Famous American Restaurateurs

Vote for Your Favourite American Restaurateurs

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 1 
Colonel Sanders
(Founder of the Fast Food Chicken Restaurant ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’ (KFC))
Colonel Sanders
4
Birthdate: September 9, 1890
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Henryville, Indiana, United States
Died: December 16, 1980

Colonel Sanders is the man who revolutionized the American fast food industry by founding the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Establishing a style trademark by wearing a white suit and black string tie, Sanders went on to become a symbol of the KFC brand. Such is the popularity of the brand, the symbol is recognized all over the world.

 2 
Bobby Flay
(Celebrity Chef Known for His Work with 'Food Network' & Owner of 'Bobby's Burger Palace', 'Mesa Grill')
Bobby Flay
4
Birthdate: December 10, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is best known for his Food Network shows, such as the Emmy-nominated Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay. He launched many restaurants, such as the Las Vegas-based Mesa Grill and 19 outlets of Bobby's Burger Palace. He has also taught at the French Culinary Institute.
 3 
Flavor Flav
(Rapper)
Flavor Flav
3
Birthdate: March 16, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Roosevelt, New York, United States
Rapper and hip-hop “hype man” Flavor Flav co-founded the rap group Public Enemy. Known for his signature style of wearing clocks as ornaments and for his screams of "Yeah, boyeeeeee!” in his songs, he has also starred in several reality shows. He owned two restaurants, which closed down unceremoniously.
 4 
David Chang
(American Restaurateur and Founder of the Momofuku Restaurant Group)
David Chang
3
Birthdate: August 5, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arlington County, Virginia, United States

David Chang revolutionized the culinary world with his brand Momofuku, which owns several noodle bars across the world, including a 2-Michelin-star restaurant. He has produced the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Several issues of his food magazine Lucky Peach have been NYT bestsellers.

 5 
Mario Batali
(American Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur)
Mario Batali
3
Birthdate: September 19, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Mario Batali is an American chef, restaurateur, writer, and media personality. He started hogging the limelight after appearing on some of Food Network's shows, such as Iron Chef America and Molto Mario. Also a well-known philanthropist and social activist, Batali established the Mario Batali Foundation in 2008, which funds pediatric disease research and various children's educational programs.

 6 
Wolfgang Puck
(Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur)
Wolfgang Puck
3
Birthdate: July 8, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria

Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian-American restaurateur. In 1973, Puck moved to the US and opened a restaurant named Spago in 1982. He then established himself as a respected restaurateur by opening several other restaurants. In 2013, he was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Also an actor, Puck has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 7 
Kimbal Musk
(The Founder of 'The Kitchen Restaurant Group' and Co-Founder of 'Big Green' a 501 non profit organization)
Kimbal Musk
3
Birthdate: September 20, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of business tycoon and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, owns the community restaurant chain known as The Kitchen Restaurant Group. He also co-founded the non-profit Big Green, which builds outdoor classrooms, and Square Roots, which specializes in urban farming. He is also a prime Tesla shareholder.
 8 
Emeril Lagasse
(Celebrity Chef & Restaurateur Known for His Show 'Essence of Emeril' on The Food Network)
Emeril Lagasse
3
Birthdate: October 15, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagassé is known for his signature New New Orleans style of cooking and his catchphrases such as “Bam!” He owns several restaurants, has written many cookbooks, owns a non-profit for underprivileged children, and has also hosted Food Network shows such as Essence of Emeril and Emeril Live.
 9 
Joe Bastianich
(Restaurateur & Winemaker Who Co-owns 30 Restaurants in Four Countries)
Joe Bastianich
3
Birthdate: September 17, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Astoria, New York, United States
Restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich co-owns 30 restaurants across four countries, with his mother, Lidia Bastianich. His ventures include the Michelin-star-rated Babbo and the Pizzeria brand of eateries in Los Angeles. He has been a judge on the MasterChef franchise and has also authored several cookbooks and a bestselling autobiography.
 10 
Dick Clark
(Radio and Television Personality Best Known for Hosting ‘American Bandstand’ and the 'Pyramid' Game Show)
Dick Clark
3
Birthdate: November 30, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mount Vernon
Died: April 18, 2012
Emmy-winning radio and TV personality Dick Clark is best remembered as the host of American Bandstand for more than three decades. He had also hosted shows such as The $10,000 Pyramid and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. He also appeared in movies and co-owned theaters and music-themed restaurants.
 11 
John Schnatter
(Founder of 'Papa John's' Pizza Restaurant Chain)
John Schnatter
3
Birthdate: November 23, 1961
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States

