Running A Restaurant Empire In London | The Food & Hospitality Hustle Ft. Omar Sahah

The UK hospitality sector reached a value of more than 100 billion Euros in 2018. Despite the consequences of Brexit and staff shortages, the number of hosting and food services facilities has grown nearly 20% in the last five years. There has probably never been a better time to set up shop.

Our next guest has set up shop—literally—multiple times. Founder of first Filipino ice cream parlour, Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream, in the UK. As well as, pan- Asian restaurants: Bintang, Ramo Ramen, Moi Moi Island and Guanabana. Omar Shah knows his way around the kitchen and the offices. Most man pride themselves on running the strip, so does Omar, except his hustle is restaurants. Walk down Camden, and you will see his restaurants lined up back to back. As well, as one in Chinatown (and another pending in Westfield Shepherds Bush). While most of us were finishing school and rushing home to watch Goku finish off Frieza, Omar was finishing his homework in the Bintang basement then heading upstairs to wait tables and wash plates.

An unpredictable journey wouldn't do his experience justice. Omar has done everything from accounting, opening a marketing agency, designing a clothing line to learning how to cook Suya. He takes us through the secrets to opening a restaurant, the importance of marketing, menu psychology, applying streetwear principles to selling desserts and his plans to build an empire! I also had to grill him (no pun intended) on why an Asian man chose to open a NIGERIAN takeaway!