Aussie YouTuber Spanian leaves small shop owner speechless

News.com.au

18-05-2025

A takeaway store owner's beautiful reaction to a $5,000 tip has set the internet alight and sent customers flocking to his humble Sydney eatery.
Anthony Lees, better known by his social media moniker Spanian, visited the dilapidated 'milk bar' in Waterloo as part of a challenge for his hugely popular YouTube channel.
The reformed criminal has built up a massive following online with his music and documentary-style vlogs in struggling suburbs around the world.
In a clip posted earlier this week, Lees embarked on one his well-known 'food hunts' – this time hitting up three Sydney takeaway joints to see who could lay claim to the best burger and chips.
Lees hand-picked three 'old-school' stores for the challenge: Sunny's Takeaway in Chifley, an unnamed milk bar in Waterloo and Daily Fresh lunch bar in Alexandria.
The 38-year-old went to great lengths to avoid tipping off the workers inside the store to ensure he would get an authentic customer service experience.
After sampling all three, he declared the Waterlook takeaway the winner and revisited the run-down milk bar to surprise the owner with $5,000 in cash.
'It's just him in there solo, the shop is basically empty,' he said as the camera panned around the dilapidated exterior.
'I want to say to you that it was a very nice burger, very good,' he added as he approached the unsuspecting owner – known affectionately by locals as Chicken George.
'You've got very good burgers, very good prices and you're very friendly.'
'I'm going to give you a tip,' he told the man as he began to count out $100 bills.
'No you don't have to... I didn't expect this' an overwhelmed George protested.
Lees left the wad of notes on the counter and slipped out of the tiny store before it could be returned.
Viewers were quick to flood the comments of the heartwarming footage and heap praise upon the store as the video landed on YouTube's trending list and amassed over 500,000 views.
'I'm so glad you chose the right person. You can tell he's a hard worker. I'm not going to lie … I cried a little,' said one.
'That man was well deserving. Him refusing the money even if he may have needed it was so humbling. A man did gold and he deserves the best,' said another.
'I used to live in Waterloo. That shop owner was always nice and kind. Would often give food to people or not worry if people had the exact amount,' added a third.
Fans were also impressed by Lees' generous gift, praising his act of kindness and support for the local community.
'You've gone above and beyond mate. Looking after the community like that,' said one viewer.
'I've got a tear in my eye, you are a good man Spanian,' said another emotional fan.
'What a man you have become Spanian,' said a third.
In a separate clip, Spanian returned to Waterloo just days later only to find business was booming inside the little takeaway shop.
'The shop is full of people who all came because of me,' he said.
'It's full of businessmen and people that aren't from here,' he added as a man in a suit waited in the queue.
When news.com.au visited the store – which has since been flooded with five-star reviews – the owner politely chose not to speak about the tip and instead focused on serving customers.