ISTANBUL (REUTERS) - Singapore's Temasek and Britain's Metric Capital have bought into Nusr-Et steakhouse owner D.ream in a deal valuing the Turkish firm at US$1.2 billion (S$1.6 billion).

Nusr-Et was made famous by butcher-turned-social media star Nusret Gokce, who went viral under the nickname Salt Bae in 2017 after posting videos of himself salting meat.

Salt Bae's distinctive cobra-like manoeuvre earned Gokce more than 12 million Instagram followers and has helped launch Nusr-Et restaurants in the Middle East, New York and Miami.

Dogus Restaurant Entertainment and Management (D.ream), which has a presence in 170 locations in 12 countries, said on Monday state-owned Temasek Holding and Metric Capital had paid US$200 million for a 17 per cent holding.