A Couple Leaves 11.8 Million Won, 100 Times the Food Bill, at a Restaurant: A Heartwarming Story

A couple who finished their meal at a Mexican restaurant located in Houston, Texas, left a tip exceeding 10 million won, and the story has been revealed. / Photo by CNN website capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] A customer who left a tip 100 times greater than the cost of their meal has become a topic of conversation. It is especially touching as the large tip was left to support restaurant workers facing financial difficulties due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to 'CNN' on the 18th (local time), a couple dining at the Mexican restaurant 'Irma's Southwest' located in Houston, Texas, left a tip of $9,400 (approximately 11.8 million KRW) after finishing their dinner on the evening of the 16th. The couple's meal cost was only $90.12 (about 110,000 KRW), meaning they paid a tip more than 100 times the price of their food.

The restaurant owner, Mr. Luis Galvan, appeared on a broadcast and said, "We did not expect this at all," adding, "The couple left the tip for all the staff working in the kitchen and the dining area."

According to Mr. Galvan, the couple left a note saying, "Please use this tip for the staff over the next few weeks." It is also known that the couple requested their names not be disclosed.

Mr. Galvan expressed his feelings, saying, "The staff were surprised to learn that there are such considerate customers who leave money to help employees during difficult times." He continued, "At this point, we are not profitable and have entered survival mode, so it is difficult to pay wages normally," but added, "The staff are still coming to work."

Meanwhile, on this day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 9,269, with 151 deaths, indicating a rapid spread. In Texas alone, 131 people tested positive and 2 died.

Accordingly, most state governments, including Texas, have closed multi-use facilities such as restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and gyms. For restaurants, only delivery service is allowed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.