SORA Craft Kitchen has announced that it will be closing this month. The restaurant cited problems with its building as the reason behind the closure. It also assures customers that it will be back once a new location has been found.
SORA Craft Kitchen Is Closing Its Downtown LA Location
SORA Craft Kitchen is a Mediterranean restaurant that is listed in the MICHELIN Guide. The restaurant is located at 1109 E. 12th St. in Los Angeles.
According to its social media post, owner and chef Okay Inak is closing the current location in two weeks. He thanked customers for their support and said all remaining reservations will be honored until the final service. Although a new location has not been found, the chef hopes to reopen SORA elsewhere and continue serving its food.
The small, chef-led restaurant served modern Anatolian and Turkish cuisine. It combines Turkish recipes with contemporary cooking techniques, fermented ingredients, and seasonal produce. It was opened in May 2024 by Turkish-born chef Inak and his wife Sezen Vatansever.
Chef Inak handles the cooking and much of the restaurant’s daily operations himself. It has a limited number of seats and an open kitchen, creating a more intimate dining experience. Menu highlights include its tenderloin shish kebab, octopus, and cheese halva.
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Reason Behind the Closure
Chef Inak cited serious building problems and other challenges as the reason behind the upcoming closure. He shared that despite several efforts to find solutions, he was unable to provide the kind of experience he wishes to deliver to his guests. These reasons leave him with no choice but to close SORA in its current location.
While the downtown Los Angeles location is closing, chef Inak assures his customers that he is looking for a new space for SORA. When he is able to find the right home for the restaurant, he will reopen his doors to continue serving customers.
The announcement has drawn supportive responses from customers on social media. One customer on Instagram commented, “Best of luck with the new chapter; we will definitely be there to support you at your next Sora home.”
Another customer wrote, “Wishing you the best and looking forward to seeing where Sora goes next!”
