Heard from friends about this place and decided to give it a try. Glad to have found out that it wasn't a waste of a meal. The restaurant is on the smaller side but still can accommodate about 18-20 diners. There was plenty of take-out and delivery so if you don't want to wait for a table, there are other options. Met Azad, the owner, and he was very nice and kind. Told us about some special dishes, gave us some lemonade to sample, and advised on how to eat a particular dish called the Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza). We ordered a bit too much, so while we were packing, Azad came back and offered a couple of their amazing pita bread to round out the rest of our food. What a nice gesture. I wished I liked lamb but I don't, but every table seemed to have ordered the Lamb Shank (Limited) described on the menu as "tender braised lamb shank over rice, wrapped in a homemade dough baked to perfection." It sure looked tasty. Instead, we ordered the combo appetizer plate (yogurt & cucumber, hummus, muhammara, baba ganoush, dolma & lebnah). The pita bread was served steaming hot and I've never had it like that before. Just excellent. The Lahmucan (Turkish Pizza) was good too but after rolling it up and slicing it, I didn't get to eat it like a pizza, ha ha. Enjoyed the Black Tiger Shrimp skewer as they were large and cooked just right, and full of Turkish spices and flavor. The Chicken Shawarma plate came out delicious as well and complimented everything else we ordered. Glad to have another Turkish option around this area, especially since that other more popular "Eastern Mediterranean place" is closed for renovation. The staff and food were excellent and memorable - so much that I will be back to try other things on the menu. read more

See all

Excited on trying this place. Of course the placed was full of people. Good sign. Lots of people picking up to go orders. Or door dash. So they took my name and cell number. We walked around to the local goodwill and smart and final. By the time we were done around 20 minutes. A table opened up. Table was cleaned up and service was placed on the table, with menus. Given a few minutes to look over the menus and order for appetizers was given. We decided on the steak fries with garlic sauce and cheese rolls. The steak fries were delicious and the dipping sauce was delicious. Now the cheese rolls, I would pass. They looked like lumpia filled with cheese. No sauce. The salmon dinner was delicious and large portion. We also had the lamb shank. Presentation was excellent. A squeeze of lemon on top of the dish put it beyond delicious. Eating the toppings with you food was fun. I did order a hot tea. Pass it was just a tea bag of black tea. Nothing special. The dessert was delicious, 10 minute wait but well worth it. Kanafa. Would come back just for this. read more

See all

there food is tasty and fresh. Service is impeccable. Ambiance is fabulous and comfy!

The food all tasted good but I think the serving sizes were on the smaller size. Normally, I get two pieces of meat when I order a meat platter at kebab places. The eggplant also was very flavorful, but I wish they served double the amount of eggplant, because most of the dish was rice. Friendly service and would come back here if I'm in the area, but it wasn't that different from any other kebab place. I will say that their garlic sauce slaps and was so good with the kebab! read more

See all

I have reviewed this place before, but my second visit had to be mentioned. The Salmon Wrap blew my entire mind. The salmon was juicy and perfectly cooked! That paired with the tomato cucumber mixture and white sauce in the wrap was quite literally a chefs kiss! I can't hype up this place more. Also ambience was great and noticed more people dining in, and waiters are always respectful and kind. If you want some good Mediterranean cuisine, this spot is a no brainer! read more

See all

Wow my second time here and yep great food unique taste and flavor a must try and the service is excellent and very helpful the ambiance is nice a relaxing and you get to watch them cook great deal for your money as well I will be back for more read more

Sofra Grill - Lamb Shank (Limited) Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

See all

Food was great! Compared to one that I go to in Grand Ave... this one is almost the same quality but cheaper. Service was fast at noon time. I would say that they could use a bit of lighting to stir up the ambiance. Overall would recommend. read more

Ordered a chicken shawarma wrap for pickup here, and that wrap was BOMB. The second I bit into it, I knew this was going to be a great lunch. The bread was delightfully crunchy because they pan fried it after wrapping everything, and the wrap all stayed together in one neat package. Chicken was perfectly seasoned too! The garlic and the (maybe?) harissa sauces made the wrap all together amazing. I'm looking to come back to Sofra to celebrate my birthday, so I'm looking forward to seeing how everything is plated when you're sat down! read more

