I always thought that the best Turkish food in the Bay Area could only be found in downtown SF, and today I realized that was not true. This restaurant in San Bruno had one of the best meat and lamb dishes I have tasted in the States. First off, the service was friendly and respectful. Ercan welcomed us and made me feel at home right away. It was a pleasure chatting with him and sharing stories. The Beyti was even better than what I expected. I already love Adana Kebab, and this took it to the next level. My girlfriend got the lamb shank, which was perfectly cooked. Lamb can be hit or miss, and this one was done just right, with the meat falling off the bones. The baklava was fresh, and not dry. It was the cherry on top of a unique experience. We were staying at a hotel nearby and did not expect to find a hidden gem like this in the neighborhood. The ambiance was also pleasant, with soft music and clean air. read more

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Sofra Grill is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the area! Food is always fresh & piping hot. I enjoy the balance in the plates, with salad and rice. In my recent visit, I ordered the chicken skewers plate and it was so delicious and flavorful. I was trying to savor every bite! Portions are pretty decent, with enough to take home as leftovers. Service is great, the folks that work there are always super nice and attentive. Seating is limited but can be a short wait when there is no lunch/dinner rush. I usually park at Smart & Final's parking lot and had no issues. There is nearby residential parking as well. read more

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I love this restauarant! I have ordered from here for delivery and also eaten at the restaurant. The restaurant is tiny with limited seating, about 7 or 8 tables along the right side wall. It could be busy with a wait, so unless you really want to eat there, it is much easier to order delivery. It was raining heavily the last time we came here, which probably increased our chances of getting a table right away. We grabbed the only available table at the time. The waitress was friendly when she took our order. We ordered the Chicken Shawarma plate, Muhammara, and Fattosuh Salad. I love their Muhammara. It comes with pita bread to dip into this delicous roasted pepper dip. It is so easy to just fill up on bread because it's so good! But make sure to save room for other stuff. They give you a huge portion of Chicken Shawarma served over rice. The Fattoush salad comes beautifully plated in a tilted elevated bowl. There's a clean restroom at the back of the restaurant. Unfortunately, parking in the area can be challenging at times. read more

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This place is definitely a hidden gem! Everything we ordered was amazing and delicious. The staff was very friendly and engaged with conversations with us. Always made sure our waters were filled and constantly checked in on us. The place was a little small but once you start eating you don't even notice it. Will def be coming back here! read more

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Every time I come to Sofra it hits so good. The service is top notch, the food is excellent and flavorful, and the ambiance is nice, especially after the remodel! Sofra always had a line before so I'm glad they were able to expand, but I'm also so happy that even with more space there is still sometimes a line! It's cool seeing the owner so invested too in his employees and the guests too. This last time I ordered the beyti and of course it was excellent, but anything is delicious with some garlic spread on it! I usually love the salmon wrap too. Yum, yum, yum! read more

Sofra Grill - Beyti with that delicious rice - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Low-key one of those spots you don't expect to hit this hard. Everything tastes fresh, like actually fresh--not just "restaurant fresh." The meats are juicy, well-seasoned, and grilled right, and portions don't feel skimpy. Service is fast and chill, no weird attitude, just good people running it. Place has a casual vibe, nothing fancy, but that kind of works--it's about the food. Definitely one of those "I'll be back" spots, not a one-time try. read more

Sofra Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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The food is phenomenal! Every dish was packed with authentic flavor, beautifully prepared and incredibly fresh. The kababs were genuine and made me miss home! The staff were super friendly and accommodating, going above and beyond to make sure we felt welcome. Ambiance is great for a date or family meal. read more

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We came here for a late lunch, and had the hummus and pita, Branzino, chicken shawarma, and the lamb chops plates which come with rice and salad. There was a bit of a wait to be seated and for our orders to be taken but the food was pretty food! The hummus was fresh, we finished it all! The entrees were larger portions and we had some leftovers to go. Overall, would come back. Happy eating! read more

