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 Sunday email
Get new Made By stories every Sunday.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.
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.
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
Asked of Emrah
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.
Explore
In the same rooms
The Sunday email
Get new Made By stories every Sunday.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.