Seattle-area restaurant FOB Sushi Bar temporarily closed its Seattle and Bellevue locations on Nov. 18, 2024, after viewers of food critic Keith Lee’s review claimed a piece of fish appeared to move. The restaurant denied that the movement was a worm, and it reopened on Dec. 3 after reviewing its suppliers and food-safety procedures. The reporting did not establish what caused the movement.
What viewers saw in Keith Lee’s review
Lee filmed his review at FOB Sushi Bar’s Bellevue location. After the review appeared on Nov. 9, 2024, viewers focused on a close-up of fish and interpreted apparent movement as a possible worm. GeekWire reported at the time that the video had more than 19 million views and Lee had more than 16 million TikTok followers; those were figures reported in November 2024, not current counts. GeekWire
The interpretation remained disputed. FOB Sushi Bar said, “The movement in the video is due to natural elasticity in the fish — not worms,” as quoted by Eater Seattle. Lee said, “It did appear that something moved,” but also said he could not confirm or deny what it was. He rejected the implication that his handling with chopsticks caused the movement and clarified that he was not claiming a worm or parasite was in his food.
Why the restaurant closed and when it reopened
On Nov. 18, 2024, FOB Sushi Bar announced that its Seattle and Bellevue restaurants would close “until further notice” while it investigated. The restaurant said, “Your health and safety are our highest priorities. We are conducting a thorough investigation to address the situation and will take all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again,” according to Eater Seattle.
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The closure was temporary. The restaurant reopened on Dec. 3, after reviewing its supply chain, suppliers, food storage, and safety protocols, according to Eater Seattle and GeekWire.
What the health inspection did—and did not—establish
Coverage of the reopening reported that a Public Health – Seattle & King County visit on Nov. 27 found no food-code violations. The reports also said the restaurant provided paperwork related to parasite destruction in its fish. GeekWire reported that the Belltown location retained an “excellent” rating, the highest in the agency’s rating system. These are reported findings and status from that period, not a determination of what viewers saw in the video or a statement about the restaurant’s current inspection status. Eater Seattle; GeekWire
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GeekWire also reported a separate TikTok user’s claim that his girlfriend had been hospitalized after eating at the restaurant. The cited coverage did not establish a diagnosis or prove that the restaurant caused an illness. The allegation does not resolve the separate question of what appeared to move in Lee’s video.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unknown
The available reporting documents viewers’ interpretation, the restaurant’s denial and explanation, Lee’s uncertainty, and the dated public-health visit. It does not identify the cause of the movement or confirm that a parasite was present. The restaurant’s own explanation is its account, not independent proof of the cause; likewise, the reported inspection result does not establish what was in the close-up.
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