happier when I watch his videos, and those feel good vibes help me to kick-start each day, no matter the weather or the tasks that lie ahead.
While the food is interesting enough on its own, it’s Mikey’s excitement that’s contagious, and his sincerity is what keeps me coming back for more.
2. His videos are so easy to follow that you can multitask your way through them
Like many of you, my mornings are hectic, so the thought of giving my full attention to a YouTube channel is less than ideal. One of the major appeals of Mikey’s videos is that they are easy to follow, engaging, and don’t require much of your attention.
In other words, they are the perfect “background” video to queue up while you are getting ready (and they have the added bonus of giving you something light and upbeat to talk about with your partner or coworkers).
3. Mikey has over 600 videos to choose from and a huge YouTube following
Since he’s been filming for years now, you’ll never have to worry about running out of videos to choose from. And the comments section is filled with nothing but love and support for his work. You can’t help but feel happy to know that you are part of a much larger community, and that there are millions of people who love food – and Mikey Chen’s videos – as much as you do.
4. He focuses on how each dish tastes, not its nutritional value
I, for one, appreciate the fact that Mikey focuses exclusively on how food tastes. He describes the foods he’s eating in terms of their flavor and texture. There’s no mention of nutritional value, “healthy” options, or any hint of demonizing certain foods.
5. There’s no attempt to sound sophisticated or preachy
No fancy-schmancy, high-end dining here. Mikey Chen is down-to-earth and approachable. In most of his videos, especially the earlier ones, you can follow along with him as he discovers affordable dishes in lesser known “Mom and Pop” shops. That same relatability is what has helped him to attract so many followers.
Whether he is sitting on a folding chair in an alleyway in Seoul, crouched over a bowl of ramen, or lining up in front of food vendors on Tokyo’s streets, Mikey is fully immersed in the culture and is “at home” wherever he visits.
6. You get to live vicariously, watching him travel the world in search of the best foods
Variety is the spice of life and I’ve been living vicariously through Mikey for the past two years, as he visits incredible countries and tries different foods that I’ll likely never experience.
7. His content is engaging, natural, and feels completely unscripted
From what he wears to how he describes each dish and location, Mikey feels like more of a friend than a content creator. There is no crew or entourage following him around, or fancy camera gear to ensure the highest resolution. It’s just Mikey, a small tripod or selfie stick, and a mini ring light attached to the back of his phone.
It’s clear that engaging with his fans has less to do with production value and aesthetics than the joy of eating.
8. Mikey uses his platform to promote his passions, not his brand
Prior to launching the YouTube channel, Strictly Dumpling – and drawing an alarming 4 million followers – Mikey Chen was involved in non-profit organizations with his parents. Although he is no longer as active in this area, he often mentions partner organizations in his videos to bring awareness to worthy causes.
9. He is memorable without using cliches
Mikey’s expressions have stayed with me over the years, like: “If I’m having a bad day, I’m pretty sure if I poured this dressing over myself I’d feel better.”
I mean, I can relate to this. Can you?
10. I appreciate his honesty, transparency, and the sincerity of his reviews
Instead of vying for ‘special treatment,’ Mikey keeps things low-key by not letting restaurants know he’ll be filming ahead of time. That makes his videos as transparent and authentic as possible. And yet it seems as though he loves, or at least appreciates, all the foods that he tries.
11. Mikey protects small business owners and refuses to throw shade on the dishes he doesn’t like
One of the only critiques I’ve come across about Mikey’s style and substance is that he has a positive reaction to every dish. He has stated multiple times that he is not going to put down an entire business after only trying a couple of their menu items. I respect that.
12. Watching his videos makes me hungry
As much as I love his videos, I often find myself telling my husband: “It’s not fair; I want to try what he’s eating!”
13. If you’re new to Mikey’s channel, you’ll soon find yourself asking, “How did I not know about this sooner?”
Mikey has an entire series dedicated to Seoul’s 7-Eleven convenience stores. Unlike the typical ones you’d find in the United States, that offer slushies, candy, gas, and chips, Asian stores are the go-to place for groceries and takeout.
Typically, Mikey does a food haul, where he stakes out an entire store, grabs items, and then tries them at home. It’s entertaining to watch him randomly picking items off the shelf and commenting on them.
14. When he traveled to Vietnam for an episode, he said, “Pho is one of my all-time favorite things to eat. I crave it daily.”
Being Vietnamese, I completely agree.
15. His message is one of openness, inclusiveness, and exploration
Each of his videos falls under the same theme: If you really want to get to know a place, its people, and a culture, then you need to experience it and judge it for yourself.
Even though I’ve been watching Mikey for over two years now, I still find myself coming back to his videos – old and new alike. His genuine love and enthusiasm for food, people, and building cultural experiences makes each of my days a bit brighter, and I want the same for you.
What Did You Think?
Now I’d like to hear from you! What do you watch or listen to while you’re getting ready in the morning? Do you have a go-to playlist that you queue up to start your day? Or do you prefer quiet time to reflect? Leave a comment below to let me know!
