Listening to podcasts is a great way to uncover new perspectives, get ideas to improve efficiency, and learn from others in the industry. The food-and-beverage and restaurant industries are no different.
While it may be hard to find many restaurant podcasts in your area, we’ve compiled a list of the best restaurant podcasts around the world.
These following restaurant and food podcasts collectively provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, catering to various needs and preferences in the hospitality, restaurant, and F&B industries.
In this article, we’ll share some of the top restaurant podcasts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the world. We’ll note the pros and cons of each, along with the top episodes to explore.
Read on to discover the best podcasts for restaurant owners, managers, and marketers.
Why should you listen to restaurant podcasts
Before we dive into the list, here are a few reasons why listening to podcasts about restaurants and fine dining is a good idea.
Restaurant and F&B podcasts help you
Uncover trends
One of the top reasons to listen to podcasts in general, and restaurant podcasts in particular, is to keep up with the latest trends.
From recent tech to marketing strategies to menu development to sustainability to AI-driven customer experiences, there are many emerging trends in the F&B and hospitality industries.
Restaurant podcasts help you uncover those trends and see what works, or can work, for you.
Offer insights
F&B podcast episodes often dive deep into guest behavior and marketing tips for restaurants, providing you with actionable insights to enhance your restaurant's guest experience.
Offer business ideas and tips
Often, a restaurant owner will get lost in the nitty-gritty of their business and local requirements. However, every business owner wants to grow their business, increase their restaurant’s reservations, and maximize revenue growth and management.
Podcasts can broaden your views, offering practical business tips and growth strategies. For example, you may uncover tips for growing your business from a single concept to managing a multi-location restaurant business.
Learn from industry experts
Many podcasts feature interviews with renowned chefs, F&B industry experts, and restaurateurs, offering you valuable perspectives and lessons learned from their journeys.
Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just starting out, these podcasts can be your gateway to staying competitive and inspired in the ever-evolving F&B landscape.
A few things to consider when listening to F&B podcasts
While you listen to one or more of the following podcasts about restaurants, you should consider the following:
Not all the tips and tricks mentioned will work for you. Some are limited to or bound by region.
Tips may vary by restaurant type. For example, what works for a fine dining restaurant won’t be applicable to a quick-service restaurant (QSR).
Some of the following restaurant podcasts may have run for a limited time, like ‘Feast is Feast,’ but they are still worth listening too.
If legalities are mentioned, reach out to your F&B consultant or lawyer to make sure you’re not breaking any regulations.
Best restaurant podcasts in the Middle East
As mentioned, geography can affect the tips and ideas shared.
With thriving restaurant and hospitality industries, the MENA region is also home to some restaurant podcasts.
They may not be as popular with a large audience as the global ones, but they have a place in our article.
The following are some of the best food podcasts from around the Middle East.
The Lighthouse Conversations
The Lighthouse Conversations is a podcast born out of The Lighthouse chain of restaurants in the UAE. With 4 concepts in Dubai and 1 in Abu Dhabi, The Lighthouse is a popular F&B chain in the UAE.
Hosted by Hashem Montasser, The Lighthouse Conversations covers a wide range of topics from books to business to food.
Pros: The Lighthouse Conversations features talks with Middle Eastern restaurateurs, chefs, and industry experts. It focuses on the stories and challenges of running a restaurant in the region.
Cons: This podcast covers various topics, not just restaurants and food. Most conversations are casual and may not offer tips. On average, there is one episode per month.
Best episodes to listen to on The Lighthouse Conversations include ‘Energy and lots of seasoning’ with Chef Mohammad Orfali, one of our top chefs to watch in 2025. Another interesting episode is ‘You can’t lead with arrogance’ with Natasha Sideris, restaurateur and founder of Tashas, Avli, and Flamingo Room.
Listen to The Lighthouse Conversations via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and The Lighthouse website.
