Michael Salem

Head of Culinary Innovation at Hart House

Michael Salem is on a mission to revolutionize the fast-food industry and its perception nationwide. Formerly the head of culinary innovation and commercialization at Burger King, Salem is most notably credited for creating, developing, and launching “The Impossible Burger,” one of the first plant-based alternatives in fast food. Today, the Coral Gables resident is buckling down on his plant-based approach to convenient meals in partnership with famous actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Together, they have created Hart House, a vegan fast-food joint.

Latest Achievement

In his current role as head of culinary innovation at Hart House, Salem is tasked with creating fast-food cuisine that is both delicious and accessible to the masses. With the product as his number one priority, Salem seeks to curate a menu of “incredible, crave-able, and delicious” dishes that also happen to be entirely plant-based. Popular items at Hart House include the Crispy Chick’n sandwich with vegan mayo and pickles, the Double Burg’r (two “impossible” patties topped with Hart House’s signature sauce), and plant-based milkshakes. Unlike other vegan options that often come with a high price tag, Hart House is committed to keeping costs in the “sweet spot,” with the Single Burg’r coming in at $5.99 and a full meal at just $10.49. Although there are currently only locations in California, the chain plans on expanding eastward into Miami within the next few years.

What He Says

“We are never going to change people’s eating habits by value-shaming them into it,” Salem says. “It’s incredible the amount of passion [Kevin Hart] has for the brand. We have the opportunity to shift dining habits across the world. I have a tremendous amount of hope for the future of fast food.”