Food: This place really lives up to their high rating! Cheese Rolls - 3/5 - Salty & crunchy goodness. Not as cheesy (no cheese pull), although the flavor is there. A few pieces did feel overly greasy. Garlic Parmesan Fries - 4/5 - Good quality crinkle fry with a subtle garlickyness. Although shredded parm was on top, most of the flavor came from the fries itself. Kofte & Cheese - 4/5 - This was an amazing appetizer. Melted cheese on each slice with almost enough beef on top. Beef had some flavor. The cheese along with the flatbread was the highlight here. Shawarma Entree - 4/5 - I was really impressed with the big portion size, having it all on top of a wrap. Solid flavor with just enough spices. Rice was plentiful. Started to rip off the wrap bread, making shawarma tacos. Btw, Garlic sauce 5/5! Chicken Shawarma Wrap - 5/5 - very long and generous wrap, enough for 2 meals! Service: Super friendly! Tell them you're dining in and they'll set-up a table for you, which is rare when ordering at a cashier. They bring a cold vase of water too. I did order a shawarma wrap to go for my partner and waited for up to 20 minutes to receive it, only to find out it was already ready but they waited for me to retrieve it opposed to them letting me know it was ready. Ambience: Limited seating. Very chic and clean vibe. read more

See all

They beyti here was delicious! It's mixed lamb and beef wrapped in a bread and was plated very aesthetically on top of tomato sauce and around a yogurt sauce. My team and I came right around noon and were able to get seated for 7. Afterwards a lot more people filtered in. It's a great spot! Not that much seating and only indoor seating. The food and service was great. read more

See all

Absolutely amazing food! One of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants in the Bay. Everything is fresh, tasty, not overly salty. I love their babaghanoush, chicken skewers, mezze platter, kefta kababs and most especially their mixed pickles (which varies each time you order it; always a treat). Staff is very friendly and efficient. Nice sized dining area, immaculate bathroom and about 3 tables outside. read more

Mixed grill is fantastic, but they recently changed their garlic sauce to mayo based or heavily mayo. One of the reasons we keep coming back is for your garlic sauce. I implore you to please change it back! read more

Food was amazing and excellent service. We ordered the mix meat. Very flavorful and big portion. The price is reasonable and the dessert of Kunafa is something you do not want to miss. They really need to expand to cater to more customers. Great food and excellent service. read more

Big shoutout to Sofra for consistently making amazing food with awesome quality and flavors. Always great experiences when we get the Shawarma Plates. Staffs are always friendly and helpful. read more

Sofra Grill - Chicken and steak shawarma plates - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

See all

Generous servings and good service and delicious food! We saw the other tables orders and they looked great too so we'll definitely go back again. read more

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

See all

Wanted to try some middle eastern food, and came across this restaurant on Yelp. We were not disappointed at all! The food was fresh and pretty quick to arrive to the table and were in very good proportions. The waitresses were patient and gave us good recommendations. It does get very busy during weekend nights it seems, so we had to sit outside (so bring a jacket). Overall it was pretty lively yet calm at the same time and a comfortable place to get some middle eastern food in the city. The best thing was the kunafa dessert! read more

See all

This food was amazing!! We had it catered for lunch and I was so impressed with how fresh the food was, and the meat was so tender. As someone who really tries to focus on protein intake, I was really happy with the options and how content I felt after eating this. Huge props to the sofra grill for prepping a delicious meal for us! read more

Came here for yelp elite event today and it was a very pleasant experience! Owner greeted us very warmly and gave us suggestions too on what to order. We got the chicken shawarma and lamb shank for entrees, 2 sides of pita bread, 1 grilled salmon wrap, and lebnah. Everything was so delicious and I can tell pita bread was made fresh; pita bread was so fluffy and soft with every bite and paired very deliciously with the lebnah. The grilled salmon wrap was a simple in flavor, yet such a delicious wrap. The chicken shawarma was also very good along with the lamb shank, which the owner recommended to us. Next time, we will for sure be dining in the restaurant instead for the dine-in experience. We will be back for more! read more