Chef JKP’s Pacheco Podcast
Chef James Knight-Pacheco, known as Chef JKP, is a popular chef and TV personality, who has worked alongside global chefs such as Raymond Blanc and Gordon Ramsay.
Born in Venezuela and raised in the South West of England, JKP has held notable chef positions, including executive chef at Oman’s Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort. He’s currently the executive chef at Seen Holding in Abu Dhabi.
Named one of the "50 Most Influential People in Food and Beverage in the Middle East and Africa" by Caterer Middle East, James hosts the Chef JKP Podcast.
In this chef-focused podcast, James shares inspiring stories from the culinary industry.
Recommended episodes from The Chef JKP Podcast include:
Season 8, episode 2: Leading Michelin Kitchens with Daniel Birk.
Season 7, episode 11: Chef Shaw Lash, Lila Taqueria and Beyond, a discussion of Mexican cuisine.
Pros: Entertaining, with a special focus on chef’s perspectives.
Cons: Length of episodes vary. Considered a chefs’ podcast and may not cover all F&B topics like others on this list.
Listen to The Chef JKP Podcast via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Foodcast
Foodcast is an Egyptian Arabic podcast hosted by popular food influencer Amr Sherif.
Sherif brings his passion for food to the podcast, exploring various topics about cooking, food trends, and culinary culture in Egypt and beyond.
Foodcast features interviews with chefs, food critics, and other food enthusiasts, along with tips and recipes for listeners to try at home. Sherif's engaging and knowledgeable approach makes Foodcast a must-listen for anyone interested in the culinary world.
Most of the channel’s followers are aged 18-34.
Pros: Foodcast is light, fun, enjoyable with lots of humor.
Cons: Foodcast is only available in Arabic. So, it’s not suitable for English speakers. Episodes tend to be long, reaching up to 2 hours, which may not be suitable for some listeners.
Best episodes to listen to on the Foodcast include ‘From pharmacist to chef, the story of food blogger Mohamed Hazem.’
Listen to Foodcast via YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Kuzbara by Kerning Cultures
Kuzbara, Arabic for coriander, is an Arabic-speaking food podcast, created by Kerning Cultures.
This 12-episode food podcast, which ran from April to July 2022, tackled food stories, culinary traditions, and recipes from around the MENA region.
The podcast was hosted by Dina Salem and Shahd Ben-ouda, along with a team of producers from independent podcast company Kerning Cultures Network.
Best episodes to listen to on Kuzbara include
Pros: Episodes are short, not exceeding 30 minutes each with engaging storytelling. Audio is considered to be excellent.
Cons: Covers many food-related topics, not just restaurants.
One of the best and fun episodes on Kuzbara include the interview with Chef Halawa and his mother Shahinaz, where they talk about the history of Baklava.
Listen to Kuzbara via the Kerning Cultures website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Dubai Eats
Featuring various hosts, Dubai Eats is a leading food and restaurant podcast focused on Dubai’s vibrant food scene.
The podcast covers local expertise and Dubai food trends. One reason it’s one of the best restaurant podcasts on this list is because it provides reviews and insights into new and popular Dubai restaurants.
Pros: It’s an opportunity to get to know the Dubai F&B scene. It’s an opportunity to get reviews on the competition and what sets them apart.
Cons: As its name suggests, Dubai Eats is a Dubai-centric podcast. So, it may not be relevant to listeners from other parts in the Middle East or the rest of the world. It’s also about restaurant reviews and doesn’t offer much industry analysis unlike the other podcasts on this list.
Listen to Dubai Eats via YouTube.
The DXB Podcast
The DXB Podcast is a 5-episode restaurant podcast that ran from April to June 2021. Hosted by Tom Urquhart, the Dubai-centric podcast covered a bunch of topics about the emirate.
Best episodes to listen to on The DXB Podcast include “Is there any loyalty in Dubai?” featuring Kevin Young and Kieran Lindsay.
