Laura & Sayat Ozyilmaz, Chef
Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz are the husband-and-wife chef team behind Dalida and Maria Isabel, two of San Francisco's most celebrated restaurants. Their cooking is rooted in heritage, shaped by world-class fine dining, and inspired by the extraordinary ingredients of Northern California. Together, they have built a reputation for creating restaurants that celebrate culture through hospitality, craftsmanship, and a deep sense of place.
At Dalida, located in San Francisco's Presidio National Park, the duo explores the rich culinary traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean through a distinctly Californian lens. Since opening in 2023, Dalida has earned national recognition, including honors from James Beard Foundation, Esquire, and Eater, while becoming one of the city's defining dining destinations.
In 2026, they opened Maria Isabel, a deeply personal restaurant inspired by Laura's upbringing in Guerrero and her family's roots in Guerrero and Sinaloa. Named for Laura's mother and sister, Maria Isabel celebrates the regional diversity of Mexican cuisine through heirloom corn, traditional techniques, and California's seasonal bounty. The restaurant has been widely praised for offering a thoughtful, contemporary vision of Mexican cooking while creating a welcoming space centered on community and cultural connection.
Laura, originally from Mexico, and Sayat, whose heritage is Turkish and Armenian, approach food as a way to tell stories and build bridges across cultures. Their restaurants reflect a shared philosophy: honoring tradition without being bound by it, embracing curiosity, and creating memorable experiences through generous hospitality.
Beyond their restaurants, Laura and Sayat have been recognized nationally for their contributions to American dining, including consecutive James Beard Award semifinalist® honors, Laura's appearance as a finalist on Top Chef, and their selection to the James Beard Foundation TasteTwenty class, recognizing emerging leaders shaping the future of American cuisine.
