5.0
Superb
165 Reviews
1109 East 12th Street, Los Angeles · 4.79 miles
Customers’ favorites
- Semolina Cake with Pistachio Icecream
- Dry-Aged Tenderloin Shish Kebab
- Fries with House Seasoning
- Grilled Branzino Sandwich
“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.”
Japanese · $
