What It’s Like Putting on a Restaurant Show That’s Bigger Than 12 Football Fields

Lisa Malikow, Senior Vice President of the National Restaurant Show, (May 17-20, 2025 in Chicago) has helped turn the event into a launchpad for restaurant operators. With over 2,200 exhibitors and a constant flow of new vendors, she focuses on helping attendees discover ideas they did not even know they needed.

Watch now to learn about building the industry’s biggest restaurant show, helping operators grow, and why unexpected inspiration is the best part of the job.

Sponsored by:

• TOAST AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Chapters:

[01:10] - Scaling The Restaurant Show

[05:14] - Growth Since 2009

[13:19] - Tips For First Timers

[29:30] - Helping Restaurant Operators

[34:33] - Best Advice for Show Attendees

SPONSORS:

RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST —

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Visit Team Toast at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago at Booth #6075.

• Toast AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Episode Links:

Lisa Malikow LinkedIn

National Restaurant Association Show

Restaurant Show App

Cali BBQ Media at the Restaurant Show

Key Takeaways:

Plan Ahead, Stay Open: Lisa Malikow from the National Restaurant Association Show says the best moments happen at the Show when attendees stay flexible. Operators often arrive with a specific need but walk away with unexpected ideas that change how they do business.

The Power of Showing Up Prepared: With over 2,200 exhibitors and 55,000 attendees, the National Restaurant Show can be overwhelming. Malikow encourages smart use of tools like the Show To Go app to focus your time and meet the right people.

Fresh Ideas Start with First-Timers: One-third of the exhibitors are new each year, which keeps the show fresh and gives operators access to the latest tools, trends, and partners shaping the future of hospitality.

***

ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT SHOW —

The world’s most influential showcase of foodservice innovation, the National Restaurant Association Show is where every trend, solution, and category in the industry comes to life. Join your peers from across the industry in Chicago, May 17-20, 2025, at the Western Hemisphere’s largest and most trusted foodservice event.

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS —

Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Toast co-founder Aman Narang, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media

Produced by Cali BBQ Media