Overview
- Luke Sung apologized on July 27, admitting he was “condescending, hurtful, and intimidating” and confirmed his permanent departure from Kis Cafe.
- Kis Cafe closed on July 28 and remains shut while owners restructure the Hayes Valley wine bar for a future return with new leadership.
- The controversy began when Karla’s TikTok video described Sung questioning her 15,000 followers and dismissing her audience, driving the clip past 20 million views.
- Negative reviews have flooded both Kis Cafe and Sung’s former restaurant Isa, causing their Yelp and Google ratings to plunge across the Bay Area.
- The episode underscores tensions between traditional culinary prestige and social media influence, raising questions about partnerships in today’s digital-first dining landscape.