Celebrity chef Burak Ozdemir, better known to millions of fans as CZN Burak, has confirmed that he has officially ended all his business operations in Dubai.

In a video message shared on Instagram this week, the Turkish star chef said: “I no longer have any legal or business ties with any company in Dubai.”

Burak, famous worldwide for his ever-present smile and viral cooking videos featuring giant portions of Turkish and Middle Eastern dishes, became a household name on social media before expanding his restaurant empire.

His Dubai outpost, which opened in December 2020 at Boulevard Point with stunning Burj Khalifa views, was his first international branch. The restaurant quickly became a hotspot, serving more than 150 dishes and welcoming a steady stream of celebrities. 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, was one of the first guests, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Will Smith, Huda Kattan and Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela were also spotted enjoying his larger-than-life kebabs.

The chef also launched CZN Burak Burger at the Dubai Mall in 2021, later relocating it to Dubai Hills Mall before permanently closing it.

Despite Burak’s announcement, Dives Holding, the company behind the CZN Burak brand,  confirmed that the Downtown Dubai restaurant will continue operating under its management, with no changes planned.

Burak, who hails from a family of chefs in Turkey, runs several restaurants in his home country. His grandfather was a master of kunafa, while his father operated a well-known restaurant in Istanbul, where Burak began working at the age of 13. Today, he operates six successful restaurants across Turkey.

While his Dubai chapter has closed, Burak’s global popularity remains, and his oversized dishes remain a viral sensation online.