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    Owner

    Emrah Kilicoglu

    Discipline
    Owner
    Based in
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Portrait of Emrah Kilicoglu

    i. Biography

    Emrah Kilicoglu runs Kitchen Istanbul in San Francisco as owner and executive chef, a position he has held since opening the restaurant in 2013. The room is built around Turkish-forward dining and wine-focused hospitality, with a cellar approach that favors small producers and often aligns with low-intervention farming and bottling practices.

    The Climb

    Since 2013, the kitchen and the business have sat under the same oversight at Kitchen Istanbul, where Emrah Kilicoglu holds both the cooking and ownership responsibilities.

    Today

    The San Francisco restaurant later re-vamped its business during the pandemic. Kilicoglu’s work remains concentrated at the same address: directing the kitchen while carrying the responsibilities of ownership.

    Career - Owner and Executive Chef — Kitchen Istanbul, San Francisco, CA (2013–present)

    Signature

    Emrah's signature dishes include adana kebab and rice pudding.

    Recognition

    Recognition here comes through a clear city lane: Turkish cooking paired with serious wine hospitality, the field in which Emrah Kilicoglu has been identified.

    FAQ What is Emrah Kilicoglu's current role? As of 2026, Emrah Kilicoglu is Owner and Executive Chef. What is Emrah Kilicoglu known for? Turkish-forward dining and wine-focused hospitality.