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Saleh bin Lahej Group brings Steak ‘n Shake

The Saleh bin Lahej Group-Hospitality Division has signed a deal to expand the fast-casual burger brand Steak ‘n Shake, America’s oldest and premium steakburger and milkshake restaurant, to the Middle East. Steak ‘n Shake has about 500 restaurants in the US and will be opening its first outlet in The Dubai Mall this August, post-Eid.

The concept, owned by Biglari Holdings of San Antonio, Texas, has inked its first International development agreement with the Saleh bin Lahej Group-Hospitality Division to open 40 restaurants throughout the UAE.

The Saleh bin Lahej Group-Hospitality Division already franchises US-based brands such as Chili’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, El Chico and Cantina Laredo, and Asia-based brands such as Black Canyon and The Pizza Company. Today, the Saleh bin Lahej Group-Hospitality Division is operating casual dining restaurant brands with a total of 39 branches around the Middle East, while nurturing more than over 1,600 employees.

Mohammed Saleh bin Lahej, chief executive officer of the Saleh Bin Lahej Group, said: “The Hospitality Division is always on the lookout to broaden its culinary spectrum, while providing a memorable experience for its esteemed customers.”

“Our quest will continue to bring the best mix of gastronomic experiences for the people of the region and we will not rest until the name is synonymous with good times.”

Steak ‘n Shake would be the first national burger chain to offer a Steakburger made of 100 per cent beef from real cuts of sirloin that have no preservatives, hormones and antibiotics.

“The UAE will be the springboard from which we plan to grow the Steak ‘n Shake brand in multiple dimensions and in many other countries” said Sardar Biglari, chairman of Biglari Holdings.

For the last 75 years, the company’s name has been symbolic of its heritage. Gus Belt, the founder of Steak ‘n Shake, launched the concept of “better burger” by handcrafting and presented it with “hand dipped” milk shakes. In a bid to prove that his burgers were exceptionally prime, Belt would wheel around a barrel of premium steak and grind the meat into burgers right in front of the guests. Thus the famous phrase “In Sight It must Be Right” was born.