Key Points
- A woman on Reddit said she walked out of a second date after her food was mocked as “disgusting.”
- She had ordered beef empanadas with kimchi, but her date criticized it repeatedly.
- Reddit users strongly supported her, sharing how food is deeply tied to culture, family, and memories, and how disrespectful it is to ridicule someone's meal.
The Story
In a post on Reddit’s r/AmIOverreacting, one woman described how her second date went off the rails over a plate of food.
She explained that she ordered beef empanadas with kimchi, a dish she enjoys and was excited to eat. But when it arrived, her date reportedly made a face and said:
“That looks disgusting. I don’t know how you can eat that.”
According to her, he didn't stop there. He went on to complain about the smell, calling it “weird.” At one point, he even said he couldn't see himself dating someone who eats food like that on a regular basis.
Feeling disrespected, she decided to pack up her meal, split the bill, and walk out. Later, her date texted to say “I’m just being honest.”. Claiming that she had embarrassed him and accused her of being “too sensitive”. Unsure if she had done the right thing, she turned to Reddit for advice.
How Reddit Users Reacted
Reddit commenters overwhelmingly defended her decision to leave. Many stressed that food is never just about flavor; it’s also about culture, heritage, and emotional connection.
One highly upvoted response captured the sentiment:
“Food is history, culture, family, and memories all rolled into one. When you insult someone’s food, you’re denigrating and disrespecting all of that.”
Another user shared how criticism from her own family about her mom´s recipes has been deeply painful:
“My family has a few rather unique recipes that have been passed down through the generations. There's one that no currently living members will touch, nor will my spouse/in-laws. EVERYBODY gives me shit for making/eating this particular dish, and I won't lie, it hurts. I know this recipe will die with me, and people won't stop giving me grief over it. More than the mean-spirited teasing, it's a way I have to connect with my mom, who died when I was young, and it feels like they're mocking both that connection and my need for it. I'm gonna go sit in a corner and cry now. People are mean.”
Others pointed out that the man’s behavior wasn’t just rude, but manipulative:
“‘I'm just being honest" really is just a poor excuse for "I'm a bully and I'll say whatever I want even if it's hurtful". The gaslighting that followed was textbook AH narcissist too - he embarrassed himself but of course it's never his fault... You dodged a bullet!! Leaving was the ONLY right reaction to his behaviour. I hope you've blocked him too, everywhere??!!?”
Takeaway
The community agrees that mocking someone's food is equivalent to mocking their background or identity, and it demonstrates a lack of basic respect. Some added that they had walked away from similar relationships where their favorite dishes or cultural foods were criticized.
The consensus across the thread was clear: leaving the date wasn't overreacting; it was standing up for herself.
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