
David MizrahiFounder & CEO
In this interview, David Mizrahi discusses his journey from running a struggling shawarma shop to building Salt Restaurant Group, a rapidly growing hospitality company. He shares insights on customer-first service, responsible expansion, operational excellence, and hands-on leadership. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to customers, building strong teams, maintaining quality during growth, and creating memorable dining experiences that drive loyalty and long-term business success.
Founder Stats
- Retail, Marketplace, Technology
- Started 2015 or
- $1M+/mo
- 50+ team
- USA
About David Mizrahi
David Mizrahi is the founder and CEO of Salt Restaurant Group, a hospitality company behind concepts including Salt Steakhouse, LBK Grill, Soya, Pepe Kitchen, Salt Market, and Bubby’s Bagels. After transitioning from a career in foreclosure services, he built a thriving restaurant group through a commitment to customer satisfaction, operational discipline, and responsible growth. His leadership philosophy centers on serving guests exceptionally well, empowering teams, and expanding only when quality can be maintained.
Interview
September 8, 2025
At 16 you made over $100k on eBay selling closeouts. What did that teach you about business?
You dropped out of high school and never went to college. Looking back, would you do it again?
At 18 you ran a foreclosure cleanup company doing a few million a year. How did you pull that off without formal training?
Why leave a profitable real-estate services business for restaurants?
How did you turn a failing 20-seat spot into a profitable restaurant?
What’s your core rule for launching successful restaurants?
You opened LBK in May 2020 during COVID. Why not delay?
How did the relationship with Kushner Companies lead to more locations?
You expanded to six spots in about five years. How do you avoid expanding too fast?
What happened when a new manager quit two weeks after Salt opened?
How do you handle rough feedback without taking it personal?
What is your partnership advice after buying out a close friend?
What’s been your biggest failure?
What chaos happens behind the kitchen doors, and how do you lead?
What should an aspiring restaurateur focus on first?
Can high end kosher brands scale with franchising?
Table Of Questions
Video Interviews with David Mizrahi
David Mizrahi - Founder of Salt Steakhouse: How I Opened 5 Restaurants in 5 Years
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