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I went to Sofra Grill today after seeing a TikTok from Hella Hansel, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We started with the hummus and flatbread. The hummus was incredibly creamy, drizzled with delicious olive oil, and the flatbread was hot and fresh -- honestly, I could have stopped there and been happy! For my entrée, I had the lamb shank baked inside an incredible dough. They cut it open tableside to reveal fall-off-the-bone lamb sitting on a bed of yellow rice with tomatoes, onions, and carrots. It's served with a garlic spread that perfectly complements the bread, lamb, and rice. The portion was huge and only $25.99 -- an absolute steal. I had my 7-year-old with me, and he ordered the flatbread with cheese (basically a sauceless pizza -- perfect for a picky eater!) along with the Parmesan garlic fries, which were amazing and definitely shareable. The food was fresh, beautifully prepared, and the service was phenomenal -- attentive, knowledgeable staff who truly enhanced an already fantastic dining experience. If you haven't been to Sofra Grill yet, you're missing out! read more

Sofra Grill - Cheese flatbread - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

So glad we came here Sofra was a perfect stop came here right before 12 and the place started filling up quick and for good reason the food here is SO GOOD Staff here don't mess around food comes out quick! Don't judge this place based on the size or location let the food do the talking. A personal must get from here would be the Zaatar and cheese flatbread and dipping it into their garlic toum. The meats are tender and juicy my mouth is watering looking at the photos again. Baba Ganoush here is perfect I'm a huge fan took it home with extra pita. If this place is one of the options on whatever choices you have for lunch or dinner tonight COME HERE read more

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SO HAPPY I found this place but it is likely the best Mediterranean / middle eastern food I've ever had. Not only that but the workers really treat you like family. They're always checking in on you even when the restaurant is completely packed. My husband and I had the best time here. We got the hummus w steak that we absolutely devoured even before our entrees even got there. The lamb shank dish I could eat with a spoon because of how incredible tender it was. My husband LOVED the chicken shawarma. The tea with the flakey pistachio dessert that's like baklava but with cream is a must have to wrap up your night. 10/10 restaurant for a casual and perfect night out. Definitely will be coming back. read more

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Sofra keeps popping up at the top of my yelp so I wanted to visit. my friend and I got beef Shawarma wraps to go and couldn't wait to try The wraps were really awesome! The beef was plenty and flavorful, they split the portions into two wraps to keep the balance, and the whole thing came together so tastefully.They also come with a bag of fries, garlic sauce, and hot sauce which completes the whole experience. Can't wait to add Sofra to the rotation, and SO glad that it was so good! read more

Sofra Grill - Beef Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

The food was amazing, tasty, halal, and affordable! We went during Ramadan and even the attention to detail by offering us dates to break our fast was such a beautiful detail. I will be going again and recommend to anyone looking for a new favorite food spot! read more

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So yummy and friendly. I first learned about this place when I was invited to a Yelp Elite event. Based on how they were able to handle mass quantities of food and still deliver good quality, I knew they were a restaurant that would provide a satisfying Mediterranean meal. We've been by a few times now and the last time we beat the dinner rush. There was a long line after we got seated which seems to the the norm here even on a week night. There were three adults and three children on a Wednesday night. First, we started with Fries. They were so good and crisp. We also got Hummus, and Baba Ghanoush, which came with fluffy pita bread. Their Hummus is creamy and yummy. Then we split the Mixed Grill Platter, Salmon, and Lamb Chop. The Mixed Grill said it was for two but seriously, it could've fed four adults. Everything on that platter was delicious. My son loved every bite even though he had ordered the Salmon and enjoyed that just as much. The other two kids wanted the Lamb Chop, which was so tender. Another great thing about this place is their friendly staff. Everyone is so nice. They come by at the right time to check in and refill the water container. We're so happy this place opened! read more

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Dined here on a weekday night, and it was still very crowded. After a 25 minute wait for two people we got seated and ordered the lamb shank and biryti dishes as well as the steak fries. I loved the biryti, creamy sauces complimented the meat well, and the lamb was so tender and presentation was lovely! The steak fries were fresh and good too. Ambiance is lovely with an authentic yet trendy feel, we got 9 pieces of baklava before leaving and they were flaky and delicious! Overall this place is very charming and I'd return if in the area. read more

