Luke Sung #

Introduction #

Luke Sung, a once-celebrated San Francisco chef and two-time James Beard Rising Star Chef nominee, found himself at the center of a viral social media storm in July 2025. Known for his culinary prowess and contributions to the Bay Area’s dining scene, Sung’s reputation took a significant hit following a confrontation with a TikTok influencer at Kis Cafe, the Hayes Valley wine bar he co-owned. The incident, which spiraled into a public relations nightmare, led to his dismissal, the restaurant’s closure, and widespread discussions about cancel culture, influencer dynamics, and hospitality industry standards.

Background Information #

Luke Sung rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a trailblazer in San Francisco’s culinary landscape. He earned James Beard Rising Star Chef nominations in 2000 and 2003 for his work at Isa, a Cal-French restaurant in the Marina District named after his daughter. Sung’s innovative approach to French-inspired cuisine, blending California’s fresh ingredients with global influences, made Isa a critical success. After selling Isa in 2009, Sung spent over a decade in Taiwan, stepping away from the San Francisco spotlight. In May 2025, he returned with Kis Cafe, a new venture opened alongside partner Eric Lin in the former Petit Crenn space in Hayes Valley. The wine bar aimed to be a neighborhood hangout, serving affordable French-inspired small plates like chicken liver mousse and steak carpaccio, with most dishes priced under $20.

Sung’s culinary pedigree and prior accolades positioned Kis Cafe as an anticipated addition to San Francisco’s dining scene. However, his return was short-lived due to a viral controversy that unfolded just three months after the restaurant’s opening.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

The incident that sparked Luke Sung’s cancellation began on July 23, 2025, when TikTok user @itskarlabb, a self-described “micro-influencer” with approximately 15,000 followers, posted a five-minute video detailing a distressing encounter at Kis Cafe. The influencer, identified as Karla Marcotte, had been invited for a collaboration, a common arrangement where influencers receive complimentary meals in exchange for promotional content. According to Marcotte, the experience went “spectacularly sideways” due to Sung’s behavior.

Marcotte recounted arriving early at Kis Cafe, ahead of her husband, to scope out the venue and shoot preliminary footage. She overheard Sung and a host discussing her, with Sung allegedly criticizing her modest follower count and deeming the collaboration a “mistake.” He reportedly questioned why she was invited, saying her 15,000 followers were insufficient and her videos were “not at the level” he wanted for his restaurant. Marcotte claimed Sung played her TikTok videos at full volume in the restaurant, openly belittling her content in front of staff and within her earshot. She further alleged that Sung insinuated her audience couldn’t afford to dine at Kis Cafe, a comment she interpreted as a slight against her followers’ socioeconomic status.

The situation escalated when Sung allegedly confronted Marcotte directly, asking, “Do you know who I am?” and boasting about his James Beard nominations and his daughter Isa Sung’s purported 600,000 TikTok followers. Feeling humiliated, Marcotte said she was left “shaking” and in tears, ultimately canceling the collaboration and leaving the restaurant. In her video, she expressed disappointment, stating, “I felt disrespected because they were talking about me right in front of me and belittling my work.” The video, which she posted to advocate for micro-influencers, quickly went viral, amassing over 21 million views and 1.2 million likes by July 28, 2025.

Although Marcotte did not name Sung or Kis Cafe in her initial video, internet sleuths quickly identified the restaurant and chef, leading to a flood of negative attention. The specificity of her account, combined with details like the restaurant’s location in Hayes Valley and Sung’s past association with Isa Restaurant, made it easy for viewers to connect the dots.

Public Reaction and Consequences #

The public reaction to Marcotte’s video was swift and intense. TikTok users and supporters rallied behind her, flooding Kis Cafe’s Yelp and Google profiles with one-star reviews. By July 25, 2025, the restaurant’s Yelp rating had plummeted to around two stars, and its Google rating dropped to 1.1 stars, prompting Yelp to lock the profile due to “unusual activity.” Reviewers criticized Sung’s behavior, with comments like, “The owner is very rude and only cares about how many followers you have on social media,” and “If you have under 600K followers, don’t even bother showing up.”