Pros: The DXB Podcast covers various topics including lifestyle, food, hospitality in Dubai along with insights on the Dubai restaurant scene.
Cons: Unlike other podcasts on this list, The DXB Podcast is 100% focused on Dubai. It’s not exclusively about restaurants, as it also covers lifestyle topics.
Listen to The DXB Podcast via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Supy Talks Podcast
Restaurant inventory management software Supy boasts a popular podcast, dedicated to restaurant operators, looking to expand their F&B expertise.
The Supy Talks Podcast brings F&B leaders, experts, restaurateurs, chefs, and hospitality professionals, together, who share stories, perspectives, and tips.
Best restaurant podcasts: The global edition
Now, let’s check out some of the world’s most popular podcasts for and about restaurants and the hospitality industry.
As you will see, some focus on the US, the UK, and some on European food trends, while others focus on food in the United States.
Restaurant Rockstars Podcast
The Restaurant Rockstars Podcast is considered one of the best restaurant podcasts around the world.
Hosted by Roger Beaudoin, the weekly Restaurant Rockstars Podcast engages industry experts and restaurateurs, who offer “tips, tricks, and best-kept secrets to help you rock your restaurant.”
The podcast, which began in 2012, boasts over 400 episodes and 800,000 listens. It’s also ranked among the Top 50 in Apple Podcasts Business Charts.
Restaurant Rockstars Podcast founder Roger Beaudoin boasts over 25 years in the restaurant industry. He started the podcast to “share his tried-and-tested strategies with fellow restaurateurs.”
Pros: The podcast offers great, actionable tips and tricks about increasing restaurant sales and profits.
Cons: The podcast can often feel like it’s pushy and overselling consulting services and certain software.
Best episodes to listen to on the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast:
Episode 258 with Brendan Sweeney, co-founder and CEO of Popmenu. Roger and Brendan discuss important restaurant marketing tools, serving guests, and rebuilding a stronger restaurant business.
Episode 380 with Kelly Hoyman, vice president of marketing for an 85-unit concept called Wings and Rings. The episode, called “Great Restaurant Marketing Advice from the Trenches,” covers guest loyalty, marketing tips, and guest experience management.
Check out the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and the Restaurant Rockstars website.
Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast
Hosted by Eric Cacciatore, the Restaurant Unstoppable podcast includes over 300 episodes, covering advice and tips from restaurant industry professionals.
From restaurant technology to marketing to menu optimization, there’s lots of food for thought and ideas to keep you busy.
Pros: Interviews include restaurant owners and various chefs, along with operations managers and industry experts. The podcast covers diverse aspects of the restaurant business.
Cons: Episodes on Restaurant Unstoppable are quite long, often reaching and exceeding 2 hours, which may not be suitable for many listeners.
Best episodes to listen to on the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast:
Episode 1123 featuring Arlin Smith, partner at Big Tree Hospitality, which comprises Eventide, Honey Paw, Big Tree Commissary, Big Tree Catering, and Little Spruce Bakery.
Episode 1112 featuring Meredith Sandland, CEO of Empower Delivery and author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant.
Listen to the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast via their website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
The Garnish
Hosted by Toast POS, The Garnish Podcast is a restaurant industry-focused podcast, bringing stories and advice from restaurateurs, managers, chefs, and others in the restaurant world.
The Garnish covers a wide range of topics, from managing restaurant operations to personal stories from industry professionals.
Pros: The Garnish Podcast covers key industry topics, providing valuable educational insights for restaurant operators. High-quality audio and well-organized content make it an engaging and informative listening experience.
Cons: Some episodes may be pushy towards Toast’s POS and restaurant reservation system.
Best episodes to listen to on The Garnish include ‘Renovating restaurants,’ which covers tips on restaurant renovations on a budget and features restaurateurs who have recently built new locations.
Listen to The Garnish via Spotify.