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I had a really enjoyable experience at Sofra Grill in South San Francisco. The food was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared, with a nice balance of seasoning that made everything taste satisfying. The service was friendly and attentive, and I didn't have to wait long for my order. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, making it a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy a meal. Overall, I had a positive experience and would definitely come back again. read more

I've always wanted to try sofra grill and heard many good things about it! We decided to go and definitely liked the service. overall I liked my shawarmas which were very huge for how it was priced. I got one beef and one chicken. My lady didn't get to enjoy here's however the tables lamb kabob liked very delicious so we might've ordered the wrong items But 10/10 read more

Sofra Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Hummus w/ steak - a plate of chopped grilled steak with a ring of hummus drizzled with olive oil. There was more steak than hummus. The steak was nice and lean and lightly seasoned. It complemented the hummus well. Flavors were fresh and not too heavy. The pita that came with this dish was warm and fluffy. We decided to pair this with a salad for a complete meal. Fatoush salad - The lettuce base was romaine and drizzled with sweet pomegranate molasses. Came with plenty of sliced cucumbers, sliced radish, cherry tomatoes, and feta. Everything was crisp and fresh. Vinegar and oil dressing came on the side. The crispy pita was actually deep fried pita bread. It was definitely tasty albeit on the oily side and a nice addition to the salad. Falafel plate - The falafel were in mini donut shapes which is clever because it increases the amount of crispy surface area of the falafel. The accompanying baba ganoush was nice and smoky in flavor. Since we already had hummus for the table we asked to substitute the hummus side for muhammara, which is a red pepper dip that is sweet and had a great flavor. The plate came with a couple of small pieces of pita to have with the dips. There was also a small salad on the plate. This dish is a great value to be able to try a little bit of everything non-meat. Salmon plate - The plate came with four pieces of salmon that were nicely seasoned and tender. It was served on top of rice and had a small salad on the plate. We went during a weekend lunch and it just so happened all the tables just filled up when we walked in, so we had to wait around 25 minutes. Just know that it can get busy on the weekends! read more

Arrived at around 1pm on Sunday and it was packed. We waited about 10-15 mins for a table. Stayed busy the whole time we were there. There were quite a few items we wanted to try. Ultimately decided to go with the Beyti. Hubs went with the special - Beef Shank. Both dishes came with salad and rice. The beef shank also came with a fluffy pita. We also had to order their Sofra bread which is made in house. I must say . . . we enjoyed each of our dishes. The beef shank was tender and loved the flavors of the Beyti. The Sofra bread arrived piping hot - crunchy outside, soft inside and so good with the garlic sauce. Good sized portions that we could only eat half of everything and packed the rest to take home. If we weren't so full I would've liked to try their Kunafe dessert. Service was friendly. We'll definitely be returning. read more

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We went back to Sofra Grill as I was dying to taste their Lamb Shank. I'm telling you, the lamb shank did not disappoint!!! First the presentation was so cool!!! Then the shank was so tender that the meat fell off the bone with just using your fork. The rice was so tasty with the sauce from the shank! I ate that shank like I drank my water. Now you see it, now you don't, lol. My partner also had the lamb chops and it was grilled perfectly. Tender as well with just the right seasonings. Our server was so nice and remembered us from the last time we came there. Everyone was friendly and I can't wait to go back and have their lamb shank again! If you're looking for a great Mediterranean grill, this is the place for you!!! read more

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My sis and I were in the neighborhood running errands and wanted to grab dinner. Sofra Grill is a casual, yet cozy and inviting spot. Lucky for us, there was one last table available! We were seated quickly by the owner, Azad. He's such a nice gentleman, who really cares about his customers! Amazingly, he recognized me as one of the Yelp elites! I have been to Sofra Grill for a few of their Yelp events and I guess he remembered my face. I've also visited a few times after the events because the food was memorable. So much so that it's become a spot on our rotation! However, I thought I wrote a review for Sofra, but it's not here, so it's long over due! Imho, one of the best restaurants in this area! ***OUR PICKS*** LAMB SHANK ~ tender braised lamb shank over rice, wrapped in a homemade dough baked to perfection. This dish is my favorite on the menu. If you like lamb shank, you've got to try this! The rice is fluffy and moist, because it's baked with the shank. The meat comes off the bone and melts in your mouth! Cooked perfectly and so amazingly yummy!!! **chef's kiss** 5/5 BRANZINO ~ grilled filet w/Mediterranean herbs & garlic. A fantastic dish that also satisfies! Tender fish seasoned just right. 5/5 BAKLAVA & COFFEE ~ layers of phyllo dough pastry with walnuts. Azad surprised us with a few pieces of baklava and coffee! That was very nice of him! And a sweet way to end our meal. Though we couldn't drink all the coffee! We didn't want to be up all night! 5/5 Perfect from beginning to end! Wish I could give this place more stars!! Highly recommend Sofra Grill, if you haven't had the pleasure of dining here!! read more

