From Fine Dining to Fast Casual: John Karangis on Scaling Taste Without Losing Soul

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6d ago 37:24

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What if you could take the precision of fine dining and scale it to millions of people—without diluting the magic?

That’s the challenge John Karangis has spent a lifetime solving. From the kitchens of Paris and Gramercy Tavern to leading culinary innovation at Shake Shack, John has mastered the art of translating high-end experience into high-volume impact.

In this episode, he reveals the playbook behind Shake Shack’s wildly successful LTOs, why most “innovation” fails, and how he balances creativity with consistency in a system built for scale. We also explore the emotional drive behind his work—how fatherhood reshaped his leadership, and why humility may be the sharpest tool in his kitchen.

For any operator looking to elevate their food without losing their soul, this one hits deep.

To learn more about Shake Shack and their culinary innovation, visit shakeshack.com.

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