Best Celebrity‑Owned Restaurants to Book in 2025

Dining at a celeb‑run eatery offers more than a side order of star power; it is a chance to sample menus personally shaped by musicians, movie icons or sports legends who bring their tastes, stories and branding savvy straight to the table. From sushi temples that reinvent fusion cuisine to laid‑back burger counters with cult followings, the venues below prove why best celebrity restaurants remain tourism magnets and local favorites alike. They also remind us that celebrities who own restaurants often pair marquee names with top‑tier chefs and serious hospitality investments, ensuring the food is just as headline‑worthy as the VIP selfies.

• These spots combine A‑list ambiance with kitchens led by award‑winning chefs or co‑owners.
  
  
• Booking early is wise, because social buzz often means reservations fill far in advance.
  

1. Nobu – Robert De Niro

Co‑founded by actor Robert De Niro and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Nobu has grown from one New York sushi bar into an international empire that defines modern Japanese‑Peruvian fusion. Signature dishes such as miso black cod, yellowtail with jalapeño and rock shrimp tempura demonstrate a delicate balance of simplicity and flair, while sleek interiors attract fashion editors, athletes and visiting dignitaries on any given night. De Niro remains a hands‑on partner, often helping scout dramatic real‑estate locations and ensuring the brand’s minimalist style stays consistent, making Nobu a gold standard among the best celebrity‑owned restaurants worldwide.

• Global footprint now spans 50 plus cities, each staffed with locally trained Nobu chefs for authenticity.
  
  
• Guests praise the seamless service, which reflects the film legend’s insistence that dining should feel “cinematic yet warm.”
  

2. Trejo’s Tacos – Danny Trejo

Hollywood tough‑guy Danny Trejo channeled his love for neighborhood taco stands into a colorful mini‑chain serving bold Mexican street‑food classics reimagined for modern palates. Menus feature everything from vegan jackfruit birria and adobo shrimp tacos to horchata cold brew and house salsas that carry a punch befitting the star of Machete. The bright pink walls and Dia de los Muertos artwork create a festive mood, and Trejo himself often greets diners, adding authenticity and community spirit to one of LA’s most talked‑about casual hangs.

• Several locations include Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, expanding the brand from lunch to breakfast.
  
  
• Revenue from limited‑edition hot‑sauce collabs and cookbook sales feeds local charity partnerships championed by Trejo.
  

3. Wahlburgers – Mark, Donnie & Paul Wahlberg

What began as a single hometown burger joint for the Wahlberg brothers has exploded into a multi‑state franchise documented in its own reality series. Chef Paul Wahlberg’s fresh‑ground Angus patties meet Mark and Donnie’s star wattage, while “Wahl Sauce,” sloppy‑joe burgers and adult‑friendly frappes keep menus craveable. Modern‑diner décor and wall art referencing the family’s Boston roots turn every location into a tribute to hard‑working success—and proof that a celebrity brand can thrive beyond coastal food scenes.

• The chain now operates food‑truck units and international sites, reflecting a scalable formula that combines casual dining with star branding.
  
  
• A loyalty app pushes seasonal burger drops that coincide with new movie releases or summer concert tours by the Wahlbergs.
  

4. RPM Italian – Giuliana & Bill Rancic

Media personality Giuliana Rancic and entrepreneur Bill Rancic partnered with Lettuce Entertain You to launch this polished trattoria that feels equal parts red‑carpet backdrop and family Sunday dinner. Handmade pastas arrive silky and al dente, truffle carpaccio elevates the steak program and wine lists lean toward bold Italian reds curated by the Rancics themselves. A glamorous black‑and‑white interior draws Chicago socialites and traveling food lovers, cementing RPM’s reputation among best celebrity restaurants for upscale date nights.

• Seasonal menu “capsule collections” feature limited‑run dishes inspired by Giuliana’s trips to Italy’s wine regions.
  
  
• The RPM brand has expanded into RPM Steak and RPM Seafood, proving the couple’s hospitality ambitions go well beyond pasta.
  

5. Tagine – Ryan Gosling

Tucked behind an unassuming Beverly Hills façade, Tagine transports diners to a candlelit Moroccan salon complete with cushioned banquettes and slow‑simmered aromas. Co‑owner Ryan Gosling trusted chef Ben Benameur to showcase family recipes—think fragrant lamb shank with preserved‑lemon couscous and honey‑drizzled carrots—while Gosling himself curated the vintage jazz playlist and intimate lighting. The result is a date‑night gem lauded for authenticity, warmth and a sense of Hollywood secrecy that has sustained buzz for over a decade.

• Only two seatings per night protect kitchen pacing and ensure each tagine emerges fall‑apart tender.
  
  
• High‑profile patrons can reserve the “Casablanca table,” a semi‑private alcove ideal for discreet industry meetings.
  

6. Big Chicken – Shaquille O’Neal

NBA Hall‑of‑Famer Shaq leverages his larger‑than‑life persona at Big Chicken, where show‑stopping sandwiches like “The Shaq Attack”—double breaded chicken, pepper‑jack cheese, spicy slaw—come portioned for serious appetites. Bright murals illustrating career highlights line the walls, and self‑serve soda fountains dispense “Shaq‑ade” mixes. Designed for stadium crowds, airports and college towns, Big Chicken proves a sports celebrity can build a fast‑casual concept that scores big on flavor and fan engagement.

• Units feature free photo booths with Shaq‑sized cutouts, encouraging social‑media sharing that fuels brand growth.
  
  
• New menu LTOs (limited‑time offers) often coincide with basketball playoffs, turning seasonal hype into sales spikes.
  

7. Café Zoetrope – Francis Ford Coppola

Housed inside San Francisco’s copper‑topped Sentinel Building, this European‑style bistro embodies director Francis Ford Coppola’s passion for Italian cinema, cuisine and vino. Vintage movie posters, framed scripts and wine barrels set an Old‑World tone while plates of penne alla vodka, prosciutto panini and house‑made tiramisu carry diners to Rome. Servers pour Coppola‑family wines—including the acclaimed Inglenook labels—cementing Café Zoetrope as a must‑visit for cinephiles and oenophiles alike.

• Film buffs can request a table beneath stills from The Godfather and toast with the director’s flagship Cabernet.
  
  
• Quarterly “script dinners” pair multi‑course menus with readings from Coppola’s unproduced screenplays for a unique cultural mash‑up.
  

8. The 40/40 Club – Jay‑Z

Part upscale sports bar, part nightlife lounge, Jay‑Z’s flagship Manhattan venue combines luxury box‑seat energy with nightclub moods at the Jay Z lounge. Crystal chandeliers hang above leather banquettes while flat‑screens broadcast marquee games, and memorabilia—signed baseball bats, Michael Jordan jerseys—line the walls. Menu highlights include truffle wings, colossal nachos and bottle‑service sparklers. DJs spin hip‑hop classics well past midnight, ensuring every game night ends as a celebratory after‑party.

• Private suites named after Jay‑Z’s 40/40 baseball milestone (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases) offer stadium‑style seating for VIP watch parties.
  
  
• The venue hosts album‑release events, making it one of the few spots where guests might catch surprise performances by Roc Nation artists.
  

Restaurants As Famous As The Celebrities

From celebrity chef collaborations to street‑food nostalgia projects, these ten destinations prove stardom alone is not enough—lasting success demands thoughtful menus, curated atmospheres and genuine passion for hospitality. Whether you crave Nobu’s refined omakase or Big Chicken’s jumbo comfort bites, each restaurant delivers a memorable crossover of cuisine and celebrity culture, earning its spot on any best restaurants owned by celebrities bucket list.