LA · SORA Craft Kitchen 🍽️🌿

Sharing a Middle Eastern meal I tried last week~ This little spot is tucked away on a street that feels a bit sketchy (like someone might pop out any moment 😅), but once you step inside, it’s a whole different world. Highly recommended! The food was delicious, the vibe was cozy, and there’s only one chef running the show with just five or six small tables. The handmade ceramic bowls and the chef’s homemade sauces and pickles in simple jars in the open kitchen give it such a personal touch. The chef is from Turkey, and everyone enjoyed the meal so much we happily left a tip—even though tipping isn’t mandatory here. 🌟 Mastabe – Turkish yogurt dip served with pita bread. Loved the kale mixed in. The pita was incredible—soft, chewy, with a slightly crispy crust. The dip had nuts in it too… so good! 🌟 Japanese Eggplant Salad – A bit spicy, like an eggplant spread, also perfect with the pita. Full of flavor! 🌟 Corti Taplamasi – A small bowl of sour soup with pickled veggies. I detected a hint of truffle—unique and tangy. Not for everyone, but I liked it. 🌟 Icli Kofte – Turkish “dumplings”? The outer dough was pleasantly chewy, filled with spiced meat. Sweet and spicy—nice, but not my top favorite. 🌟 Garlic-spiced Kebab – A bit salty, but the seasoning was great! Juicy and flavorful, not dry at all. 🌟 Pekmez-marinated Chicken – Loved this! The chicken thigh was super tender, and the sauce was perfectly balanced. 🌟 Beef Kebab – Spicy and wok-fired, made with beef chunks, not meatballs. So tasty we wiped the plate clean with pita! 🌟 Shrimp in Tarhana Butter – Delicious! Homestyle feel with strong garlic notes—not intensely Middle Eastern, but so tasty with grilled bread. 🍮 Riz au Lait – I love rice pudding! This one had a nice texture, not too sweet—everyone approved. 🍮 Cheese Halva with Yuzu Black Sesame Ice Cream – A bit too sweet for me, but the yellow layer was the chef’s homemade cheese—impressive! Paired well with the black sesame ice cream. Loved it! It was just a regular Wednesday night. An ordinary workday, an ordinary evening, but an extraordinary decision to enjoy a beautiful meal. I’ve recently decided to leave the country I’ve lived in for years, and between all the paperwork and subletting my apartment, I haven’t even had time to feel sad about it. Sharing this delicious meal with friends made an ordinary weeknight special. No matter where I go next, I’ll always seek out good food! When in doubt, just eat! 🥰 #LA #Food #MiddleEasternCuisine #HiddenGem #LADining #SORACraftKitchen #TurkishFood #ComfortFood #FoodJournal #EatWellTravelOften #CozyVibes #HomemadeFlavors #LAEats #FoodIsLife