Hospitality Mavericks
Unlike many of the restaurant podcasts on this list, Hospitality Mavericks covers the entire hospitality industry. From launching an F&B business to recruitment to many other topics concerning hospitality and restaurants.
The podcast is hosted by Michael Tingsager, who has a wealth of experience in the food and restaurant industry across Denmark and the UK.
With an episode shared every two weeks, Hospitality Mavericks covers innovation, leadership, recruitment, offering tons of insights to listeners.
Pros: Variety of F&B industry leaders. Insights can be applied by an international audience.
Cons: There’s a lot of focus on business and leadership, which may not appeal to all listeners. Episodes can be quite long.
Best episodes to listen to on Hospitality Mavericks include:
Episode 286 with Paulo De Tarso, restaurateur, TedTalk speaker, and founder of The Art and Soul of Hospitality.
Episode 285 with Lauren Linford, founder of Home, who talks about revolutionizing recruitment in hospitality.
Listen to Hospitality Mavericks via their website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
The Pre-Shift Podcast
Created by employee and restaurant scheduling software 7Shifts, the Restaurant Growth Podcast, rebranded The Pre-Shift Podcast, features 61 episodes and focuses on building successful restaurant teams.
This podcast is for restaurants not only looking for tips to grow but for employee-related topics, team management, valuable lessons, and more.
Host DJ Costantino engages in insightful conversations with industry leaders, uncovering valuable lessons and sharing inspiring stories to help restaurant operators thrive."
Pros: Covers a wide range of topics including marketing, staffing, restaurant tech, and customer service. It also features interviews with industry leaders, including perspectives and best practices.
Cons: Since it’s created by 7shifts, there may be some bias towards promoting the 7shifts platform, offerings, and services.
Best episodes to listen to on The Pre-Shifts podcast include:
Episode 25: A roadmap for repeat customers with Matt Plapp of America's Best Restaurants.
Episode 49: Fostering community and belonging in the restaurant biz with Ellen Yin, Founder of High Street Hospitality
Listen to the Restaurant Growth Podcast podcast via their website, Buzzsprout, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Culinary Institute of America's Podcast
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) podcast offers a wealth of culinary knowledge and inspiration. Directed more towards chefs, this podcast features video episodes that explore cooking techniques, menu ideas, and recipes.
Each episode often includes interviews with renowned chefs, showcasing their expertise and innovative approaches to cooking.
Pros: The podcast is educational, offering professional-level culinary education, industry trends and expert insights.
Cons: The Culinary Institute of America’s podcast is considered too specialized for general listeners. Many of the episodes are focused on vegan menus, food, and dining.
Best episodes to listen to on the Culinary Institute of America include Interview with Chef Shenarri Greens at Cadence.
Listen to the Culinary Institute of America’s episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Opening Soon
The Opening Soon podcast is a podcast for restaurants that are about to open their doors. It follows the journey of opening new venues, offering insightful tips along the way.
Pros: Stories are considered informative and compelling, featuring diverse voices from the restaurant industry.
Cons: Episodes can be lengthy and only focusing on new openings.
Best episodes to listen to on Opening Soon include
Season 2, episode 4: “Money earnin’ or money burnin’”
Season 2, episode 9: “The Final Countdown”
Listen to Opening Soon episodes via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Food Business Podcast
The Food Business Podcast is hosted by Adam Feller and focuses on helping F&B entrepreneurs get their products into stores and onto shelves more effectively.
Episodes cover topics such as food packaging trends, brand transparency, and strategies for getting into bigger stores. Adam also shares actionable advice and tips for overcoming common obstacles in the food business industry.
Pros: The podcast covers a broad range of topics in the F&B industry.
Cons: The audio quality of the episodes isn’t very good, while some think the topics may be too broad. The 73-episode podcast concluded in 2022.
Best episodes to listen to on The Food Business Podcast include human resources management in your team and easy and free ways to promote your brewery.
Listen to The Food Business Podcast via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Nada Sobhi
Marketing