See all

This is a Mediterranean restaurant with a good menu . It has grilled kebabs with chicken , beef , lamb , seafood in wraps or over rice with salad and pita bread like a combo . At the front counter they has the dessert display . The ambiance is cozy like a family restaurant. Food is delicious and authentic. They have many appetizers. We tried the falafel ( crushed chickpeas, spices , roasted sesame) which is flavorful and healthy . All the dishes I ordered were made within 10 minutes and tasted very good. I love the Adana Kabab and the Kofte wraps . They are all delicious. I would like to come back to try the lamb shank next time and other skewers. Street parking is in front of the restaurant. I went at 3 pm and was easy to find parking . Great customer service and very friendly as well . read more

See all

The food & service is exceptional & amazing!!! And the owner is exceedingly welcoming & friendly!!'n read more

We ordered food to go, but since it was a nice day, we decided to eat outside. The food was delicious, and everything was great. However, I felt the pricing was a bit high for the portion size. The interior looked nice, and parking was convenient with a lot available near the Goodwill and some street parking. read more

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

See all

The food is delicious! I was just recently introduced to this hidden gem and now I'm making it my go to spot for Mediterranean food. I was lucky enough to be dining there while the owner himself was there and he is AMAZING. His service is outstanding. He definitely makes you want to come back with how welcoming and hospitable he is. So I came back! I had the branzino (delicious), my friend had the prawn (delicious), another friend had the chicken (also delicious). When I came back, I ordered the mix plate, which says it serves two but it's HUGE portions. In my opinion, it definitely serves three. The mix plate was also delicious. Their homemade baklava served warm was amazing. Yummmmm to it all. Look out for the owner, he's great! He's the guy who's pictured is on the Togo menus. read more

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

First time here after getting soooo many recommendations to visit this place and I must say it did not disappoint. Came in around dinner time on Friday and we got seated right away. We ordered Jajeek dip as appetizers, Beyti rice entree, and Kofte wrap and all of them are amazing!! All veggies and ingredients they used are fresh and it doesn't feel like ut's been stored in the fridge/freezer. The wrap is probably my favorite out of all because it's crunchy on the outside but not flaky. The Beyti is a close 2nd. Actually scratch that, all of them are my favorites. Writing this review makes me crave their food already!! The place is not too big but very cozy. It has about 10 tables with different seating arrangements. Kitchen is clean and you can see them prepare the food. Service is friendly and quick! Will definitely be back with more people as I want to try the Mixed Grill plate read more

Sofra Grill - Right: Beyti entree. Comes with rice and salad Left: Kofte wrap Top dipping: Jajeek - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

SOO GOOD! Sofra grill is located on a small strip of restaurants between hometown bowl and smart and final. Parking wasn't the easiest but people are always coming and going. The place itself is very clean and has plenty of seating. The employees were friendly and attentive. The prices are absolutely incredible for the portion sizes. Everything listed below was around $70 total. We ordered: -lamb shank - presentation was amazing and meat was fall off the bone tender -baba ganoush - incredibly smokey and went well with everything! -chicken shawarma wrap - they even toast the outside! The garlic sauce it comes with is epic and the chicken is super juicy. -Greek salad - big portion and light/tangy dressing We had so many leftovers and left super full. Will definitely be back! read more

See all

Small neighborhood spot for great food. Service was quick and food was tasty! Food - mixed grill (for two) - honestly felt like this was plenty of food for three people!! Everything was delicious and I love having the variety. This is a must! - kunafa - one of my favorites and they do it so well here! Love it with the ice cream as well. read more

See all

I came here a second time, a few months removed from the first time. This time to try new things, and it was just as fantastic as the first time. These kibbeh may honestly be the best I've had, the spices on the inside were so rich! The wrap was very refreshing, and the meat was good. Maybe a bit lacking in meat, but good regardless. The beyti had so much flavor, definitely would recommend if you're looking for something new! read more

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

See all

Of all the Mediterranean restaurants we've tried, Sofra Grill is the tastiest. I highly recommend the chicken souvlaki. Good service with positive energy. read more

