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A massively popular social media star dropped in on the Triangle last week, offering his dance of approval for North Carolina soul food.
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Walter Johnson, aka Mr. Tendernism, visited three Triangle restaurants recently and will soon blast them into the Instagram feed of his 500,000 followers. He’s the second national food reviewing star to visit the area in the last year or so, following viral eater Keith Lee in May 2025.
Johnson soared to internet fame in recent years while still working for a barbecue restaurant in Southern California, appearing in videos on social media demonstrating the tenderness of the smoked meats. He coined the term “Tendernism” as he’d slip bones from smoked beef ribs, glistening with fat.
Last week Johnson did a tour of Triangle soul food restaurants, stopping in at three different spots. Here’s where he went:
2500 Meridian Pkwy #135, Durham. 984-888-3200 or soulforkinggood.com
Opened in 2020 as a food truck, owned by married couple Dominique and James Turner. The brick and mortar carry-out spot opened in South Durham in September 2025.
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2945 S Miami Blvd Ste 127, Durham. 919-237-1257 or vskitchenrestaurant.com
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, V’s Kitchen is owned by India Jackson, who named her restaurant after her grandmother Veronica who inspired many of the recipes on the menu.
2052 Renaissance Park Pl, Cary. 984-333-0018 or nanamorrisonssoulfood.com
This North Carolina group of soul food restaurants started in Charlotte in 2011. Johnson stopped by the Cary location, trying dishes and posing for pictures with restaurant employees.
Representatives for Johnson said Mr. Tendernism’s reviews should appear on social media in the next couple weeks.
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This story was originally published August 5, 2026 at 6:00 AM.