Sofra Restaurant — Restaurant in Urgup

During my recent visit to Cappadocia, I had the pleasure of dining at Sofra Restaurant in Ürgüp, and I can confidently say it was one of the most memorable meals of my entire Turkey trip. This charming family-owned restaurant delivered an authentic Turkish dining experience that exceeded all expectations.

The star of my meal was undoubtedly the Testi Kebab (pottery kebab) - a traditional Cappadocian specialty that arrived at my table sealed in a clay pot, still bubbling from the oven. The theatrical moment of breaking open the pottery released an intoxicating aroma of perfectly spiced meat and vegetables that had been slow-cooked to absolute perfection. The tender chunks of lamb literally melted in my mouth, while the rich, flavorful gravy begged to be soaked up with the endless supply of fresh, warm bread.

What made this dish truly extraordinary was not just the incredible taste, but the entire sensory experience - from the satisfying crack of the pottery to the aromatic steam that escaped, creating a moment of pure culinary theater. The meat was succulent beyond belief, infused with traditional Turkish spices that created layers of flavor in every bite.

The owner, Vulcan, added so much warmth to the experience with his genuine hospitality and passion for sharing the history behind this regional specialty. His enthusiasm for the food was infectious, and you could tell that every dish was prepared with love and pride.

The restaurant itself has a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere that makes you feel like you're dining in a Turkish family's home. Despite its simple decor, the cleanliness was impeccable, and the service was attentive without being intrusive.

For anyone visiting Cappadocia, Sofra Restaurant is an absolute must-visit. The pottery kebab alone is worth the trip to Ürgüp. This isn't just a meal - it's an authentic cultural experience that captures the heart and soul of Turkish hospitality. I'm already planning my...

Perfect! That’s the food I have missed after my trip.

The boss spoke good English so you will have no problem to communicate with them. He explained the use of each spice (in the three little bowls)

This is a family-run restaurant and you can tell that they did not add fancy spices to the food but keep the food simple but retained the original Turkish tastes. The food was heart-warming and on spot.

I ordered potato manti that the yogurt on top was delicately amazing. The tastiness was beyond words! The savoury yogurt was so fresh with the minty coolness which matched so well with the manti.

Also, the Turkish tomato fried eggs were flavourful. I’m not a fan of green peppers but they had the skills to make it so tasty in the egg pots. It was served hot and quick. The salad and bread were free.

The manti is 250 lira and yogurt drink is 15 lira. Can’t remedy the price for the egg pot. I clearly remember the total costs less than 10 USD! Really...

We had the testi kebap for 2 people @ 400tl. The food was nice and the presentation good, price was a little better than others nearby. We had a very nice meal but what ruined it was when it came to paying I was told cash only, no cards. We had only enough cash to last us the next few days until we leave. I told him we don't have cash, we need to pay card and that if they only want cash they should have a sign up saying so or at least inform customers before ordering. The response was "well you didn't ask so how can I tell you". Not good enough in a tourist driven town! We were forced to use the last of our $ leaving us nothing for an emergency & this really annoyed me. There were so many empty clay pots so that's alot of cash...