TikTok’s Taste Buds are eating the world and conquering the internet, without leaving New York City

TikTok’s Taste Buds are spreading their culinary influence globally, taking over the internet from within New York City

Late last year, Dillon Davis and Nichols Neff found themselves frustrated by the predictability of dining TikTok videos. While scrolling through endless clips of influencers at the same elite restaurants, they wondered why the content felt so repetitive. Neither had experience creating social media content, but their shared idea sparked a new venture. “I think it’d be more fun to focus on hidden gems and places that aren’t often featured on TikTok,” Neff suggested to Davis. Davis, in turn, shared his long-held dream: sampling food from every country worldwide. What if they could achieve that without ever leaving Manhattan?

Their journey began with a simple idea: use a virtual wheel to randomly select a country each week. They set up a camera, recorded their first spin, and landed on Armenia. A quick Google Maps search revealed just one Armenian eatery in the city: Little Armenia Cafe in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (Though Queens also hosts Sevan, another option.) When they arrived, they told chef and owner Ararat El-Rawi they wanted the most authentic experience possible. Over seven dishes—including tabbouli salad and spinach pie—and multiple glasses of Armenian wine, the duo shared a meal with the chef, who eventually joined them at the table. The video, titled “Eating at every country in the world, without leaving New York City. Episode 1: Armenia 🇦🇲 #nyc #nycfood #food #armenia,” quickly gained traction.

From friends to a global audience

Their unrefined style and genuine connection have made their content a hit. Unlike polished food influencers, Taste Buds embrace a raw, conversational approach. The opening frames often feature Davis and Neff as basic stick figures, reminiscent of Microsoft Paint. Editing is sometimes jumpy, and there are no ring lights. Their names aren’t even listed on their page—most followers know them as Tall Guy and Hat Guy. “The rough-around-the-edges part is what people really love,” Davis admitted. “It’s not perfectly put together. It’s not super high production quality. It’s just two friends going to dinner and posting about their experience and talking to people.”

While their friendship feels effortless on screen, it began only a year ago through a mutual acquaintance. Davis grew up in a small West Texas town, dreaming of a life in New York’s diverse food scene. Neff, from Denver, had a different path: his uncle and grandfather, a Salvadoran immigrant, owned restaurants, instilling in him a deep respect for the craft. Both share a hunger for discovery and a willingness to try anything. Despite day jobs—Davis in consulting, Neff in tech sales—they dedicate hours to researching restaurants for their series.

Recent episodes have taken them to places like Ariana for Afghan mantu, Çka Ka Qëllu for Albanian tavë kosi, Safari for Somali hilib ari, and Wadadli for Antiguan oxtail. A community of over 400,000 viewers has made them a staple on TikTok, with fans eagerly awaiting each new video. One user joked, “Every Thursday I do a double at my job and when I go on break you guys are always the first video on my feed.” Another wrote, “Everyone quiet, my show is on.”

Though selecting Armenian or Bhutanese restaurants was manageable due to limited options, other cuisines present greater challenges. When their random country generator hit South Korea, they faced hundreds of choices, eventually settling on Ssam Tong. The series continues to evolve, blending humor, curiosity, and a celebration of global flavors—all while staying rooted in the city that inspired it.

“This is why we play,” a delightfully inebriated Davis said. “This is why we play,” Neff echoed.