Tyler Malek
Tyler Malek is the Head Ice Cream Maker and Co-Founder of the Portland-based Salt & Straw Ice Cream. In 2011, Tyler started Salt & Straw with his cousin, Kim Malek, from a humble ice cream cart, and they have since grown the company to nearly 50 locations across Oregon, California, Florida, Washington, New York, Nevada, Arizona and more, including flagship shops in Disneyland and Disneyworld, while staying true to its core ethos of being a family-run company supporting the communities it operates in.
Salt & Straw is known for crafting artisan ice creams with locally sourced flavors, designed to tell the narrative of artisans, meaningful food movements, and important social causes. Called “the Willy Wonka of ice cream,” Tyler is known for pushing the boundaries of creativity, and to date has created over 1,500 unique flavors for Salt & Straw, with a chef-driven approach that prioritizes using the best organic and sustainable ingredients possible, working closely with local farmers and artisans.
Since opening the company, Tyler has become an icon in the artisan food movement and is considered the leading authority on ice cream in the country. He has been awarded as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for “Changing the Way America Eats,” named Zagat 30 Under 30, Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and one of Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalists.
In April 2019, Tyler revealed the inspiration behind his flavors and the beloved company in the brand’s debut cookbook, The Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook and in April 2025 released his second book America’s Most Iconic Ice Creams: A Salt & Straw Cookbook: Classic Flavors and Creative Riffs.
He sits on the Board of Urban Gleaners, a Portland-based non-profit dedicated to collecting fresh foods to avoid waste and delivering to those in need. Tyler currently lives in SW Portland with his wife and two daughters.
