Kevin Hart’s Hart House Is A New Plant-Based Fast Food Alternative

While quick-service restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC try to offer healthy, meat-free options, Hart House, Kevin Hart’s new plant-based fast-food chain that officially opened in Los Angeles in August, seems be an obstacle. $331.4 billion industry just offering more choices.

Conveniently located on the Westchester Village square that used to host the Boston Fair, Hart House has gained some excellent real estate since LAX and an In-N-Out Burger outpost are nearby.

“I want to give people a plant-based option,” said Hart. the hollywood reporter In a media preview on August 24, pointing out the lack of plant-based options in the fast food world. “If I can give people one place to choose, it’s between McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A and Burger King. [are]People could see Hart House and say, “I’m going to plant today.”

Hart collaborated with former Pizza president Andy Hooper, now CEO of the Hart House brand, who noted how impressed he was with Hart’s vision to impact the fast food industry.

“I grew up in the restaurant business, primarily in human resources, trying to figure out how to change the industry for the better, creating better jobs and more sustainable work experience,” said Hooper. “We found a lot of common ground in the idea that this should be something that structurally improves the restaurant’s operations and food.”

Investing in the new future of fast food also includes on-site employees like cooks and cashiers, says Hooper, noting Hart House’s commitment to paying employees a living wage, in addition to other benefits like savings accounts, retirement and style spending. of life for well-being. Related issues. .

“Giving them all this upfront creates this social contract where you can really empower them and perform at a higher level,” explained Hooper. “If you’re going to demand that from a team and you’re going to be able to create a future worth fighting for, first you have to invest in your people as a foundation.

Former Burger King chef Michael Salem, who helped introduce the world’s hit Impossible Whooper, is the head of culinary innovation. Logistically speaking, Salem said creating Hart House’s plant-based menu was no easy feat.

“This menu was created in a way that allowed us to really climb the ladder of typical fast food restaurants,” Salem said. “There are no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors that really require a layer of investment. Not all companies are willing to invest in this way, but we are. ”

The menu includes veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches and chicken nuggets with six sauces. Two salads (Caesar and Kale), chips and tots are also available.

Drink options are plentiful: there are four plant-based smoothie options, organic Tractor soda, iced tea, lemon, and a seasonal drink. The Culver City Cookie Dr. is also available for dessert. From Shica Bakery. And there are even secret menu items like “frots”, a combination of fries and tots.

According to Salem, one of the pitfalls many fast food restaurants fall into is the “live menu” or menu expansion, which Hart House plans to avoid.

“Often they expand the menu just to expand and be able to claim that they have a variety of items that appeal to the masses,” Salem said. “If you do your homework in advance, you can create a limited menu that appeals to everyone, but also gives you the flexibility to deliver at scale. I see us [introducing] some LTO [limited time offers]But not to the point of slowing down operations or sacrificing food quality.”

Not only was Hart open about his vegan lifestyle, he was also an early investor in Beyond Meat.

“After approval [Beyond Meat] Hamburger [over other plant-based options]I said, let me see if I can be more consistent,” Hart explained during the May 2020 episode. Joe Rogan’s Experience podcast. “After doing that, I saw a significant change. Just to be more energetic, higher and more determined. My days have always been long, so there was a wall I hit when I ate meat, whether it be a burger without buns, or steak and eggs for protein…. [Now] I don’t have those locks. ”

So far, Hooper says six leases have been signed for more Hart House locations, with plans to open 10 to 12 in California alone by the end of next year. The next location, opening soon, will be located on Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue and will be a drive-thru. Hart says he hopes to eventually see locations in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Florida and even his hometown of Philadelphia.

“The goal is to expand, not finish,” said Hart. “We’re actually playing ball.”