Downtown Los Angeles’ Sora Craft Kitchen, a Turkish restaurant lauded as one of the best new eateries in America, is set to close its doors in late October due to persistent building issues. The closure represents a significant loss for the city's downtown dining scene.
Chef and owner Okay Inak announced the impending closure on Sunday, stating that "serious" problems with the building have made operating the restaurant unsustainable. These issues include recurring roof leaks, flooding, air conditioning failures, plumbing problems, inadequate ventilation, and restroom malfunctions.
Inak expressed his deep personal connection to the restaurant, which he described on Instagram as a place where he found his "own voice as a chef." He stated, "I built this little place with my own hands and poured my heart, time, and everything I had into it." Despite his efforts, the accumulation of these problems has reached a breaking point.
Sora Craft Kitchen experienced a rapid rise to prominence since its opening in May 2024. In December 2025, it was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire, an impressive achievement for an establishment largely operated by Inak himself. Further recognition came in May when the restaurant was included in California’s Michelin Guide, earning praise for its modern Turkish cuisine, including dishes like sumac-cured tenderloin shish kebabs and Spanish octopus with Turkish white bean salad.
However, Inak revealed that beneath the accolades, the reality of operating the restaurant was fraught with difficulties. He detailed a "laundry list of serious problems" on Instagram, accompanied by footage of water damage. "I’ve tried my best to find solutions, but I’ve reached a point where I can no longer provide the kind of experience and environment I believe my guests deserve," he wrote.
Beyond the structural issues, Inak also cited the loss of access to a previously used entrance, recurring thefts, and unspecified "distressing incidents" involving guests. "All I’ve ever wanted was to cook my food, welcome my guests, and run my restaurant in peace," he stated.
Inak is currently seeking a new location, but acknowledges the challenge of finding an affordable space while competing with larger restaurant groups. The closure of Sora Craft Kitchen marks another blow to the struggling small business community in downtown Los Angeles.