What an AMAZING place. Everything from food to the atmosphere and service was great. The food was incredibly delicious and cooked very well. Me and my friend ordered the mixed grill and wanted to order an appetizer but the owner warned us against it because the mixed grill was already a lot of food. We trusted his suggestion and didn't order an appetizer. It's really good that we didn't because the mixed grill was more than enough food and we ended up having a lot to take home. One thing I really want to highlight was that the owner was so genuine, kind, and engaging. He came by multiple times to check up on us and he even gave us hummus (he felt bad watching us eat the pita without hummus) and cardamom tea without us asking for it. We originally told the owner we wanted to try the Kunafa but towards the end we were too full and weren't planning to order it anymore but the owner insisted we did because it was a must try. We ordered it and were not disappointed. When we went to pay, the server told us the owner had given us the tea, hummus, and Kunafa for free. I thought that was such a kind gesture. Everything we ate was delicious and the portions are big for how much they charge. I wish I lived closer to this location because I'd be back all the time but since I live about an hour away, I'll come back when I can. If you like Mediterranean/Turkish food, this place is a must try again and again. They're a small family owned business so even more reason to support them. read more

I don't even know where to begin with this review. This is our second time here and I truly thought I did a yelp review the first time but it looks like I did not. So let's go back shall we... 1st visit- the place was tiny but not cramped. I say it was cozy very warm. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. We came here after seeing all the other reviews and of course the LAAAAAMB SHANK! My hubby is a lamb lover so we had to do it. It came to our table fresh from the kitchen and they presented it so well! They open up the pastry dome and walaaaaahh the most tender and beautiful lamb we've ever seen! It was majestic. We also ordered the Meze platter- this is a must! The best baba ganoush I've ever tried in my life! And I've had plenty of baba ganoushes also the felafel so moist inside but nicely crisp in the outside. Ahh perfection! We also ordered the chicken kebab plate- this was amazing as well! Moist not. Over cooked and just again perfection. They gave us a complementary ice cream with the baklava topping since it was my little bros birthday oh man that too again PERFECTION! We came all the way from San Leandro and I will keep crossing that bridge just to dine here! Second Visit: Another epic spread! Brought my friend and her daughter with us! My goal is to share this experience with all my loved ones! Third Visit: Now I have my mom, my brother, my auntie and uncle from LA! We're family at this point( honestly I felt it since day one... it's just that kind if place) I will keep telling everyone that will listen that this is the best place in the bay! If you want the best of the best you come here! read more

As far as catering goes Sofra Grill is a great option. We had this local spot cater to our office during a conference and it was one of my favorite catered meals. The meats provided were flavorful and tender, and the sides fresh and healthy. I always never know what to expect when faced with a catered lunch but this one was remarkably tasty. I'd absolutely recommend them if you are in the market for a caterer for a large gathering. read more

Clean place, great variety of Middle Eastern food, and very friendly service. Prices are budget-friendly for the quality and portions. Definitely worth trying and I'd come back again. read more

An absolute return visit. A party of three, we ordered the Mezza platter, fattoush salad, and mixed grill (for two). We enjoyed everything: mezza platter was a great sampler, the mixed grill was enough for 4-5 people (not for two), and fattoush was decent (nothing special - very mid) but fresh. We also order the fresh lemonade and apricot lemonade - both are made in-house and not from a bottle - perfect balance of tart and sweet. Just needed some mint leaves to make this a 5+/5 The owner was there and quite enjoyed Ibrahim's friendliness and service at the counter. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4.5/5 (music is a bit loud for 1130AM) read more

I actually found out about this restaurant after going to Mrs. Tomatoes with my bf in Daly City. The guy who made our sandwiches is the guy who owns this restaurant and he told us that we HAD to try this place. It did take us a while after that interaction to make it to this place but after we did, it was so worth it! We started with the pita bread and hummus, which we absolutely loved. It was probably one of the best hummus's we've had and the pita break was warm and fluffy. We ordered the Beyti was very flavorful and an easy dish to share. The yogurt sauce also paired very nicely with the dish. We also ordered the lamb shank which was one of the specials. the lamb was very tender and it came with rice and veggies on the side. Our only critique was that the puff pastry on top was not our favorite. We just ended up either using the pita bread from the hummas appetizer or eating it by itself. read more

