The 'Gold Steak' Experience: Is Nusr-Et (Salt Bae) Halal Worldwide?

Nusret Gökçe, known to the world as Salt Bae, is a global phenomenon. His restaurants are temples of excess. The gold-wrapped steaks, the theatrical slicing, the salt sprinkle.

For many Muslims, visiting Nusr-Et is a bucket-list experience. After all, Nusret himself is Turkish and Muslim.

But here is the shocker: Just because the owner is Muslim does NOT mean every Nusr-Et restaurant in the world serves Halal meat.

The reality is complicated. Supply chains vary by country. If you walk into Nusr-Et Miami or London assuming it’s all Halal, you might be making a very expensive mistake.

Here is the breakdown of Nusr-Et locations worldwide and their Halal status.

The Global Verdict: Where is it Halal?

1. Turkey, Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (The Middle East) 🇹🇷🇦🇪🇶🇦🇸🇦

• Status: 100% Halal.
• The Meat: Sourced from local or certified Halal suppliers (often Australian Wagyu or local lamb).
• Alcohol: Served in Dubai/Istanbul (except in dry zones like KSA/Qatar), but the meat is Zabiha.

2. London (Knightsbridge) 🇬🇧

• Status: Partial / Mixed.
• The Meat: Nusr-Et London serves Halal meat (Australian Wagyu and US Creekstone Farms are common suppliers).
• The Risk: They serve alcohol heavily.
• The Confirmation: You must ask the waiter specifically: “Is this specific cut Halal?” They usually cater to the massive Arab tourist market in Knightsbridge, so Halal options are standard, but cross-contamination with non-Halal items (if any exist on that specific seasonal menu) is a risk.
• Verdict: Generally safe for meat, but verify the specific steak.

3. USA (Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Dallas, Beverly Hills) 🇺🇸

• Status: COMPLICATED.
• The Meat: Nusr-Et USA uses high-quality American Wagyu (Snake River Farms) and Japanese A5.
  • Is it Halal? Some suppliers like Creekstone Farms are Halal-certified. Others are not.
• The Trap: The menu does NOT label items as Halal.
• The Rule: You MUST call ahead or ask the manager. Do not assume.
  • Insider Tip: The Lamb is almost always Halal (New Zealand/Australian import). The Beef varies by supplier.

4. Mykonos (Greece) 🇬🇷

• Status: Doubtful.
• The Context: This is a party island location focused on alcohol and pork sales are possible (though rare in steak-focused places).
• The Verdict: Treat this as a non-Halal restaurant unless proven otherwise. The supply chain here is European, not Middle Eastern.

The “Gold Steak” Trap ($1,000+) 🥇

You order the Golden Tomahawk. It comes wrapped in 24-karat edible gold leaf.

• Is Gold Halal? Yes. Edible gold (E175) is inert and permissible to eat.
• Is the Steak Halal? The gold doesn’t make it Halal. The meat underneath must be Zabiha.
• The Real Danger: Cross-Contamination. If the grill is used to cook non-Halal steaks (in the US/Europe locations), your $1,000 Halal steak might be cooked in the rendered fat of a non-Halal steak.

How to order safely:

“I require my steak to be cooked on a clean grill or separate pan to avoid cross-contamination with non-Halal meat or alcohol. Is this possible?”

The “Salt Bae” Burger 🍔

In Nusr-Et Burger locations (Istanbul, Dubai), it is Halal. In New York or London?

• The Bun: Brioche buns often contain milk and butter. In the West, check if the glaze contains alcohol or if the dough improvers (E471) are animal-based.
• The Cheese: Is it Cheddar with animal rennet?

  Cheese Check: Learn about Rennet in Cheese before ordering a cheeseburger.

Summary: Don’t Be Shy. Ask.

You are paying $200-$1,000 per person. You have the right to know. Nusr-Et staff are trained to answer this question.

• If they say: “Our meat is from Creekstone Farms,” it is likely Halal (but check the certificate).
• If they say: “We don’t know,” ORDER THE FISH.

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