San Francisco chef responds to viral TikTok that hurt reputation

Backlash over alleged rude behavior led the restaurateur to close his business, Kis Cafe.

- BY SUMMER LIN

CARLOS AVILA GONZALEZ San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images CHEF Luke Sung, left, poses with Kitty Sung and sous chef Tony Radna in 2004.

A San Francisco chef whose restaurant closed down after he was accused of being rude to a TikTok influencer is now speaking out for the first time about the viral controversy.

In an interview with the San Francisco Standard, the former co-owner of Kis Cafe in Hayes Valley recounted his disastrous meeting with TikTok influencer Karla Marcotte, who posted a video of her “nightmare SF restaurant experience” on July 23.

In her video, Marcotte said that Luke Sung, a James Beard-nominated chef, criticized her follower count and said it was a “mistake” for the restaurant's host to invite her to the establishment.

Sung told the Standard that Marcotte came into his restaurant, sat down and didn’t greet him.