Entrepreneur John H. Schnatter, also known as Papa John, established Papa John's Pizza in the 1980s, using the money he got after selling his car. He resigned as the CEO of his company in 2018, following a controversy regarding his comments about protests by NFL players.

 12 
Eddie Huang
(Chef and Co-Owner of "BaoHaus", a Gua Bao Restaurant)
Eddie Huang
3
Birthdate: March 1, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Chef and food expert Eddie Huang co-owns the gua bao restaurant BaoHaus in Lower Manhattan. He has hosted shows such as Snack Off and Huang's World. His bestselling memoir, Fresh Off the Boat, was made into a sitcom of the same name. He has also been a food blogger.
 13 
Michael Symon
(Chef)
Michael Symon
2
Birthdate: September 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 14 
Joe Theismann
(American football player)
Joe Theismann
3
Birthdate: September 9, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 15 
Guy Fieri
(American Restaurateur and Host of Several 'Food Network' Television Shows)
Guy Fieri
2
Birthdate: January 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States

Primarily a restaurateur, Guy Fieri is a testimony to the fact that any professional can become famous if they are passionate enough in doing what they do best. From being a restaurateur, he went on to become a TV personality, hosting shows for Food Network channel. By mid-2010, he had become the face of the network.

 16 
Alan Hale Jr.
(Actor)
Alan Hale Jr.
3
Birthdate: March 8, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: January 2, 1990
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 17 
Jon Taffer
(Entrepreneur)
Jon Taffer
3
Birthdate: November 7, 1954
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Great Neck, New York, U.S.
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 18 
Andrew Zimmern
(American Chef, Restaurateur, Television and Radio Personality)
Andrew Zimmern
3
Birthdate: July 4, 1961
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 19 
Geoffrey Zakarian
(Chef)
Geoffrey Zakarian
3
Birthdate: July 25, 1959
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts, US
 20 
Rick Bayless
(American Chef and Restaurateur)
Rick Bayless
2
Birthdate: November 23, 1953
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
 21 
Jose Andres
(Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK))
Jose Andres
3
Birthdate: July 13, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mieres, Asturias, Spain

Jose Andres is a Spanish-born American restaurateur and chef. Andrés, who owns restaurants in many American cities like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York City, Las Vegas, and Chicago, is credited with introducing the concept of small plates dining to America. Jose Andres was honored with the 2015 National Humanities Medal for founding a non-profit organization called World Central Kitchen.

