SPRING, Texas – A TikTok video showing a man causing a disturbance inside Chubby’s Mexican Seafood and Grill in Spring from August 29 has gone viral, racking up nearly half a million views and drawing widespread attention.
The footage, recorded by restaurant co-owner Enrique Grimaldo, shows the man yelling profanities and even asking, “are you legal?”
At one point, you can hear the man in the video saying, “You’re lucky I don’t hurt somebody.”
Grimaldo said the man pulled the front door off its hinges when he became angry after falling off one of the bar chairs.
“It just felt like we were getting bullied,” Grimaldo told KPRC 2. “As a small family-owned business, to have someone come and treat us that way definitely hurts.”
The restaurant, which opened in February, is run entirely by the Grimaldo family, with mom in the kitchen and her three sons serving the food. The fourth and youngest son was nicknamed “Chubby” as an infant, hence the name of the restaurant.
“I wanted to help my mom with her dream of one day opening a restaurant,” said Grimaldo.
Grimaldo said he was hesitant about posting the video of the frightening confrontation from last month, but it has drawn support from the community.
Among those who showed up was Houston-area TikTok influencer Kent Burris, known online as DineWithKent.
“It’s a shame that these guys have to deal with customers like that,” Burris said. “I just have a passion for helping small businesses. I don’t make money off TikTok. I just share where I eat and try to bring them attention.”
Burris dined at Chubby’s shortly after seeing the viral video, praising the fresh seafood and encouraging Houstonians to give the restaurant a try.
The viral moment has also drawn first-time customers, like Spring resident Corey Brown.
“Honestly, it was shocking to see someone act that way,” Brown said. “But it made me want to come here and support the family. The food is amazing and I’ll definitely be back.”
Despite the temporary damage to their door, now held together with screws while the family saves up for repairs, the Grimaldos say the experience has been a “blessing in disguise.”
“I’m thankful,” Grimaldo said. “As strange and uncomfortable as it was, it gave us more visibility and showed how much the community cares.”
The man seen in the video claimed to be an elected official. Because he has not been formally charged, KPRC 2 has not confirmed that claim.
The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office told KPRC 2 deputies responded to the scene and the case remains under active investigation.