A Popeyes restaurant in Southeast Washington has been shut down by the DC Department of Health, after a TikTok video revealed its seemingly rodent-infested kitchen.
The man, who posted the video that went viral among social media users, claims that he delivers raw chicken to all of the Popeyes locations in the DC area.
Filming himself while outside a Popeyes — allegedly the one located at 409 8th Street, Southeast — at night, the man unlocks the doors and enters the restaurant in the video. He then turns on the lights and multiple rats are seen scurrying around, some on the floor and some climbing up a wall.
“You still love that chicken from Popeyes?” he asks following the disturbing scene.
DC Health inspected the eatery three times this year, in February, April, and June, with the second being a routine visit and the other two as follow-up inspections, according to the Department’s records.
Since 2018, a total of nine inspections took place at the Southeast DC location, including six that stemmed from complaints.
DC Health inspectors did not report any violations after their last visit which was on June 10, 2021.
On their April 21 inspection, however, they found four violations, including dead insects observed inside ceiling tiles, and the exterior door not being rodent proof. “The premises shall be maintained free of insects, rodents, and other pests, The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises,” said the report.