If you’ve spent any amount of time on TikTok within the last few weeks, you’ve probably heard the viral sound featuring Nish Godfrey. In the video, posted on the TikTok account of E 81 St. Deli, located in Cleveland, OH, Godfrey is seen enjoying a delicious salad and giving an honest review of her lunch.
“Ya’ll better come up here and get one of these,” she says.
“What’s that,” asked someone behind the camera.
“It’s a chicken salad,” Godfrey replies.
“From where,” the person behind the camera asks.
“81st Deli,” she answers.
He then goes on to ask what the salad contains, in which Godfrey replies with chicken, pickles, banana peppers, bell papers, onions, and tomatoes. The video has garnered over 1.3 million views on 81st Deli’s TikTok page, over 940k views on Godfrey’s page and the original sound has been used nearly 27,000 times since the video was uploaded in late August.
Who knew that such a simple video could become a viral sensation?
Godfrey’s review was so convincing that three friends from Dallas, TX decided to make a 1,200 mile trip to Cleveland to taste the famous 81st Deli chicken salad for themselves.
Topher, known as @topherhehe on TikTok, documented his experience on the platform. The first video starts as a stitch of E 81 St. Deli’s viral video. Then an excited Topher hops out of his car repeatedly saying, “81st deli yeah bihhh…yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.”
He continued, “Yeah girl I ordered, I ordered!”
@topherhehe #stitch with @81stdeli YESSS
The video then shifts to Topher and his two friends eating their salad in the car. While he shakes up his salad with ranch dressing, his friends have already started eating theirs. One of the friends confirms that the chicken salad is in fact “superior.”
Topher’s expressions after his first bite affirm his delight. His taste buds are definitely happy.
“She didn’t f***** lie. Thank you for your knowledge,” he says to Godfrey, hoping she will someday see.
“I refuse to believe it’s actually good,” a skeptical viewer said in the comments.
“It genuinely was great,” Topher replied before posting a second video chronicling his experience.
In the follow-up video, Topher and friends continue their review of the salad.
“Ten out of f****** ten. Best salad I’ve ever had,” said Topher. “I thought maybe she was exaggerating, maybe it was like a promotion. No, it was genuine. authentic. Maybe you guys need a chicken salad from 81st Deli!”
In addition to having one of the best salads of their lives, they found out why the customer in the viral video said the word “superior.” Although the salad was great, everyone has been misunderstanding the context in which she used the word.
“We thought she said the salad was superior. No, Superior Street. It’s off 81st and Superior just to clarify,” he says.
@topherhehe Replying to @neanapd IT GENUINELY WAS GREAT
The last video of their adventure is for proof that he was on a road trip in the area with his friends for anyone questioning if they were at the real E 81 St. Deli.
According to Topher, he and his friends flew to a very very small town for an amish getaway and then decided to make the six-hour drive to Cleveland for the viral salad.
@topherhehe Replying to @cdgmimi LMAO YES
@topherhehe Replying to @playinpolish1
♬ Comical and a little silly carefree music(831995) – Etsuo Kawasaki
81st Deli’s TikTok page has already amassed over 40k followers with even social media fans wanting to know who the man behind the camera was.
@onlynishaa_ #chickensalad #thankyall #vinny #fyp #cameraman #family #godistakingmeplaces #ipray @81stdeli #lizzo
Even Blavity’s team joined in on the viral moment as we gear up for this year’s Afro Tech conference.
We even loved the sound so much, we couldn’t help but to jump on the trend as well. With that said, you should come over here and get one of these.
@afro.tech Trust us, you don’t want to miss it! 😂👏🏿 🎥: @iamjoshrodgers #afrotech2022 #blacktechies #afrotechconference #austintexas #itsachickensalad #networking #blackintech #afrotech
