Latest news with #ChickenGeorge
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Australian YouTuber Spanian's kebab food truck in Melbourne damaged in fire, cops treating as suspicious
A kebab food truck belonging to Australian rapper and YouTuber Spanian has been damaged in a fire overnight. The truck, parked in the Melbourne suburb of Preston, was left blackened and scorched just two weeks after opening. Firefighters rushed to the site and arrived after 3.45am on Saturday and were able to control the flames from spreading. It is understood police are treating the fire as suspicious. On Saturday morning, Spanian told his social media followers the truck would be up and running by the end of the day before delivering a stern message directed at the alleged offender. 'The owners of the trucks are people from your community, I just wanna get that out there. The Melbourne truck — they're from there,' he said. 'The owner of the Paramatta truck lives two streets back. A husband and wife, a Samoan couple own the Penrith truck — they're from Penrith. 'The trucks are part of their community and those people from your community save up for the trucks and they have to pay for it, just so you know. They're your people.' He went on to poke fun at the alleged arsonist and said his kebabs were the best in the country. 'I thought Spanian kebab's were sh*t lad, 'don't go to Melbourne, your kebab's are sh*t',' he mocked. 'So you know what we did? We went to Melbourne and we went to the part of Melbourne with the best kebabs. 'What happened? Guess whose kebab's they're tryna burn down? Guess who's got the best kebabs in Australia lad?' Spanian owns four food trucks, three in Sydney and one in Melbourne, the subject of Saturday's attack. He made headlines earlier this month when he surprised a Sydney shop owner with a $5000 tip as part of a food hunt video challenge. In the video, Spanian judged the food, price and service from three different 'old-style' takeaway shops, ordering a burger with the lot and chips. In the end, Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop won, with Spanian heaping praise and presenting shop owner, known locally as Chicken George, with a healthy wad of cash.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Aussie YouTuber Spanian's food truck destroyed in fire
A kebab food truck belonging to Australian rapper and YouTuber Spanian has been damaged in a fire overnight. The truck, parked in the Melbourne suburb of Preston, was left blackened and scorched just two weeks after opening. Firefighters rushed to the site and arrived after 3.45am on Saturday and were able to control the flames from spreading. It is understood police are treating the fire as suspicious. On Saturday morning, Spanian told his social media followers the truck would be up and running by the end of the day before delivering a stern message directed at the alleged offender. Spanian issued a message to his social media followers on Saturday. Credit: Spanian's Kebabs 'The owners of the trucks are people from your community, I just wanna get that out there. The Melbourne truck — they're from there,' he said. 'The owner of the Paramatta truck lives two streets back. A husband and wife, a Samoan couple own the Penrith truck — they're from Penrith. 'The trucks are part of their community and those people from your community save up for the trucks and they have to pay for it, just so you know. They're your people.' He went on to poke fun at the alleged arsonist and said his kebabs were the best in the country. 'I thought Spanian kebab's were sh*t lad, 'don't go to Melbourne, your kebab's are sh*t',' he mocked. 'So you know what we did? We went to Melbourne and we went to the part of Melbourne with the best kebabs. 'What happened? Guess whose kebab's they're tryna burn down? Guess who's got the best kebabs in Australia lad?' Spanian owns four food trucks, three in Sydney and one in Melbourne, the subject of Saturday's attack. He made headlines earlier this month when he surprised a Sydney shop owner with a $500 tip as part of a food hunt video challenge. In the video, Spanian judged the food, price and service from three different 'old-style' takeaway shops, ordering a burger with the lot and chips. In the end, Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop won, with Spanian heaping praise and presenting shop owner, known locally as Chicken George, with a healthy wad of cash.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie Youtuber leaves local icon speechless with $5k tip
