Popeye the Foodie Dog: The Rescue Pup Who Reviews Restaurants
Most dog-influencer accounts start with a trick or a look. Popeye’s started as a solution to a behavior problem — and turned into one of Instagram’s more distinctive niches: the “foodie dog.”
Who Popeye is
Popeye was found roaming the streets of Los Angeles before being adopted by Ivy Diep. A DNA test later showed him to be a mix of six breeds: Shih Tzu, Poodle, Pomeranian, Maltese, Chihuahua, and Rat Terrier. Diep began bringing him to restaurants specifically to manage his separation anxiety when left alone — and discovered he sat calmly through entire meals without begging or acting out.
Building the “foodie dog” account
What started as a coping strategy became a content format: Popeye posed beside plates at restaurants around Los Angeles, dressed in small outfits that matched the setting, while his owners captioned the posts in his voice reacting to the food. The account, @popeyethefoodie, built an audience of more than 350,000 followers around the format — restaurant content with a well-behaved dog as the reviewer.
Why it stands out
Unlike accounts built around a single viral clip, Popeye’s fame is built on a repeatable, low-drama premise: a calm rescue dog and a running restaurant diary. It’s a quieter kind of internet-dog fame, closer to a lifestyle account than a meme.
Popeye is part of our guide to the most famous dogs on Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
What breed is Popeye the Foodie Dog?
A DNA test showed Popeye is a mix of six breeds: Shih Tzu, Poodle, Pomeranian, Maltese, Chihuahua, and Rat Terrier. He was a stray found in Los Angeles before being adopted.
How did Popeye the Foodie Dog become famous?
His owner, Ivy Diep, began bringing him to restaurants to manage his separation anxiety and found he behaved calmly through meals. That became the basis for his Instagram account, @popeyethefoodie.
How many followers does Popeye the Foodie Dog have?
The @popeyethefoodie Instagram account has built an audience of more than 350,000 followers.