Sofra Grill - Beyti - seasoned beef and lamb wrapped in flatbread topped with tomato sauce (served with yogurt and butter sauce) - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

See all

Sofra was catered for a work conference for one of our lunches and it was delicious. The spreads, the meats, the veggies -- all delicious. I was so full, but I wanted more. The catering is super generous with portions and I would recommend for any work event. read more

Beautifully plated, tasty, pleasant service and ambience...the only other things to ask for are reasonable prices and leftovers and Sofra delivered on that too! Another update on kid friendliness. They have high chairs. Looking forward to coming back. read more

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

See all

This restaurant serves excellent food in generous proportions. It is casual and unassuming. We had chicken skewers, Musukhan, hummus, Greek salad and lentil soup. Everything was delicious. The chicken skewers were very flavorful and nicely grilled, and the Musukhan was extraordinary in its seasoning and presentation. Even the salad was very colorful, with a unique and tasty dressing. The restaurant makes their own fresh and fluffy pita bread -- they are to die for! This is an excellent Turkish restaurant actively run by the owner (and his son?). The menu was very reasonably priced. It's a SF Bay area gem! read more

Came here for a late lunch and everything was a hit! We ordered the lamb shank - which was enveloped in a sesame bread that the server cut open to reveal a juicy lamb. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone The Musakhan was delicious- love the seasoning of the chicken and the side garlic sauce to go with it was so bright and flavorful. We ordered the muhamarra dip (roasted red pepper) and it was also very good served with hot pita. Definitely would come back when we're in the area, and would recommend folks to try this spot if you're in the neighborhood! read more

See all

4+ months late on this. But, I suppose better late on a review than my period so... Opening in August 2023, Sofra Grill has garnered raving reviews on Yelp. Their unique prep on lamb shank is what got me through the doors. More on that later. Sofra Grill is open for takeout, delivery, and dine-in. No outdoor seating. M E N U Turkish Cuisine with housemade bread. For drinks, they have tea, coffee, soda, and ayran (salty Turkish yogurt). F O O D * Sofra Bread w/ sesame, nigella seeds ($3.95) // 2 stars: http://tinyurl.com/mpn84waf I ordered this based on the reviews. Their version of pide was dense, tough, and dry. When cooled, it turned rock hard. Perhaps a bad batch. * Lamb Shank w/ rice + dolma wrapped in homemade dough ($23.95) // 4 stars: http://tinyurl.com/4u85n5ed --Includes side salad A unique and rustic prep where the lamb shank is baked inside dough. Aside from parda biryani, I've never seen something like this before. Carved tableside - as the top layer of dough is lifted, you're hit with a steaming facial and your eyes feast on a meaty lamb shank over a bed of rice. The braised lamb shank was hearty and fork tender albeit a tad dry: http://tinyurl.com/44cnyc8x. The fluffy and aromatic rice is served alongside two hot dolmas (rice stuffed grape leaves). A homey and comforting dish. The accompanying side salad of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions were dressed with a very sour vinaigrette. S E R V I C E Friendly and warm service. Slow food service for a later weekday lunch, my entree took close to 30 minutes. IMO, I think a fast-casual model with self-serve water would work better. Since the staff mainly stays in the kitchen, it was hard to get their attention for a water refill and the check. A M B I A N C E Compact, cozy space with open kitchen and about 5 tables. P A R K I N G Limited street parking. Overall, Sofa Grill is a welcome addition to the area that mainly has AZN and Mexican restos. If you find yourself in SSF/South City, it's def worth checking out this Turkish resto. read more

See all

This place is packed. Even at 4pm in the afternoon, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Chicken kebab plate was good, but no better than anything else I've had. Maybe other dishes are better, but what I ordered was very standard. Service was friendly and quick. They did a great job. The restaurant is loud and feels cramped. Could definitely hear the next table's conversation despite trying to avoid it. read more