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Came here on a whim with some friends and wow wow. This place is truly a hidden gem in a hidden place! Was lucky to snag a table around 7PM on a Sunday with no wait, although do keep in mind that this place does fill up quick since the seating is limited. We shared the Muhammara flatbread, which had a fire roasted red pepper with walnuts + gooey cheese topping. The sweetness of the roasted peppers complimented the savory cheese quite well. The texture of the flatbread was chef's kiss and we devoured this shortly. The star of the night was the lamb shank. Holy moly. The meat was fall off the bone tender and the presentation was like a magic show. A homemade dough like the Vegas sphere encasing what will be the most beautiful and tasty piece of meat you'll ever have. The server cut off the top of the dough to reveal the present beneath it. And for those who steer away from lamb, I'm happy to share that this meat is not gamey! For dessert, we tried the Baklava ice cream which includes 3 scoops of vanilla sprinkled with a generous portion of crushed pistachios and baklava. I loved the texture of the ice cream and appreciated the flavors, but wished the baklava was not soggy and had a crunchhhhh with each bite. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Sofra Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Sofra so Good Quaint Middle Eastern and Turkish eatery located in a random South City neighborhood off--what else--El Camino Real aka The Foodie Highway. Established in 2023, they've quickly earned a top spot by local foodies, as they were named #17 in the 2024 Best Places to Eat in The Bay Area by Yelp Elites (https://yelp.to/Zvmsm8BuH7). The Good: *Great and friendly service by Fabiola *Catering available *Falafel were out of this world good. I've never had one so big and fluffy before. Maybe the "Best" every?! Just don't tell me Ma, I said so. ;) *Fries were Hella bomb *Housemade bread! #NuffSaid *The presentation, flavor and portions of Musakhan is phenomenal. And all that for only $20 feels like a literal steal here in The Bay Area. Not only do you get an ample amount of chicken and rice, but you also get some of their housemade bread to eat it with. I've also had this dish where the chicken is cooked and served over the bread, but that ends up sogging out the bread, so this way that they serve it is perfect. The Meh: *Outdoor dining is two two-top tables right out front and leaves much to be desired, but if you want it, it's there. *Make sure to pay at the counter. We just sat around waiting for the bill but I guess you have to go to the counter. Nobody told me! *Old man mode engaged: They need to turn down the music. Especially if you're sitting all the way at the far end under the speaker. *shakes fists at clouds* The Ugly: *Parking is very odd here, as there is some street parking but it was all taken on our visit. I guess you can park in that parking lot adjacent to the Goodwill & Fart & Sminal? It's not very clear but I'm assuming it's a shared lot. 2hr max fwiw *Interior is small, a bit cramped, and only holds about 4-5 parties. Conclusion: I'm usually not a fan of cramped restaurants, but with food this good I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu. Highly, highly recommended. Just bring ear plugs. :) read more

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A meal + an experience! Dropped by ~11:50 pm on a Friday. We were able to snag a table before the place filled up. With only ~8 tables (two outside), this place can fill up. What we got: - Beyti ~ This was so good and plated beautifully. The lamb and beef interior was soft and juicy. Wrapped in flatbread, it absorbs much of the flavor from the sauce and the meat filling! Comes served with rice and salad. - Lamb Shank ~ baked to perfection indeed! AND comes with a tableside carving! Lamb shank was SUPER tender. Rice is baked with the dish, allowing it to absorb a lot of the lamb shank flavors. Each bite was packed full of flavor. Garlic Sauce and a Red Spicy sauce is served on the side. The Red sauce packs a kick. But the garlic sauce (Toum), oh so good! Pairs well with rice and just about anything! Overall, pretty decent place. Would return to try other items on the menu! read more