 22 
Carl Ruiz
(Chef)
Carl Ruiz
1
Birthdate: April 4, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Passaic, New Jersey, United States
Died: September 21, 2019
 23 
Dave Thomas
(Founder and CEO of Wendy's)
Dave Thomas
2
Birthdate: July 2, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Died: January 8, 2002
 24 
Howard Schultz
(Businessman, CEO of ‘Starbucks’ and Co-Owner of 'Seattle SuperSonics' Basketball Team )
Howard Schultz
3
Birthdate: July 19, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Businessman Howard Schultz has served as the chairman and CEO of the Starbucks Coffee Company and as the owner of the basketball team Seattle SuperSonics. He has written several books on business, including the NYT bestseller From the Ground Up. He has also launched the Schultz Family Foundation.
 25 
Grant Achatz
(American Chef and Restaurateur Known for His Contributions to Molecular Gastronomy or Progressive Cuisine)
Grant Achatz
3
Birthdate: April 25, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint Clair, Michigan, United States
 26 
Sean Tuohy
(Sports Commentator)
Sean Tuohy
3
Birthdate: November 23, 1959
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 27 
Ming Tsai
(American Chef, Restaurateur, and Television Personality)
Ming Tsai
2
Birthdate: March 29, 1964
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Newport Beach, California, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 28 
Thomas Keller
(American Chef & Restaurateur)
Thomas Keller
3
Birthdate: October 14, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, United States
 29 
Paul Prudhomme
(American Celebrity Chef)
Paul Prudhomme
2
Birthdate: July 13, 1940
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Opelousas, Louisiana, United States
Died: October 8, 2015
 30 
Tom Colicchio
(Chef)
Tom Colicchio
2
Birthdate: August 15, 1962
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 31 
Frederick Trump
(Businessman)
Frederick Trump
1
Birthdate: March 14, 1869
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kallstadt, Germany
Died: May 30, 1918
 32 
Bill Rancic
(Writer, Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Author, Restaurateur)
Bill Rancic
2
Birthdate: May 16, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chicago
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 33 
Graham Elliot
(Chef)
Graham Elliot
3
Birthdate: January 4, 1977
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 34 
Richard Blais
(American Chef, Television Personality, Restaurateur, and Author)
Richard Blais
3
Birthdate: February 19, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Uniondale, New York, United States
 35 
Jimmy John Liautaud
(Founder of Jimmy John's Sandwich Chain.)
Jimmy John Liautaud
2
Birthdate: January 12, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States
 36 
Oliver Peck
(American Tattoo Artist, Restaurateur and Reality TV Personality Known for His TV Show ‘Ink Master’)
Oliver Peck
0
Birthdate: July 29, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 37 
Michael Voltaggio
(American Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Cookbook Author)
Michael Voltaggio
3
Birthdate: September 29, 1978
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Frederick, Maryland, United States
 38 
Charlie Trotter
(American Chef and Restaurateur)
Charlie Trotter
1
Birthdate: September 8, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Wilmette, Illinois, United States
Died: November 5, 2013
 39 
Fred DeLuca
(Businessman)
Fred DeLuca
2
Birthdate: October 3, 1947
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: September 14, 2015
 40 
Alice Waters
(American Chef, Restaurateur, and Author)
Alice Waters
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1944
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chatham, New Jersey, United States
 41 
Rocky Aoki
(Restaurateur Who Founded the Popular Japanese Cuisine Restaurant Chain 'Benihana')
Rocky Aoki
0
Birthdate: October 9, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Died: July 10, 2008
 42 
Scott Conant
(American Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author)
Scott Conant
3
Birthdate: February 19, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
 43 
Jon Paul Steuer
2
Birthdate: March 27, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Escondido, California, United States
Died: January 1, 2018
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 44 
S. Truett Cathy
(Business Person)
S. Truett Cathy
2
Birthdate: March 14, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Eatonton, Georgia, US
Died: September 8, 2014
 45 
Dan Barber
(Chef)
Dan Barber
1
Birthdate: March 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
 46 
Antonia Lofaso
(Chef)
Antonia Lofaso
1
Birthdate: November 23, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 47 
Marcus Samuelsson
(Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur)
Marcus Samuelsson
0
Birthdate: January 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Swedish chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson currently works as the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Fascinated by his grandmother’s cooking, he studied at the Culinary Institute in Göteborg to learn the nuances of food preparation. In the ensuing years, he gained recognition as a world-class chef. He is also an award-winning cookbook author.

 48 
Junior Bridgeman
(Basketball player, Businesspeople)
Junior Bridgeman
1
Birthdate: September 17, 1953
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: East Chicago, Indiana, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 49 
J. Willard Marriott
(Founder of the 'Marriott International, Inc')
J. Willard Marriott
1
Birthdate: September 17, 1900
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Marriott-Slaterville, Utah, United States
Died: August 13, 1985

Born in Utah, Marriott founder J. Willard Marriott grew up helping his parents on their family farm. The hotel tycoon began his career selling root beer and gradually launched a restaurant chain. The first Marriott hotel was basically a motel and eventually grew into a US$4.5 billion empire.

 50 
Tom Monaghan
(Businessperson)
Tom Monaghan
2
Birthdate: March 25, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States