What started as a simple search for dinner turned into something much bigger for Julian Becerra and for a women he had just met.
Becerra, co-founder of OTMensHealth and a local social media influencer, wasn't planning to change anyone's life. He just didn't want to eat the same meal again.
While trying to film a TikTok highlighting hidden "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants, his favorite place was closed. After going to another closed reasturant he decided to go on Google and found a Vietnamese restaurant he had never had before. Online it appeared closed, but when he called the employee told him to come on it.
Despite being a 45 minute ride away to Pinellas Park, Becerra decided to go.
"I don't care what a restaurant looks like or what it's called," he said. "I care about one thing, is the food hitting?"
When he arrived, the restaurant was empty. Still, he went in and filmed his experience.
"They had amazing food. The staff was super nice and despite the fact they hadn't seen a customer in three hours, they still offered to give a free meal and wouldn't accept any tip," he said. "I made the video, edited it and posted it the following day. I woke up and it had thousands of views."
He said the feedback was phenomenal. People flooded the comments saying they wanted to try the restaurant. Within days, the video had reached millions.
When Becerra called the restaurant again, the wait time was an hour.
Just days earlier, they had been waiting for customers. Now, they had a line.
A few days later, Becerra returned to film the line to thank everyone for supporting Mrs. Lieng restaurant called Café Bích Nga.
When he arrived, the rush had already passed, so he planned to come back another time. Instead, Mrs. Lieng sat down with him and started talking.
"She's one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet," he said. "She's funny and the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back."
Once again she offered to pay for his meal and during their casual conversation, Becerra said she casually told him she was homeless.
Becerra said he was stunned.
"She said it with a smile, like it was nothing."
Despite owning her own restaurant, Mrs. Leing has been sleeping on friend's couches, in cars and sometimes at the restaurant. She shared her story of immigrating from Vietnam and losing her husband after he suffered a stroke.
"In that moment I told her, 'let me get you a home,'" Becerra said.
With no prior fundraising experience, he created a GoFundMe and posted another video asking for help.
Within 10 minutes, the fundraiser reached $3,400. By the next day, it climbed to $50,000. Within four days, it reached $145,000.
"What was originally suppose to be me eating at a hole-in-a-wall spot, turned into raising a ton of money for someone who deserves it and wouldn't except it if I gave it to her," Becerra said.
Knowing Mrs. Leing wouldn't take the money, Becerra is currently meeting with realtors in the area to pay for three to five years worth of rent upfront. The rest of the money will go toward utilities and furniture. What is left over will be handed directly to Mrs. Leing.
"I am talking to her granddaughter, who is in college, about all of this and I told her to keep it a secret from Mrs. Leing," Becerra said.
Becerra said the community response has been overwhelming, with furniture stores and interior designers offering to help.
"I'm just grateful," he said. "Grateful I was able to use my platform for good."
As he searches for the perfect home, Becerra said he wants to take what he has learned and use to for further impact. Through his company he is considering starting charity events to help more people in need.
"I'm just grateful," he said. "Grateful I was able to use my platform for good."
What began as a simple night out is now a new beginning for a restaurant owner who will soon have a place to call home.