Erhan Kostepen

Doya Restaurant

Erhan Kostepen is a Turkish American chef and restauranteur, best known as the Executive Chef and Co-owner of Doya in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. Since opening in 2021, Doya has earned three consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand distinctions (2022–2024). In 2023, Doya was named one of the best in the U.S. for outdoor dining by OpenTable. Prior to opening Doya, he was the founder and chef partner of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, which was named the top restaurant in Miami by Yelp. Kostepen was instrumental in the culinary direction of Mandolin, bringing his experience and passion for Aegean cuisine to the brand.

Kostepen was born and raised in Izmir, Turkey, where his interest in cooking began in his family’s kitchen. His earliest memories are of watching his mother — whom he considers the first chef he ever knew — craft meals without written recipes, relying only on instinct and available ingredients. This approach influenced his own cooking style, emphasizing adaptability and creativity. By eight years old, Kostepen was assisting at a local seafood restaurant, where he learned to clean and prepare octopus in exchange for a Coca-Cola, teaching him patience, precision and respect for ingredients in the process.

Kostepen founded Mandolin Aegean Bistro in Miami’s Design District in 2009 and served as its Executive Chef and Partner until 2018. He was instrumental in shaping the restaurant’s culinary direction, drawing on his background in Aegean cuisine. Since opening, Mandolin has been featured in numerous dining guides and has been credited in media with popularizing Aegean meze in Miami. In 2022, the restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand recognition from the Michelin Guide. In 2021, he joined Doya, a modern meze restaurant in Wynwood founded and invested in by entrepreneur Rob van den Blink. Under their leadership, Doya earned three consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand distinctions in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The restaurant has received other acclaim, including: The Infatuation — “Best New Restaurant” (2022) Miami Herald — Silver for “Best All-Around Restaurant” (2023); Gold for “Best Mediterranean Restaurant” (2023); Gold for “Best Outdoor Dining” (2023); Silver for “Best Specialty Cocktail” (2023) Miami New Times — “Best Restaurant in Wynwood” (2024).

Kostepen is known for his mastery of wood-fire and open-flame grilling, with grilled octopus as one of his long-standing specialties. He is also the creator of the recognized dish, “Short Rib Baklava” which combines strained labneh, pistachio and kasseri cheese. It is now one of Doya’s most ordered menu items.

Beyond Miami, Kostepen has expanded his culinary presence internationally. In 2024, Kostepen returned to his hometown of Izmir, Turkey for a summer pop-up restaurant at Isla Alaçatı. In August 2025, he partnered with the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino in Greece to create a collaborative seasonal menu that was also available at Doya in Miami.

In February 2025, Kostepen was featured at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival as part of Wine Spectator’s “Best of the Best” event at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, joining a lineup of acclaimed chefs to present signature dishes alongside world-renowned wineries. Kostepen launched a personal YouTube channel on March 26, 2025, and also contributed to the launch of Doya’s official channel, which premiered on May 21, 2025.

In June 2025, Modern Luxury Magazine named him a “Power Player in Miami.” He was also recognized as the Miami New Times Readers’ Choice Best Chef in 2024 and 2025.