SORA Craft Kitchen

One of the best restaurants we’ve been to in LA! The story of the chef, the restaurants atmosphere, the small selection of lovely dishes and the extraordinary taste of the food make this a highlight. As a Turk, I can say that this place serves very authentic food with an excellent twist. Chef Oktay is very dedicated and his values are reflected in the dishes he creates. Bonus points because he does not serve alcohol in his place. A very bold move, which we much appreciated.

What we ordered: Mastabe Japanese Eggplant Salad Gavurdagi Salad Icli Kofte (Kitel) Root Vegetables Falafel Garlic-spiced Kebab Pekmez-marinated Chicken Kirecte Kabak Dining at Sora Craft Kitchen is unlike any other restaurant experience we’ve ever had & quite honestly the most memorable! Upon arrival we were greeted by the owner, operator, chef & one man show himself Chef Okay Inak! He greeted us by name & enthusiastically invited us to sit at a table closest to the kitchen reserved just for us. He was jovial & friendly….entertaining us with stories of his childhood and inspiration whilst preparing the draft we had just ordered at the kiosk by the entrance. Courses flowed seamlessly, often taken by surprise by the abundance and vibrant flavors that seemed to leap of the plate and onto our taste buds. His generous and gentle style flowed from the table to the kitchen as the oceans ebbing waves, with each h plate effortlessly gliding from his skilled hands to our table. Chef Onak serves his late mother’s Kitel and weaves his passion for using the most premium ingredients into each dish. He does it all with so much vibrancy and passion, and he does it all solo! I especially loved hearing how he sources his ingredients fresh twice weekly at the Santa Monica Farmers Market & imports his spices from Turkey. I also loved how he supports a woman owned local artisan for all of his serving ware & dishes made by Studio Molin. Chef Okay Inak is an inspiration to me an a small business owner, he has demonstrated the impact of a soloprenuer. 🙌🏼 Dress code: You’ll feel at home in just about anything Parking: paid metered street parking

SORA Craft Kitchen is an absolute hidden gem. From the moment we walked in, the cozy, intimate vibe set the tone for what became one of the most memorable meals my husband and I have had in a long time. This is a true one-man kitchen led by Chef Okay, who is incredibly warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about his craft. You can feel the care, integrity, and creativity in every dish he creates. Every single plate we ordered was a standout, featuring fresh, well-thought-out ingredients prepared with so much detail. The presentation of every dish was also excellent, demonstrating the level of detail and pride Chef Okay puts into his work. Nothing felt rushed or generic, everything tasted like it was made with genuine care. My husband and I were so impressed. Literally every dish was a 10/10. The entire experience—from the warmth of the chef, to the cozy ambiance, to the unforgettable food—felt personal and heartfelt. It’s rare to find a place where the chef is both the heart and the hands behind every dish, yet still delivers such flawless consistency. Plus, it’s easy to find and has plenty of parking, which is a huge bonus in LA where parking is usually a nightmare. Overall, SORA Craft Kitchen is a must-try. A pleasant, memorable, and delicious dining experience, and we cannot wait to come back and try more dishes. :’) Highly, highly recommend!

We recently visited Sora Craft Kitchen as a family, and had a wonderful experience. The chef’s table concept in this small six-table space is truly charming. The food was excellent: a beautiful, creative interpretation of Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. The desserts were especially unique and delicious. We were very satisfied with everything.

I absolutely love this small, charming restaurant. SORA is run by the chef himself, and watching him work his magic in the open kitchen adds such a special touch to the dining experience. The food was absolutely amazing. The concept of a chef-run boutique restaurant feels both impressive and refreshingly authentic. Dinner at SORA was the perfect beginning to a great date night. I highly recommend this place if you’re looking for cool, vibrant new jewels in the Los Angeles cuisine scene. This is definitely the place to visit

I absolutely loved dinner here. I went with a friend and two kids and the combination of really incredible food with a very easy to navigate service format was wonderful. We were in and out of the restaurant in just over an hour. Every single dish that we had was incredible. I couldn’t believe how flavorful and good the salad was (we ended up ordering a second) the flavors in the kebabs were incredible and my children really appreciated the desserts. The atmosphere was relaxed and easy, and I just felt like this is the kind of direction that I wish more restaurants went in – less of the pretentious waiters and fussy interactions about what water you want and more focus on just great tasting food.

Wow now I understand why all the reviews were 5 stars! I recommend everyone to try it. The branzino, eggplant, all the dessert and salad every dish had a special/unique taste. The pumpkin and helva were just out of this world.