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It keeps getting better! I think they have a new menu item - it is a chicken and rice dish baked with a bread covering the whole thing. The chicken is the most tender ever - absolute fall off the bone. The flavors meld and are all in harmony. The bread thing is crisp and delicious. Anyway, still in love with their food and will continue to come back. read more

Service is as good as it gets here. Food is solid; meat can be slightly on the dry side, but the hummus is spot on. Authentic. Decent value. Not that much of a fan of the location with Smart & Final, etc., it seems to get more and more traffic over time. They do have tables inside, but it's a great choice for to go orders. read more

Delicious food and great service. This place is punching above it's weight class, for what looks like a small casual restaurant, the table service is great. Even though the place is small it has nice touches like metal water glasses, nice plates, and good presentation. The block it's on is unassuming. I got mildly concerned as I was looking for a larger restaurant experience, but I'm glad I rolled with it since everything was good. Each item of the meze sampler was fresh and yummy... Hummus was so rich and creamy, quality olive oil.. labneh was perfect to dip the falafel.. and the muhammara was the best version of this dish I've had. I loved the Sofra bread. The flatbread was tasty with onions/zataar and priced right. Knafeh was good, I'd never tried this before so I'm glad I ordered it, but next time I want some baklava! read more

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Food was solid. They are known for their lamb shank dish. Service was good. Ambiance was gave the Mediterranean vibe. read more

Sofra Grill - Inside ambiance - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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My best friend and I were craving Mediterranean food. We were in the neighborhood, so we decided to try Sofra Grill in South San Francisco. We ordered the Chicken Shawarma wraps, which were delicious. The service was excellent, the ambiance was cozy, and the portions were generous. We definitely plan to return and try other menu items. read more

We went back to our favorite place after a long time. Hoping for the food will still be delicious, and yessss, actually, it got better. I was waiting to try their signature dish, Mosa Khan (check out the video) We ordered Mosa Khan beef kabobs this time. My favorite drink wth Mediterranean food is hot tea. I stopped taking sugar this month, so let's see how long I can keep my promise to myself. Also, I literally crave the salad with their homemade dressing, and I must try their food. That evening, the owner, Mr. Azad, was there. He is so kind, loves to communicate with everyone, and keeps an eye out for us if we need anything. The ambiance is casual and friendly. It is a small place, but a few tables are outdoors. If you can't find street parking plz use Smart and Final's big parking area, which is free and safe. There is always someone walking in the parking lot. Across the street is the famous See's Candy factory, and that's why this intersection is very lively. We would highly recommend this delicious restaurant. Thanks, Mr. Azad and his team. read more

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Came on a Saturday as a part of 6 including 2 kiddos. The food came out relatively quick, which is great when you have hungry kids. Service was friendly and prompt. The inside feels a little narrow, but it's clean and you have your own space away from other tables. The food is so good. We tried flat breads, the seafood, the lamb, and even the ice cream dessert. Everything was perfection. Super flavorful. Can't wait to go back! read more

My husband has to travel a lot for work so we make very frequent trips to SFO. His flights are almost always super early in the morning so we'll often stay in the city the night before to make things easier. The fun part about this is that it allows us to try new restaurants all the time! This time we decided on Sofra as hubby had a craving for Mediterranean. I wondered in my head if we should make a reservation but it was still a little early in the evening so I figured we'd be okay. We walked in and the place was packed (it's small). They told us it would be about a 30 minute wait, took our phone number and said they'd text us when our table was ready. We popped over to the Smart & Final across the street just to kill time and got a text about 10 minutes later. We were seated and given water in the prettiest hammered metal cups, with a pitcher of cold water for refills which I always appreciate. The menu was full of new and exciting options, it was hard to decide! My husband was craving a gyro and while they don't offer exactly that, they have some things that are similar. He opted for the Beyti which is seasoned ground lamb and beef wrapped in flat bread and covered in a tomato sauce (comes with saffron rice on the side). I went with the Musakhan which is roasted chicken over saffron rice and sumac onions. They cover the whole dish with their flatbread before they roast it so everything gets nicely steamed inside. They cut it open at your table to reveal the most beautiful meal! Service was very nice and attentive throughout and the food was absolutely superb. My husband couldn't stop talking about his dish. I wish we lived closer because we'd be there all the time! Highly recommend. And don't be like me, make a reservation first :) read more

