JinCook Diners Allege Blacklisting Over Gratuity
Six diners say a Los Angeles restaurant threatened to blacklist them after they challenged an automatic 18% tip on Halloween night.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Dining Out
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Six diners at JinCook in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, were split across two tables of three on Halloween night and charged a mandatory 18% gratuity for a large party. After the diners challenged the charge, the server removed the gratuity, and the diners say a server warned they would be blacklisted if they returned.
Why it matters
The incident highlights how automatic gratuities applied to split parties can create disputes between diners and restaurants. The account has drawn attention in the Los Angeles dining community after it spread on Reddit.
The diners were charged an 18% automatic gratuity across two separate tables of three on October 31, 2026. The restaurant has not publicly confirmed the blacklisting claim, and the Reddit post has been locked to new comments.
The players
JinCook
JinCook is a restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, where the incident took place and which did not respond to requests for comment.
The details
Six friends were seated at two separate tables of three, each with its own server, and both checks allegedly received the large-party gratuity. After the diners disputed the charge, the server removed it, but the group says a server then warned them they would be blacklisted from the restaurant if they came back.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Diners were charged the gratuity at JinCook on Halloween night.
November 2, 2026: The incident was publicly reported and the Reddit post went viral.
Dining Trend
Automatic gratuities for large parties have become a common flashpoint in Los Angeles dining, where groups split across tables often end up disputing how the charge is applied. This case adds to growing public scrutiny of how restaurants treat tipping policies for groups.
Diners in Los Angeles who dine in groups should check whether an automatic gratuity will be added before ordering, especially when a party is split across multiple tables. Asking about tipping policy up front can help avoid disputes at the end of the meal.
The takeaway
Groups dining out should ask how gratuities are applied when they split a party across tables before the check arrives. Clarifying tipping policy at the start can prevent surprise charges and disputes.
Further reading
For more on the local scene, browse Dining Out coverage in Los Angeles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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