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It takes useful technology to keep a restaurant like Tahini successful.
Tahini is one of the most popular spots in San Diego for its traditional Middle Eastern Street Food. I visited recently to chat with the owners about the technology that helps them best run their fast casual restaurant company.
Do you use any of the tools mentioned in this video? Let us know!
TECH MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
TOAST - Point-of-Sale and Management System
RESTAURANT365 - Back-Office Software
DAVO - Sales Tax Software
SLING - Employee Scheduling
SLACK - Team Communication
KORMAZ MEKATRONIK - Donor Production Robot
Learn about the business of Big Chicken from the BIG man himself — Shaquille O’Neal.
Shaquille O’Neal knows success isn’t a solo act. Whether it was winning NBA championships or building Big Chicken, his approach has always been the same—surround yourself with smart people, trust them to do their job, and focus on culture.
That philosophy has fueled the rapid rise of Big Chicken, with 4,700 franchise applicants eager to get in. But Shaq and CEO Josh Halpern aren’t looking for just anyone. They want the right partners — the ones who understand that building a great business takes discipline, vision, and the ability to execute at a high level. “We want to be the Harvard of franchise systems,” Shaq says.
His leadership style reflects the teams he played on—he didn’t win without great teammates, and he doesn’t run Big Chicken any differently. He trusts Halpern and his team to make the right decisions, knowing that his role is to set the vision, not micromanage the details. “I take pride in not knowing it all,” Shaq says. “I like to learn every day.”
That culture extends to every level of the business. When employees are asked what it’s like working for Shaq, they don’t say they work for him—they say they work with him. It’s a small but powerful distinction that speaks to how Big Chicken operates: like a team.
And when it comes to the food, Shaq doesn’t believe in cutting corners. “Some places have great tenders but terrible sandwiches. Others have good sandwiches but awful tenders. We’ve got both,” he says. With a menu designed for quality and consistency—and a rapidly growing customer base—Big Chicken is scaling fast, but always with the right foundation.
YUM BRANDS + NVIDIA TEAM UP ON AI — Yum! Brands and NVIDIA are partnering to incorporate artificial intelligence technology at Yum! restaurants across the world. The tech will work with Yum!'s proprietary Byte platform.
The tech will “help team members manage complex tasks, including AI agents that plan, reason and act to assist across restaurants.”
I.R.L. MEET-UP IN VEGAS, BABY! — Cali BBQ Media and WISK are hosting an in-person gathering in Las Vegas during the Bar & Restaurant Expo on March 25 from 4 to 7pm. Forget boring networking – this is happy hour, Vegas style!
Join industry legends, connect with hospitality pros, and sip on something refreshing while rubbing elbows with Digital Hospitality leaders like Shawn Walchef, Chip Klose, Scot Turner, Angelo Esposito, and more!
NATIONAL RESTAURANT SHOW IN MAY — Here's why YOU should join me at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago this year from May 17-20.
Top Restaurant Leaders never miss this event. It is the number one place to network with the best minds in our business.
Leaving your restaurant and going to the Show is a great way to actually improve the operations of your business.
Check out 900 product categories featuring the best-in-class food providers, beverage providers, technology partners, equipment manufacturers, and more.
Memories and mentors to last a lifetime. Some of my deepest friendships have come from strangers who are now friends because of this show!
NOTE: Use promo code SHAWN25 to save $25 off your registration before 5/9/2025.
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