Despite the mounting problems for Salt Bae and America’s labour laws, the chef is continuing with ambitious expansion plans that include new restaurants in New York, London and Milan.
While there is no questioning the quality of meat on offer in Salt Bae’s restaurants, there are questions over the sustainability of a business model built on meme-fame as well as the kind of excess associated with eating gold-plated steaks for an increasingly vegan and environmentally conscious public. For now, though, Gökçe is still riding a wave of success.