G"Such a great gem in LA. We loved the intimate atmosphere with seating for about 16 people. Most were two diners but the table can be moved for a larger group but the space itself is small. Amazing that the chef is a one man show…cooking and serving. Smart move to have diners order on a kiosk to make the process efficient. The food was all amazing. Presentation was fine dining caliber and the taste was amazing. Th tenderloin was well grilled and tender. For us the grilled branzino was the best we’ve had. Perfectly cooked and seasoned."
G"Sora is a one of a kind experience! Every dish is a blend of flavors and it is so fun to see what new seasonal options I should add to my favorites. My husband and I have been here five times and each experience has been better than the last. Chef Okay is warm and inviting and brings out each dish for you at your pace so you can enjoy each layer at a time. The cold mastabe, stuffed bulgur shells with spiced meat, root vegetable falafel, and grilled branzino are all must haves - every bite is so delicious! And the rice pudding and Turkish coffee are a perfect pairing for dessert; just sweet enough with miso caramel and so creamy with a crunchy pecan topping."
G"I had the Mastabe, Spicy Eggplant, Siverek Tava and of course Kireçte Kabak for dessert. I didn’t know Mastabe is actually one of the earliest cold mezes from the Ottoman Palace, which is one of the things I love about SORA you don’t just eat, you learn a little culture too. The Spicy Eggplant has gochujang in it, but somehow Chef Okay makes it feel so familiar. You know it’s different from Turkish pepper/tomato paste, but it still gives you that same comfort. Siverek Tava… “ELLERINI yersin” IYKYK. 😂 And my absolute favorite dessert is finally back: Kireçte Kabak. The crispy outside, soft pumpkin inside, tahini and nuts… no words. 👌🏼 SORA Craft kitchen at its best. I honestly can’t give Chef Okay Inak enough credit: the creativity, culture, and attention behind every dish really come through."
G"Someone recommended this restaurant for me and I was really impressed, it’s a small cozy restaurant but the food was really great and the service was very good. Everything we ordered was really delicious. I highly recommend it."
G"Sora is an intimate dining experience intentionally curated by a very talented Turkish chef. This is one of those spots that was repeatedly✨ recommended to me and has been on my list to visit for a few months now. 3 things you should know before you go: it’s in DTLA’s art district, there is abundant metered parking nearby as well as on the street of the restaurant. It’s very small but aptly sized for the one-man show solely ran by chef Okay İnak. In lieu of this, yes, you absolutely need to make a reservation. Do not expect to walk in and grab a table. Lastly, the ordering and payment portion itself is completed on a small kiosk upon entry. I found this to be very efficient and makes the process seamless so chef can focus on his craft, which is of course the art of the food experience. The space itself is aesthetically well-designed and has attention to detail applied in all the right places. I walked in and felt like I was inside the kitchen of a well-designed home. The bathroom is small, clean, and cute. The kitchen is the main feature — absolutely stunning, artfully presented against the back wall when you first enter. It is also fully open, so you are able to watch chef prepare each dish from your table. The dish-ware was stunning and enhances the plating. The food quality of ingredients was top notch. Everything was very clearly fresh and full flavor. There was nothing amongst my order that I did not enjoy. In general, I love Mediterranean food because the style truly packs some of the biggest flavors when you allow a dish remain authentic. The pacing of the dishes was efficient. I ordered: mastabe, dry-aged tenderloin shish kebab, içli köfte, cheese halva with yuzu and black sesame ice cream, Turkish coffee, and chef brought me a small portion of the Rize au lait dessert (with miso caramel and candied pecans). I recommend Sora as a solo dining experience or a maximum of 3 people together based on size alone. This would be a fantastic date night spot. The ambience is lovely during the evening. Chef Okay is very kind and consistent with the experience he offers based on my findings. You should definitely go! Very rarely do I find food culture in LA that deliver all three: cost worthiness, good quality/flavors, a meaningful ambiance."
G"We had a 9PM, Sunday reservation at Sora Craft Kitchen, and when we first pulled up, we genuinely thought we were at the wrong place. The surrounding area is very dark and industrial at night, there were barely any cars around, and from the outside you would never expect what’s waiting for you inside. The second we walked in, it was a completely different atmosphere. It was quiet and super ambient. One thing that immediately surprised me was that it didn’t smell like at all. We were greeted by the chef himself, and seeing him prepare everything right in front of us made the experience even more special. He was essentially running the kitchen himself, yet every dish came out surprisingly fast, fresh, and beautifully prepared. We started with the Dry-Aged Tenderloin Shish Kebab, and that alone immediately set the tone for dinner. The beef was incredibly flavorful and tender. Then the chef brought out the Mastabe and PLEASE!! If you come here, ORDER THIS. It ended up becoming the staple of our entire dinner. It’s this creamy house-made yogurt, we literally started adding it to EVERYTHING. The garlicky, creamy freshness somehow complemented every meat and every dish without overpowering anything. Next came the Siverek Tava, and this one completely blew me away. The combination of ground beef, tomato, and roasted eggplant was incredible. My boyfriend HATES eggplant. Like, refuses to order anything with eggplant level of hate. Even he was shocked at how good it was and how perfectly the eggplant worked with the beef. Huge props to the chef because changing someone's mind about an ingredient they swear they hate says a lot. The Grilled Branzino came next and was a perfect change of pace. Simple, fresh, perfectly grilled, and topped with vegetables. After all the richer flavors, the fish felt light and refreshing while still having plenty of flavor. Then we had the Icli Kofte, which might have been one of the biggest surprises of the night. I wasn't expecting such an explosion of flavor from this dish. Our last savory dish was the Garlic-Spiced Kebab. At this point I was so full and genuinely thought there was no way I was going to finish another dish... and then I kept eating it. It was smoky, garlicky, juicy, and so flavorful that I literally couldn't stop. And somehow we still made room for dessert. We finished with the Cheese Halva with Yuzu–Black Sesame Ice Cream, and it was the PERFECT ending. The warm cheese halva practically melted in our mouths. While the ice cream had this refreshing flavor that reminded us of mint and pistachio. The pistachio pieces underneath added the perfect crunch and texture to balance everything out. What impressed me most about Sora wasn't just one specific dish. It was how thoughtfully everything paired together. Every dish tasted completely different. Nothing felt generic or like something you could order at any other restaurant. You can genuinely taste the freshness and the amount of thought the chef puts into the flavors, textures, and pairings. Don't let the location fool you. Once you walk through those doors, it's this little hidden gem where the food completely speaks for itself. Mastabe is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Order it and put it on everything. Such an amazing dinner and the perfect way to end our day. We left ridiculously full and already talking about coming back. Easily one of the best meals we've had so far."