We’re passionate about possibilities.
With no prior experience in the restaurant industry, Haitham El Khatib moved to Vancouver, BC in 2016 and dove headfirst into opening his first restaurant. Coming from a background in marketing and risk management, he quickly found that running a restaurant demanded a different kind of stamina and structure. Just one month after launching in early 2018, he also became a father; adding to the complexity of balancing business growth with real life.
The excitement of opening day soon gave way to the reality of burnout. Long hours, constant problem-solving, and the unpredictability of day-to-day operations left little time or headspace to lead with clarity. Then in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit; turning an already challenging journey into a pressure test for survival.
What changed everything was a shift in mindset and systems. Haitham committed to building streamlined, scalable operations and hiring people he could trust. These two decisions became the foundation for not just surviving, but building a resilient and profitable business. With a "hell yes" attitude, he rebuilt the operation around structure, accountability, and a team that shared his standards.
Help Kitchen was born from that lived experience. It’s not just a consultancy. It’s a response to the chaos that many restaurant owners quietly face. Combining Lean Six Sigma principles, practical restaurant experience, and a deep understanding of operational leadership, Haitham has since helped dozens of restaurants across Canada and the U.S. reduce costs, improve performance, and reclaim control over their business and life.
At its core, Help Kitchen exists to give restaurateurs more than advice. It offers a system, a strategy, and a path forward.
“After years of running my own restaurant, I started noticing a pattern: other owners were constantly reaching out for advice. Not marketing theory or generic tips, but real-world solutions to real problems: high costs, burned-out teams, no systems, no time. I’d walk them through what had worked for me and things I had learned the hard way. I noticed my advice started making a real difference.
That’s when Help Kitchen took shape. What started as a few conversations turned into a structured approach, a clear methodology, and a mission I could stand behind. Two years in, we’ve partnered with restaurants across Canada and the U.S., helping owners build businesses that thrive with clarity, structure, and a team they can count on.”Haitham El KhatibFounder, Help Kitchen