San Francisco Chef Resigns After Viral Confrontation with TikTok Influencer

A well-known San Francisco chef stepped down from his position at a newly opened café following a heated exchange with a TikTok influencer, which quickly gained widespread attention online.

The incident occurred at Kis Cafe in Hayes Valley when influencer @itskarlabb arrived early for a pre-arranged collaboration, filming content inside the restaurant. She shared a video describing her experience of being publicly belittled during her visit.

TikTok influencer @itskarlabb — Influencer @itskarlabb was allegedly scolded by chef Luke Sung over her follower count, prompting her to leave the restaurant distressed.

Karla, the influencer, claimed that Luke Sung, a James Beard Award-nominated chef and co-owner of the restaurant, questioned her follower count of 15,000 and dismissed her visit as a mistake, implying her influence was insignificant.

In a subsequent video that racked up over 20 million views, she recounted that Sung scrutinized her TikTok content, scrolling through her videos loudly and criticizing her for producing “homey” content. Allegedly, Sung expressed doubt about her ability to represent his restaurant effectively, insinuating her followers might not afford to dine there.

Luke Sung, owner of Lux restaurant — Sung, who faced backlash after the incident went viral, is a two-time James Beard Award finalist.

The chef then reportedly questioned her identity, claiming his accolades and mentioning his daughter, Isa Sung, a popular vlogger with 600,000 TikTok followers. He also dismissed her cooking videos, calling them “homey,” which upset her and led her to leave the establishment in tears.

Following the incident, Karla’s follower count surged from around 15,000 to over 350,000. She expressed her intention to advocate for micro-influencers, emphasizing that substantial impact does not require a large number of followers.

Closed Kis Cafe — Kis Cafe, which opened in May, announced Sung’s departure and has since closed temporarily for restructuring.

In a statement, Kis Cafe acknowledged the inappropriateness of the chef’s behavior and confirmed Sung left voluntarily. The restaurant is now temporarily closed, aiming to rebuild a welcoming environment for all patrons, vowing accountability and respect moving forward.