| Kiln | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | May 16, 2023 |
| Owner(s) | John Wesley, Julianna Yang |
| Manager(s) | Julianna Yang |
| Chef | John Wesley |
| Food type | Contemporary fusion |
| Rating |  |
| Street address | 149 Fell Street |
| City | San Francisco |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 94102 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 37°46′34″N122°25′14″W / 37.776095°N 122.420424°W |
| Seating capacity | 34 |
| Website | kilnsf |
Kiln is a fine dining restaurant in San Francisco, California, opened in 2023. It has two Michelin stars.
Kiln is co-owned by chef John Wesley and general manager Julianna Yang, previously chef de cuisine and general manager at Sons & Daughters. It serves a tasting menu that blends French, Japanese, and Scandinavian techniques (Wesley previously cooked at restaurants including the New York City Scandinavian restaurant Aska) and emphasizes curing, drying, fermentation, and pickling. [1] [2] [3] [4] The Michelin Guide describes the food at Kiln as "lean[ing] Nordic". [5] Wesley stated that he had been planning his first solo venture for a decade and chose the name "Kiln" to reflect the transformation both of the food and of the diner. [3]
The restaurant is located in Hayes Valley in San Francisco, in a former garage with exposed concrete walls and a 30-foot ceiling. [1] [3] An olive tree from Sonoma County grows out of a custom serving station by furniture builders Oxford Design. [1] [2] Capacity is 34, at ten tables and the bar. [1] [2] Kiln retains the high-end sound system installed by the previous restaurant in the space, Cala. [2] One reviewer noted that the minimalist decor contrasted with the loud rap and punk rock playing during dinner. [6]
Kiln opened on May 16, 2023. [1]
In January 2024, Kiln was a semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category of the James Beard Foundation Awards. [7] It was awarded a Michelin star in August 2024 [4] and a second in 2025. [8] Wesley was also named Michelin Guide California's Young Chef of the Year in August 2024. [9]
Kiln is an exhilarating journey through contrasts. The music might not match the space, and the minimalist food presentation might not go with the maximalist flavors
