A TikTok star from a small town in Tennessee is on a mission to show the world that British food isn’t so bad after all.

Food critic Kalani Smith, who goes by the name Kalani Ghost Hunter (KGH) online, garners millions of views on social media for his reviews of everything from Welsh pies to Greggs.

After initially building a following by researching paranormal phenomena, Mr Smith now focused on reviewing British culinary classics and his follower count rose to over three million on TikTok alone.

Following his recent tour of South Wales, Mr Smith boldly declared that the food at Cardiff Market was “10 times out of 10” superior to that at London’s Camden Market.

“The most interesting thing about this trip … is that there is a perception around the world, particularly in the United States, that the food in Britain is bland, bad,” Smith said.

“I think my whole goal up to this point has been to document that this is not the case.

“Of course there are things that are not good in every country, but there are also some things that are absolutely incredible.”

“Many people come to the UK and visit London, and that’s the extent of their visit to the UK,” said Smith, who is from Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

“Being in so many cities in the UK, I’ve developed a pretty good idea and understanding of most foods… I’ve tried so many of the regional dishes.”

Mr Smith’s social media career as a ghost hunter took an unexpected turn when, on a trip to the UK earlier this year, he decided to review arguably the most British food of all: a roast dinner.

“From that point on, everything really changed for me,” says Smith, who has worked as a restaurant critic ever since.

During his travels through Great Britain, the almost exclusive setting for his reviews, one cuisine in particular stood out to him.

“The curry scene in the UK is untouchable,” he said.

“You can get a really good curry in so many different parts of the UK.”

However, Mr Smith does not have such kind words for all traditional dishes of the United Kingdom and says: Cake, mashed potatoes and liqueur was the worst thing he had.

“It’s a London thing… but that liqueur sauce is just not something I want to eat again.”

On a recent whirlwind tour of South Wales, Mr Smith visited Newport, Cardiff, Port Talbot and Swansea.

“One of the highlights of the trip was definitely the Welsh cake… absolutely incredible,” said Mr Smith after visiting Cardiff Bakestones in the city’s market.

“The first time I came here I ate a horrible Morrisons Welsh Cake out of a bag and everyone told me I had to get another one.

“We went to Cardiff Market and ate an incredible amount of food, including Welsh cakes.”

Another highlight of Welsh cuisine was our famous traditional Welsh… tacos?

“Some of the best tacos I’ve had in the UK are at Cardiff Market,” he said of The Bearded Taco there.

In Swansea, he said he had had “really good experiences” with cockles, laverbread and Welsh rarebit.

“I had to get laverbread from Wales. I had this cockle and laverbread mix which was really good.

“Pure laverbread, without baking. That wasn’t a good idea.”

However, he incurred the wrath of the people of Swansea with a not quite perfect, but nevertheless positive review of “Joe’s Ice Cream”.

“Joe’s Ice Cream in Swansea is one that I have heard comments about hundreds and hundreds of times and everyone in Swansea talks about Joe’s Ice Cream.

“Joe’s Ice Cream is good, but not in the top 10 best ice cream flavors I’ve ever eaten.

“It’s not something I would drive or stand in line for.”

Mr Smith said an important part of his job was to balance locals’ passion for their specialties with honest evaluation.

“The key is – you have to be respectful, right? – If you watch a video of me, even if it’s negative, most of the time I try my best to be respectful.

“Every city in every region has a dish that it holds on to and is proud of.

“If I think something doesn’t taste good, I don’t say so to, well, spare someone’s feelings.

“Just because it’s not my taste and I don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean someone else out there won’t like it… I’ll always be honest with people.”