Exploring the Celebrity Chef Trend: Stars with Food Businesses

Mark Wahlberg in Wahlburgers
Credit: A&E | Fair use for promotional purposes

Mark Wahlberg in Wahlburgers
Credit: A&E | Fair use for promotional purposes

Some of the celebrities we know and love are not just performers and talented human beings, but they also have successful food businesses.

Let's explore the stars who have dabbled in the food industry.

Mark Wahlberg - Wahlburgers

Aside from being a beloved action star, Hollywood A-lister Mark Wahlberg is also the co-owner of Wahlburgers with his brothers Donnie and Paul.

Wahlburgers is a casual dining burger restaurant chain with 90+ locations across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also become the subject of a reality series where we follow the Wahlberg brothers' management of the business.

Eminem - Mom's Spaghetti

Eminem in Mom's Spaghetti's Restaurant promo
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Credit: EminemMusic YouTube channel

While he's not busy being a renowned rapper, Eminem also serves as the owner of the pasta restaurant Mom's Spaghetti which is located in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

The name of the restaurant came from a line of his hit single "Lose Yourself." Aside from serving food among its customers, they are also selling merchandise which includes the Mom's Spaghetti pasta sauce.

Kevin Hart - Hart House

Kevin Hart in The Late Late Show with James Corden
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Credit: CBS

Kevin Hart opened a vegan fast-food restaurant named "Hart House" which is "offering flavorful plant-based alternatives" and serves as a healthy competitor to other fast-food chains.

Throughout its short-lived run, it had four locations across California. Unfortunately, all of them closed down in September 2024 with no reason stated regarding why the actor made the decision.

DJ Khaled - The Licking

DJ Khaled
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Credit: First We Feast

DJ Khaled is not just a renowned DJ and music producer, but he is also the owner of The Licking restaurant chain in Florida.

The restaurant offers "American soul food to the stars" like chicken wings, seafood, and their special hot sauces. It remains to be an active business around the state.

Jennifer Garner - Once Upon a Farm

Jennifer Garner
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Credit: ABC

Aside from being a major Hollywood A-lister, Jennifer Garner also serves as the co-owner of the organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm.

According to the website, the company aims to "create the next generation childhood nutrition company." Today, their products are "sold in more than 13,000 stores nationwide with a growing product portfolio of organic, farm-fresh snacks and meals for babies and big kids."

Robert De Niro - Nobu

Robert De Niro
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Credit: BNN Bloomberg

Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro is not just a world-class performer and activist, but he is also the co-founder and co-owner of the Nobu restaurant chain.

Today, the company has spawned 56 restaurants and 36 hotels worldwide, making it one of the biggest hospitality businesses. Nobu's New York branch also remains one of the top restaurants in the city.

Danny Trejo - Trejo's Tacos

Danny Trejo
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Credit: JOLLY YouTube channel

Danny Trejo might be prominently known as a character actor and action star, but he is also a successful owner of a series of restaurants called Trejo's Tacos.

The restaurant chain offers traditional Mexican cuisine but with its own style and take that still respects the LA Mexican food culture. Recently, it opened a branch in London.

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