Kis Cafe controversy to be addressed in SF ‘Chefs vs. TikTokers’ event

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A viral clash between a food influencer and a celebrated chef that led to the abrupt closure of a Hayes Valley wine bar will be the centerpiece of a forum coming to San Francisco next month. The event, “Top Chefs vs. TikTokers,” will be held at SF venue Manny’s and presented by the San Francisco Standard.

“Join us as we bring together San Francisco’s top chefs and influencers from around the Bay Area to discuss the ethics of influence in the digital age and how social media is reshaping the culinary landscape,” the event description reads. “This timely conversation was sparked by the viral controversy surrounding chef Luke Song and Kis Cafe, a tale that highlights the complex intersection of online influence and restaurant culture.”

Kis Cafe, which opened in May, found itself at the center of an online controversy after a Bay Area food influencer who was due to collaborate with the restaurant left in tears. The influencer, known by her handle of @itskarlabb, tearfully recounted the run-in with the restaurant’s chef, later confirmed as Sung.

“I just left a restaurant collaboration crying,” the influencer said. “He is not having it, saying to the host that he shouldn’t have invited me and that this was a mistake and that this was bad,” she continued. “… I am turning red because I am so embarrassed and I feel really disrespected.”

“It seemed like he was insinuating that my followers would not be able to afford to eat at this restaurant,” she adds at one point.

The influencer’s video racked up millions of views, triggering an online backlash against Kis Cafe that saw it review-bombed with one-star reviews. The backlash eventually led to Kis Cafe parting ways with Sung, a James Beard-nominated chef who was once heralded as one of the city’s “top chefs from the early 2000s.”

Kis Cafe later announced it was “closing and restructuring” following the run-in. Sung later apologized to the influencer, posting on Instagram that he was “condescending, hurtful, and intimidating.”

“You did not deserve to be made to feel less than or unimportant, nobody does,” he added.

The TikToker, meanwhile, racked up millions of views and in a subsequent post, said she had gained “so many new followers.”

Neither Sung or the influencer in question are scheduled to appear at the Manny’s event. The event, scheduled for Sept. 8, will be moderated by Sara Deseran of the SF Standard and feature restaurant owner Pim Techamuanvivit (Nari and Kin Khao), chef Matthew Accarrino (SPQR and Mattina), and food influencers Allie Tong (Allie Eats) and Novi Mitchell (Booziebrunch).

For tickets and more information, visit events at Mannys.