A local takeaway shop owner was left stunned after receiving a hefty tip from a popular Australian Youtuber, who brought new business to the old store. Youtuber Anthony Lees, popularly known by his channel name Spanian, changed a store owner's life after being featured in a YouTube video '3 Food Spots Competed For $5000 & Didn't Even Know It…'. The Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop. Credit: Google Maps In the video, Lees judges the food, price and service from three different 'old-style' takeaway shops in Sydney, ordering a burger with the lot and chips. The Youtuber kept the 'food-hunt' style challenge under wraps so he could receive an unbiased and authentic experience from the shops. In the end, Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop won, with Lees singing his praise for the shop owner known locally as Chicken George. 'He's so much nicer... he's just in here solo,' he said. Anthony Lees returned to the shop front a few days later with a big crowd out the front. Credit: Spanian / Instagram As the Youtuber returned to the store with a cameraman following him this time around, they were greeted by the confused owner. 'You've got very good burgers, very good prices and you're very friendly,' Lees said. 'I'm going to give you a tip.' With $5000 in hand, he gave Chicken George, but the shop owner tried his best efforts to turn down the tip. 'No you don't have no,no,' the humble worker said. Lees left the Waterloo local speechless as he put the $5000 on the counter and walked out. The video amassed more than 600,000 views over seven days, with viewers flooding the comments to share their jubilation for the local legend. '20+ yrs I've known Chicken George always the same still remembers us when we turn up. Nobody deserves it more. He has so much respect in that hood,' one comment said. '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. I can't remember what his name is now but he is a good man,' another said. 'Chicken George' was left stunned by the generosity. Credit: Spanian / Youtube Since the video was published, the business has been booming for Chicken George, with locals queuing out the front of the shop. 'I came back and the shop is full of people, the lad is spinning out...I said boss have you been busy and he asked what's going on man,' Lees said in a video. The shop has also received a wave of five-star reviews online since the video's release. Lees is no stranger to the food industry, last week he made headlines after the opening of his kebab shop, 'Spanian's Kebabs'. The store, located in Melbourne, saw thousands queue up on opening day.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Humble owner of beloved Sydney takeaway shop is given a $5,000 tip
The owner of a humle takeaway shop was left speechless when YouTuber Spanian handed him thousands of dollars in cash. Spanian, an ex-con-turned-popular-vlogger, whose real name is Anthony Lees, uploaded a video on May 11 testing out three food spots to see who had the best burger and chips. The contenders were Sunny's Takeaway in Chifley, Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop, and Daily Fresh Lunch Bar in Alexandria. In the end, it was the Waterloo Takeaway Food Shop in Sydney 's south that took the crown, thanks to its great food and the warm service from its owner, affectionately known as 'Chicken George'. 'You're very, very good burgers, very good prices, and you're very friendly,' Spanian said. 'I'm going to give you a tip,' he told the man before handing him $5,000 in cash. As Lees counted out $100 bills, George could be seen shaking his head with a smile: 'No you don't have to... I didn't expect this.' At one point, he appeared to try and hand Lees back the pile of $100 bills, but Spanian insisted that he take the money. Locals in the Waterloo suburb leapt on the comments to celebrate the moment for 'humble' owner of the takeaway, 'Chicken George' (pictured, right) The takeaway, which doesn't have a sign, was empty during Lees' video but had people queuing a few days after the vlog was published A few days after the video was published, Spanian returned to the takeaway shop - and found it buzzing with customers lined up for food. 'He has been getting packed with customers coming for the burger since the video came out on Sunday and he is spinning out,' the YouTuber said. The takeaway appeared to have a personal connection Spanian, who described it as an 'old staple'. 'I don't know if it's been the same owner the whole time, but this place has been there since I was a kid,' he said. 'I haven't been there for for ages, literally years, but it's still there.' Locals took to the comments to celebrate the win for a local legend, with many previously customers describing him as 'humble'. '20+ yrs I've known Chicken George always the same still remembers us when we turn up. Nobody deserves it more. He has so much respect in that hood,' a user said. Another said: 'This stores around the corner from my place and has been here for a long time. I'm so glad Spanian chose this guy for the win. Much deserved. 'He's a good man, puts up with a lot yet is always friendly, attentive and provides outstanding service to his customers. Much respect to you Spanian.' People also praised the YouTuber for taking the time to spotlight local food places.
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Aussie YouTuber Spanian leaves small shop owner speechless
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 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.