The backlash extended beyond Kis Cafe. Isa Restaurant, which Sung had sold in 2009, faced collateral damage as confused reviewers targeted its online profiles, despite its lack of affiliation with Sung for over a decade. The restaurant updated its Google listing to clarify, “Isa is not affiliated with Kis Cafe or Luke Sung since 2009.” Sung’s daughter, Isa Sung, an influencer herself, was also dragged into the controversy, receiving negative comments despite having no involvement. A TikTok user, @spilledwinethoughts, pleaded for commenters to spare Isa Restaurant, stating, “We aren’t related to him in any way at all and have no communication with him.”

High-profile internet personalities amplified the controversy. Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper commented, “I’m so sorry queen. He spoke it into existence tho! We your audience will never ever be dining at Kis Cafe.” Actress Jameela Jamil wrote, “Love how badly this has gone for them,” while influencers like Tana Mongeau and Trisha Paytas expressed support for Marcotte. Her follower count skyrocketed from 15,000 to nearly 375,000 in just four days, reflecting the viral momentum.

Kis Cafe responded on July 24, 2025, via Instagram, confirming Sung’s behavior was “unacceptable” and announcing his immediate dismissal as co-owner and chef. The statement noted that Sung had privately apologized to Marcotte and emphasized that his actions did not reflect the rest of the team. The restaurant announced it would temporarily close for restructuring to sustain the livelihoods of remaining staff. However, by July 27, 2025, Kis Cafe updated its Instagram bio to confirm permanent closure, stating it had been “a pleasure serving our neighbors and community.”

Sung issued a public apology on July 27, 2025, via Kis Cafe’s Instagram, stating, “Karla – I am truly sorry for my actions towards you. I was condescending, hurtful, and intimidating. You did not deserve to be made to feel less than or unimportant, nobody does.” He took full responsibility, apologized to his staff and daughter, and confirmed his permanent departure from Kis Cafe. Despite the apology, the damage was done, with posts on X reflecting ongoing sentiment, such as @PchazzzSF calling Sung an “egomaniac” who “totally deserved to get fired.”

Current Status #

As of July 29, 2025, Luke Sung is no longer affiliated with Kis Cafe, which has permanently closed. Sung has no public social media presence, and his public apology remains his last known statement on the matter. Kis Cafe’s co-owner, who requested anonymity due to online and phone threats, expressed hope to reopen with a new chef but confirmed the restaurant’s immediate closure. There are no reports of Sung’s current professional activities or plans to return to the culinary industry.

Recent posts on X, such as those from @KTVU and @FOXLA on July 27 and 28, 2025, reiterate Sung’s firing and apology but offer no new developments. The sentiment on X leans critical, with users like @fanboycantina expressing sympathy for Kis Cafe’s staff while condemning Sung’s behavior. Marcotte, meanwhile, continues to create food content, leveraging her newfound following.

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The controversy has had a profound impact on Luke Sung’s career and legacy. Once a respected figure with James Beard nominations, Sung’s return to San Francisco’s culinary scene was marred by this incident, leading to the loss of his role at Kis Cafe and the restaurant’s permanent closure. The viral backlash and review-bombing not only ended his latest venture but also tarnished his reputation, with negative reviews spilling over to his former restaurant, Isa. The personal toll was evident in his apology, where he expressed devastation for impacting his staff and family, particularly his daughter, who was unfairly targeted.

The incident underscores the fragility of public perception in the age of social media, where a single misstep can lead to swift and severe consequences. Sung’s absence from public platforms suggests he has retreated from the spotlight, and his future in the hospitality industry remains uncertain. For Marcotte, the controversy was a turning point, transforming her from a micro-influencer to a prominent figure with a significantly larger audience, highlighting the double-edged nature of viral fame.

The Kis Cafe scandal also sparked broader conversations about influencer culture, with some defending Sung’s skepticism of micro-influencers’ value, while others criticized his approach as elitist and unprofessional. The hospitality industry, as noted by Hoodline, received a “stark cautionary tale” about the power of social media to amplify negative interactions, potentially reshaping how restaurants engage with influencers.

In summary, Luke Sung’s cancellation reflects the volatile intersection of social media, public accountability, and professional consequences, leaving a lasting mark on his career and the San Francisco dining scene.