Restaurant worker reveals delicious-sounding fajita sizzle is actually all smoke and mirrors

A waiter has left the internet outraged after he revealed that the delicious-sounding sizzle that engulfs the restaurant when someone brings out a plate of fajitas is actually all smoke and mirrors.

Waiters often deliver the well-known Mexican dish on a skillet which seems like it’s still frying – smoke pours off the plate and the mouth-watering sound of the food crackling fills the entire room.

But according to a restaurant employee, contrary to popular belief, the food isn’t actually sizzling at all when it’s brought to the table. 

Instead, it’s all simply an effect created to enhance the experience and draw more customers in.

Waiters often deliver the well-known Mexican dish on a skillet which seems like it’s still frying – smoke pours off the plate and the mouth-watering sound of the food crackling fills the room

But according to a restaurant employee (seen), contrary to popular belief, the food isn’t actually sizzling at all when it’s brought to the table

The waiter, who lives in Texas, and goes by the username @ Sallamibrahi24 on TikTok, recently went viral after he shared an inside look into how the sizzling effect with fajitas is really made

The waiter, who lives in Houston, Texas, and goes by the username @Sallamibrahi24 on TikTok, recently went viral after he shared an inside look into how the sizzling effect with fajitas is really made.

He posted a video in which one of his fellow workers could be seen pouring what appeared to be water onto the hot pan-like dish – which caused the crackling sound.

The video, which got more than 2.8 million views, sparked a slew of shocked and angered comments from people who couldn’t believe that it was all an act of deception.

‘You mean my fajitas isn’t make that [sound]? I feel cheated,’ wrote one person, while another added, ‘[Took] 20 years to realize it’s not being cooked… it’s just steam.’

‘Bro just gave out a trade secret,’ said someone else. A fourth comment read, ‘Fooled me for 34 years.’

‘I always wondered why my fajitas be cold sometimes when I get them, even though they came out smoking up the whole restaurant,’ pointed out a different user.

Another person commented, ‘It makes sense though because all of a sudden it’s just going to stop as soon as it hits the table.’ 

He posted a video in which one of his fellow workers could be seen pouring what appeared to be water onto the hot pan-like dish – which caused the crackling sound

The video, which got more than 2.8 million views, sparked a slew of shocked and angered comments from people who couldn’t believe that it was all an act of deception

‘SMH… Fajitas [with water] just doesn’t hit the same as sizzling fajitas… Bro shouldn’t just left us in the dark,’ joked someone else.

‘This ruined my day,’ wrote one viewer. ‘Thinking about it now, I am a fool to think fajitas are literally steaming when they come out.’ 

‘I feel like my whole life is a lie,’ read another comment.

The Today show reached out to a slew of restaurants in regards to the video, and Chili’s responded with the following statement: ‘As the final step before serving, we use a savory, smoky sauce that enhances the flavor and aroma of our fajitas. The sizzle isn’t just for show – it’s for creating delicious, craveable fajita.’ 

This isn’t the only manipulation tactic that the restaurant business has used to make food seem more appealing to customers. 

Back in 2019, a video showcasing how photographers use hairspray, lipstick, and shoe polish to make fast food like more enticing in advertisements gained a lot of attention online.

An Instagrammer named Blossom posted a clip that showed the snappers using red makeup to make strawberries look brighter and slathering other items in hair products to make them appear shinier. 

‘Which of these elevated food secrets shocked you?’ she captioned it. 

It was also revealed in 2019 that some restaurants put fake grill marks on their meat to give the appearance that it was cooked on a BBQ over an open flame.

‘Even if the brand uses a smoke flavor and doesn’t actually grill the meat, in advertising and on packaging the grill marks work as a visual cue for the consumer,’ professional food stylist Claudia Ficca told Thrillist at the time.

Earlier this year, a consumer psychologist named Dr. Cathrine Jansson-Boyd spoke out about some of the methods that food stores use to get more sales, and it turns out, they do a lot to try to trick customers into purchasing more than they need.

 Back in 2019, a video showcasing how photographers use hairspray, lipstick, and shoe polish to make fast food like more enticing in advertisements gained a lot of attention online

An Instagrammer posted a clip that showed the snappers using red makeup to make fruit look brighter and slathering other items in hair products to make them appear shinier 

It was also revealed earlier this year that supermarkets will spray artificial scents around the store, including the smell of fresh bread near the bakery, to try to get more sales (stock image) 

She explained that they tend to place the most popular items at the end of the aisle so you have to pass other products to get what you want – and that they place the more expensive items at eye level, while the on sale or cheaper ones are harder to find.

Dr. Jansson-Boyd also claimed that supermarkets will spray artificial scents around the store, including the smell of fresh bread near the bakery. 

‘Often, the bread is pre-manufactured but they still pump out a smell of fresh bread, as shoppers have childhood associations with the smell,’ she said to the Mirror.

‘It’s homely, it’s nice and it’s fresh. You want to believe that everything in the store is made from scratch and is amazing, but of course, it isn’t. 

‘However, we sniff it and we’re quite easily duped, we buy into it and we think it’s all very fresh.’