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Customer Brings Outside Hamburger into Starbucks, Blocked by Staff and Records Video to Complain, Causing Online Controversy!

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat account: qjcoffeex. Have you ever brought outside food to restaurants or coffee shops when dining there?

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Starbucks Controversy: Banned from Bringing Outside Food

Have you ever tried to bring outside food when dining at restaurants or coffee shops? Have you ever been refused from bringing outside food?

Yesterday, according to Thumb Video, such an incident occurred at Starbucks that sparked considerable controversy among netizens! On February 8, a woman in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, claimed she was stopped by staff when trying to bring a hamburger into Starbucks, with the reason being: the hamburger has a strong smell!

The woman involved, Ms. Wang, said that at the time she had arranged to meet friends at Starbucks to discuss some matters. After ordering and receiving her coffee, she felt a bit hungry and ordered a takeout hamburger from the shop next door. When she returned, she was stopped by the staff. Ms. Wang claimed the staff's attitude was poor, and after repeated inquiries, the staff member only said: "We don't allow outside food here."

Afterward, the woman took out her phone to record a video. When she questioned the staff member again, the waiter changed their statement, saying they don't recommend bringing outside food because of strong smells, and the ventilation system isn't great, which might affect other customers. Additionally, there are signs on the door indicating that outside food is prohibited. However, if you're eating something without a strong smell, Starbucks can provide branded packaging bags inside the store, while foods with stronger smells are suggested to be consumed at outdoor seating.

Public Reactions and Debate

When this incident came to light, it sparked significant controversy among netizens. Some netizens claimed it's illegal! expressing confusion: "Why aren't they allowed? Starbucks isn't exactly a high-end place. It's just a hamburger, not something soupy or liquidy, and Starbucks also has some strongly flavored food inside, right?" "Who told you to order hamburgers from next door instead of theirs?" "The Starbucks where I live doesn't have so many ridiculous rules. This is the same logic as cinemas prohibiting outside food and drinks - it's illegal!" Some netizens even posted legal provisions they found online regarding prohibitions on outside food...

Legal provisions about outside food policies

However, many netizens expressed support for Starbucks, believing this is purely a matter of personal courtesy, stating: "It's completely normal not to allow it," "Isn't not bringing outside food the most basic courtesy?" "There's clearly outdoor seating available, so why make a video to incite people?" "This customer... does she really need a staff member to remind her? Her standards are a bit low," "Many coffee shops don't allow outside food, not just Starbucks, okay?! In foreign countries, you'd be asked to leave for eating outside food in a coffee shop. Isn't this common sense?" "Since it's next door anyway, why not just take your Starbucks to KFC?"...