Salt Bae hamburger chain to open in Los Angeles

Chef Nusret Gökçe has recently been criticised over his New York restaurant

“Salt Bae” is reportedly opening a hamburger chain in Los Angeles that’s been named after the meme that made him famous.

Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe became a global phenomenon when a video of him slicing up steak and sprinkling it with salt went viral, with millions dubbing him “Salt Bae”.

Gökçe owns a chain of Turkish steakhouses called Nusr-Et. He opened his first restaurant in Istanbul in 2010 and has since opened branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The chef has recently come under fire for his culinary practises, with customers of his New York restaurant criticising the extortionate prices of his menu and his lack of hygiene.

However, despite the backlash that he’s received, Gökçe still has plans to open a new restaurant in Los Angeles, a hamburger chain called Salt Bae.

Gökçe, who now wears black gloves to serve the food in his Midtown steakhouse Nusr-Et, spoke to the New York Post about his future endeavours.

“We’ve already signed a lease for our first Salt Bae in Los Angeles - Soho is next,” he said.

“It won’t just be for the wealthy.”

The Salt Bae restaurant will feature a table service, in addition to a takeout counter.

It will definitely be a more affordable option for diners in comparison to Nusr-Et, where New York Post critic Steve Cuozzo wrote that he felt underwhelmed by his $521.45 (£373) meal.

The Los Angeles eatery will measure at 4,000 square feet and will also have a full liquor licence.

Every since posting the original “Salt Bae” video on Instagram in January last year, Gökçe has shot up to the highest ranks of internet fame.

The chef now has almost 11 million followers and has been spotted hanging out with the likes of DJ Khaled, Diddy and Usher.

After launching in Los Angeles, Gökçe plans on expanding the Salt Bae restaurant franchise across several locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.