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Food: - Items: Kibbeh, chicken wrap, and knafeh + vanilla ice cream - Kibbeh was delicious, filling and the meat was well seasoned and it was warm and a great comfort food (10/10) - The chicken wrap's portion size was big enough for two of us, and it was delicious - the meat was juicy and tender (9/10) - Knafeh + Ice cream - huge portion size, and super filling, however I do think it was slightly overpriced (9/10) - 9/10 Service: - Staff was super friendly and we could always order more easily - Food did take some time because it was freshly made - Kept checking in with us - Made sure our waters stayed full - 10/10 Ambiance: - Decent amount of seating - No wait time - Easy to find although parking is slightly hard to find - Not very bright inside, but that's not a bad thing - 8/10 Overall Rating: 9/10 read more

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Great flavors and omg the toum. The food is very flavorful and filling. The zaatar and cheese flatbread was spiced nicely. Big flavor and very tasty. The steak shawarma was so good. The meat was tender and paired well with the veggies in a nice toasted wrap. Together with the toum, it was heaven. The toum was nice and creamy, with big garlic flavor. The wrap held up well since I had it to-go. read more

Sofra Grill - steak shawarma wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Consistent delicious food very good price for what they serve and always fresh. Service is A+ servers are very attentive and friendly. Ambience is very good and the place is very clean. I wish the place is bigger but food is the bomb! read more

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Our first experience of Sofra Grill was a friend brought us dinner postpartum. It was almost 2 years before we can actually go in and eat inside the restaurant. The food was just as good as the first time we had it. We ordered the lamb shank because the takeout version was delicious and the yelp reviews showed how fun the experience looks. What was failed to be mentioned was how delicious the bread actually was! read more

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Food was amazing and fast to come out and fresh and delicious tasting The ambiance was busy but not too loud Very good for a relaxing lunch I always get the flat meat bread which comes with veggies and pickles And the lamb beef wrap Md the chicken wings ask for the chicken wings Kinda a pomegranate twist of Korean fried chicken but not much spice Servers were attentive and nice and accommodating when I asked for an extra se of utensils and napkins read more

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Amazing food, wonderful & friendly staff with excellent service. They kept checking on us how we're doing and kept our water carafe full. The place is very family friendly with the owner making conversations. Another thing I noticed is the patrons appears to be regulars. Will definitely be returning and already one of our fav place in SSF. What a treat for Father's Day! read more

I am almost speechless... this was definitely one of the best Turkish restaurants in the Bay Area. The meat was grilled perfectly and had a great texture. The salad had a lovely flavor and the bread paired so well with the garlic and spiced sauces. The rice was also well flavored too. While I usually have a stand out item, I actually had none this time. Each portion of the plate was distinct in texture, flavor, and taste. I could not pick a favorite that I'd savor as the last bite. This definitely won't be the last time we visit here. Friendly service, fantastic food, and efficient ordering will definitely draw us in again. read more

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A gem and a half. A real Turkish delight. We had time to kill before picking up relatives at the airport. A nearby pizza place had closed, and we walked up the block to find Sofra. We got a Meze platter for $19.95. Falafel, hummus, muhammara, baba ganoush , dolmas and labneh. Every single item was perfect. Hard to pick a favorite but if I had to, the falafels were simply amazing. I wish I'd taken a picture, but after the first bite my wife and I were fully committed to continuous, concentrated consumption. The staff was very courteous, attentive and appreciative of our compliments. We finished with the baklava, which was up to the same standard as all the other delicacies. We will be back, and will recommend this place to friends and family without hesitation. Bravo!! read more