Sofra Turkish Grill — Restaurant in Kent

The lady taking the orders seemed extremely distracted and it was somewhat disrespectful. I was on the phone with my husband, and she was literally talking so loud that even I could hear her, was doing something else while we were trying to decide what to get. She didn't seem to even acknowledge him, or say "one sec" to help him decide what to order. I was really excited and hopeful, so that was a bummer to start off with. She finally takes his order and tells him 20 minutes. He returns and sees an order sitting on the counter and asked, "is that mine"? The woman barely responded and said, "I guess", and he took the order worried how long it had been sitting there. When he gave it to me, I noticed it was lamb chops instead of the Iskender dish I ordered. Had there been better attention, and customer service, it would have been noticed. I went back in at this point and it was chaotic. I saw that maybe they just didn't have it together so I asked for a full refund and brought everything back in including the strawberry lemonade. They asked if I wanted to wait for my actual dish and by that time I was hungry and did not want to wait any longer. In good measure, they should've let me just keep the other dish because I'm sure it just went to waste. A woman said, "you can keep the strawberry lemonade", but the girl at the counter didn't even refund me for it anyway. She was struggling to count out the change. I wasn't sure why, maybe she needs to be retrained or taught basic math? She placed the money on the counter instead of my hand. And then was prepared to place a full handful of change on the counter too and I had to finally ask, "can you place that into my hand please"? So basic customer service skills and training need to be taught here. They did seem fairly nice, but I don't recall an actual apology? I asked my husband to point out who helped him only because I didn't see any of the ladies taking any accountability and they just keep speaking Turkish and telling me they were busy. I understand being busy, but the customer service and communication skills is what they were lacking. I wish I could've tried my actual dish, however the strawberry lemonade was very good! Unfortunately it was served in a hot beverage cup, and the cup began to bend and disintegrate causing it to spill. So maybe a better to go cup would be a good idea. The restaurant itself was beautiful and looked clean. If they had let me keep the dish at that point, or partially refunded me for it even, the review would be much higher. Too bad. I ended up trying Nana's...

This new place seemed to be the restaurant we had been waiting for so long. It boasts strictly hand-slaughtered zabiha halal food, absolutely gorgeous modern decor, spacious and classy seating, and phenomenal, vibrant cuisine. The serene musallah/prayer room adds to the experience, and the outstanding service from the staff elevates it further. s We started off with different lemonades. The layers of colors were so vibrant that I felt like to preserving them, and after a sip, i felt rejuvenated.

The meze tray was the best I have ever had. Easily shareable by two or even three people, it comes with five spreads and salads. The colors and hues on the tray were shining brightly.

The hummus might honestly be the best we've ever had. I felt like I was rediscovering hummus after eating it for years. The beet hummus is sweet from the beets but also savory—truly divine—I could've eaten many plates of it.

The kisir was a delightful blend of fine bulgur, fresh herbs, tangy pomegranate molasses, and a hint of spice, offering a refreshing and vibrant taste. The Muhammara was stellar, being savory, sweet, slightly smoky, and with a hint of spice.

The surprise on the tray was the Morkovcha—a vibrant and tangy Korean-style carrot salad, seasoned with vinegar and spices, delivering a perfect balance of crunch and zesty flavors. It felt so refreshing.

Ali Nazik Chicken, the house's recommendation, featured smoky grilled, mildly spicy chicken with a creamy, garlicky yogurt purée and ( i think i tased roasted eggplant), creating a harmonious blend of rich, savory flavors and velvety textures. The greens and the aromatic soft rice perfectly complemented it.

The Manti are a true testament to their culinary expertise. Thin, tender dough encased a savory filling of ground meat, onions, and spices, boiled to perfection. Garnished with a sprinkle of dried mint or sumac, the dish offers a delightful balance of creamy, tangy, and spicy flavors from the yogurt dip. Every bite was a explosion of flavors.

The Lahmacun was a big hit. The crispy flatbread, which can be folded with ease, was topped with a finely minced mixture of spiced ground meat that melded into a flavorful, savory layer. The placement of the salad with pomegranate molasses was brilliant—the combination felt like it was made in heaven.

Here you go, friends—the zabiha place with the best of everything. On the menu they have steaks! and wide variety of grills. Need to go...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sofra Turkish Grill, and I must say it stands out as one of the finest restaurants I’ve experienced in the Kent area. The service was exceptional, and the cleanliness of the establishment was impeccable. While I had hoped to share a group photo along with the dishes we enjoyed, I chose not to do so out of respect for the privacy of my companions.

As someone who has reviewed numerous restaurants across the greater Seattle area, I strive to provide fair and accurate assessments. In this case, I was surprised by the King County Public Health rating assigned to Sofra Turkish Grill. Despite its outstanding food quality, hygiene, and customer service, the restaurant was rated merely “Okay,” which seems inconsistent with my firsthand experience.

What I find particularly perplexing is the broader pattern in these ratings. I’ve observed several convenience stores and eateries with questionable food handling practices receiving “Excellent” ratings, while establishments like Sofra—clearly well-maintained and professionally operated—are ranked lower. During my visit, I found no issues that would justify such a rating.

Moreover, the high volume of foot traffic at Sofra Turkish Grill suggests strong community trust and satisfaction, which further contradicts the posted inspection results. Unless the rating was based on criteria unrelated to the quality of food and service, it may warrant a closer review by the inspection team.

For transparency, I’ve included a few photos of key areas within the restaurant that I personally captured, so others may form their own impressions. (Note: the rating picture at last)

Kudos to Sofra Turkish Grill for that greatly...