Accusations of Racial Segregation at a Los Angeles Restaurant
An influencer has raised serious concerns about a restaurant in Los Angeles, alleging that it segregates Asian customers into a specific seating area. Cassidy Cho, while dining at the Great White in Melrose, California, on September 27, claimed she noticed that all guests who appeared to be Asian were seated in a secluded corner of the establishment.
Cho shared a now-viral TikTok video detailing her experience, showing that Asian customers were placed in the building’s corner. She stated, “I don’t know if it’s just me, but they put all Asians in one corner… everybody is white in the main seating area.” She added that if the next party seated in the corner were also Asian, her theory would be confirmed. Cho then pointed the camera at the new guest seated in the segregated section, confirming they were Asian.
After leaving the restaurant, Cho expressed her belief that the segregation might be due to the restaurant being “embarrassed of us.”
The eatery, which originated in Australia, has strongly denied these accusations, dismissing them as false social media speculation.
Other customers who claimed to have visited the restaurant echoed Cho’s story, saying they were allegedly placed in the same area of the building. One customer wrote, “My boyfriend is Korean and they put us in the corner both times we went, oh my god, maybe you’re onto something.” Another commented, “I am a person of color – I’ve been to this restaurant one time and will never go back because of that reason.” A third said, “I just realized my boyfriend and I have only been sitting in that same area (I’m Indian, he’s Chinese).”
Those who experienced this alleged treatment were not limited to the TikTok comment section; they also appeared in Google restaurant reviews and on Instagram. Many highlighted the irony of the restaurant’s name—Great White—given the context. A Great White is a shark found in Australian waters. Some comments suggested that the name was fitting: “Great White is racist? No wayyyyyyy,” one user wrote. Another added, “Come on people. It’s called GREAT WHITE.”
However, the owners of the chain restaurant have responded to the allegations of segregation and also criticized the insinuation made about the brand’s name. Sam Cooper and Sam Trude told The Daily Mail, “Great White is named after a shark. It has nothing to do with race. Any notion that we have mistreated customers or employees or seated people based on their ethnicity is absolutely outrageous and completely false. Everyone is welcome here.”
The Daily Mail has reached out to Great White for further comment. Great White Cafe originated in Australia, and its Instagram logo features a shark illustration. The cafe has nearly 71,000 followers on Instagram and has locations in Venice, Larchmont, Melrose, and Brentwood. The menu does not show prices but features a variety of foods, including chicken kebabs, ceviche, and steak frites.
A similar incident occurred at the world’s most romantic restaurant on the East Coast of the US. A TikToker named Annie accused One if by Land, Two if by Sea staff of putting Asian diners together on the second floor and treating them worse than others. The restaurant responded to the claims in a statement, saying, “The reason people love coming here is the way they’re greeted, regardless of religion, nationality and what they look like.”
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