Freakonomics Radio

Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant (Update)

Mar 21, 2019
Kenji Lopez-Alt, an award-winning food writer and owner of Worst Hall, shares his journey into the restaurant world, highlighting the unexpected challenges he faced. He discusses blending science with cooking while navigating the complexities of vegan hospitality and the chaos of opening night. Kenji reflects on the impact of customer feedback, especially from Yelp, and the delicate balance between personal beliefs and professional responsibilities. His adventures reveal that, even with expertise, the restaurant business can be wildly unpredictable.
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ADVICE

Don't Open a Restaurant

  • First step to opening a restaurant: Don't.
  • Opening a restaurant involves constant fire-fighting, even after it's open.
ANECDOTE

Sausage Making

  • Lopez-Alt visited numerous Bay Area sausage makers to find the right partner.
  • He emphasizes the importance of proper sausage-making technique for quality.
ANECDOTE

Vegan Options

  • Lopez-Alt aimed for delicious vegan options, not just omissions.
  • The vegan doner kebab, made with Impossible Meats, faced initial challenges.
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