A couple’s furious confrontation over a $60 Chinese takeout order spiraled into chaos at an Idaho restaurant, where employees say they were screamed at, pelted with food and subjected to a racist remark during an explosive dispute that has since gone viral.
What began as a complaint about soggy food at Mandarin House in Pocatello quickly escalated into an ugly scene involving thrown food, frightened workers and police intervention. Now, both customers are facing misdemeanor charges after restaurant employees captured the confrontation on video and shared it online.
The incident unfolded around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, when Terrence and Bianca Taylor returned to the restaurant approximately 15 to 20 minutes after purchasing a $61 takeout meal. According to employee Laura Mandez-Flores, the couple had called ahead to complain that their food was terrible and demanded their money back.
Restaurant workers attempted to resolve the dispute by offering a partial refund and a gift card, but the couple refused to accept anything less than a full reimbursement. As tensions mounted, manager Kevin Cao reportedly offered to return $30 from his own pocket in an effort to calm the situation.
Instead, the argument became increasingly heated, with the customers loudly criticizing the restaurant’s food while employees tried to explain their refund policy.
“We’ve actually been to, like, all over Asia. We know what real Asian food is. This is not real,” Terrence can be heard telling employees in the video, while Bianca complained that the meal was soggy.
The confrontation soon took an even uglier turn as the couple continued arguing with workers behind the counter. At one point, Bianca repeatedly told employees to be quiet while demanding a refund, and Terrence appeared to become increasingly frustrated with the restaurant’s response.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Couple gets mad and throws food at staff in restaurant. Pocatello, Idaho
by u/Jevus_himself in PublicFreakout
According to Mandez-Flores, the argument turned physical when Terrence allegedly pushed a container of food off the counter, sending it crashing onto her feet. The commotion prompted her to reposition the phone recording the exchange, capturing much of what happened next.
The footage appears to show Terrence knocking another item from the counter while Bianca reaches toward a bag of fortune cookies being held by an employee. As the two struggle over the bag, it tears open, scattering its contents.
Bianca then appears to throw what she is holding toward the worker’s face, prompting alarm among staff members who had already been trying to get the couple to leave.
For employees who expected nothing more than an ordinary shift serving customers, the confrontation was deeply unsettling.
Mandez-Flores, who has worked at the restaurant for approximately three years, told East Idaho News that workers became frightened as the couple’s behavior escalated. They were particularly concerned because they had no way of knowing whether either customer was carrying a weapon.
But the confrontation wasn’t over.
As the Taylors finally headed toward the exit, Terrence allegedly made a racist remark about Mexican employees, adding another disturbing element to an already tense situation.
“That’s what happens when you get a bunch of Mexicans,” he can be heard saying in the recording.
The comment left workers stunned, with Mandez-Flores later explaining that one of her colleagues became emotional over the encounter.
She said the employees were especially upset that a dispute over Chinese food had turned into an attack involving their ethnicity, something that had nothing to do with the quality of the meal or the disagreement over a refund.
By the time the couple left, food and other items were scattered around the counter, leaving employees to clean up the mess and process what had happened.
Police were called to investigate, and officers subsequently identified the customers as Terrence and Bianca Taylor.
Pocatello Police Lt. Akilah Lacey confirmed that Bianca received misdemeanor citations for one count of battery and two counts of assault. Terrence was cited for disorderly conduct.
Under Idaho law, each misdemeanor count can carry a maximum penalty of six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine, although any actual punishment would depend on the outcome of the case.
Both defendants are scheduled to appear in court on November 19.
Lacey emphasized that restaurant employees should not have to fear for their safety simply because customers are unhappy with their food or service. Disagreements, he explained, do not justify threatening or harassing workers.
Meanwhile, the recording of the confrontation has sparked widespread attention online, bringing an unexpected wave of support to the family-owned restaurant, which has operated in Pocatello for more than 40 years.
Mandez-Flores said community members began visiting the business to express their sympathy, with some bringing chocolates, balloons and other small gifts. One customer even offered an employee a hug, while another left an encouraging message written on a fortune cookie slip.
The restaurant’s Facebook page also gained roughly 1,000 new likes shortly after the footage began circulating, as viewers rallied behind the workers.
For the employees at Mandarin House, the support has offered some comfort after a frightening encounter that began with an ordinary takeout complaint.
What should have been a simple disagreement over dinner instead ended with criminal citations, a viral video and a court date for both customers.
The Taylors have not been convicted of the charges, and the allegations against them remain subject to the legal process.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.