Master Kabob owner Soleyman Gushwareh thanks customers after food influencer’s visit sparks surge in business.
ARLINGTON, Texas — When Master Kabob first opened in Arlington, business was slow.
Owner Soleyman Gushwareh said some days no one came in at all. Other days, he might see just one customer. Tables sat empty as he waited and cooked.
Then one night, a single diner walked through the door.
Gushwareh greeted him with soup and multiple courses of Persian food, following the same routine he uses for every guest. What Gushwareh did not know at the time was that the customer was a food influencer known for highlighting small businesses.
In a TikTok video recorded inside the restaurant, the influencer praised the food, calling it amazing and saying he loved the bread and dishes. Gushwareh continued bringing food, offering him extra courses for free, because there were no other customers that night.
At one point in the video, Gushwareh shared his worries about the lack of business, saying there were days when nobody showed up, or only one person came in. Even so, he refused to charge the influencer for the meal. The influencer left Gushwareh and his staff a generous tip.
The influencer, who goes by @samspov_1, later posted the video online, where it went viral, reaching more than 30 million views.
Gushwareh said the attention surprised him. Soon, he said, crowds started coming in and people began offering congratulations.
“After the second day, a lot of people showed up,” Gushwareh said. “Thank you to everybody who showed up.”
Now, Gushwareh said business is steady, and he is grateful for the support.
“Right now, I’m OK,” he said. “Thank you so much to everybody who came to show up.”
Gushwareh said welcoming guests is central to his culture. He said everyone who comes in is treated like family and often offered soup first.
“My culture, anybody come in, we say welcome to our home,” he said. “People like that kind of stuff.”
Gushwareh has been cooking for 35 years, from his home country of Iran to the United States. He said he loves preparing food for customers and watching them enjoy it. He added that many families now come in with their children, some calling him “mama” or “baba.”
He said the influencer’s visit changed everything.
“After he came, he made us busy,” Gushwareh said. “Thank you so much for him to see us.”
Customers now recognize him from TikTok and Instagram, often telling him they saw the viral video. Gushwareh said it still feels unreal.
With more customers filling the restaurant, Gushwareh said he continues to focus on fresh food, hospitality and gratitude.
“You feel good, and if you feel good, I feel good too,” he said.