You'll happily spend a couple hours at Sofiya - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"Sofiya is a halal Central Asian restaurant in Lower Nob Hill that you’ll want to linger at for hours. The massive dining room is outfitted with traditional garments, a living wall, and large comfortable seats—including a roomy tapchan with plush cushions. It’s easy to spend a long lunch or group catch-up that requires hours of debriefing, especially while trying to polish off the huge portions of Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, and other Central Asian staples. The puffy, cheese-filled khachapuri topped with an egg yolk is a non-negotiable, as is the plov with beef so tender you could break off hunks with a popsicle stick. Round things out with charred lamb kabobs and manti that have the circumference of a baseball. photo credit: Erin Ng Food Rundown Acharu Khachapuri Our favorite dish here—the bread is buttery and fragrant, and you’ll have to strategize early to get the last corner piece. Order at least one for the table. photo credit: Erin Ng Plov The dish is big enough to function as a houseboat for a mid-sized duck. It’s hard to stop reaching for just another spoonful of slick, savory rice and the glistening carrots that come with it. photo credit: Erin Ng Pumpkin Samsa The puffy triangles are fine, but there are other appetizers you should prioritize, like the khachapuri or coconutty special soup. Lyula Kebab The lamb is slightly tough, though well-seasoned and nicely charred. Add the herby, thinly sliced red onions onto each bite of this oblong kebab for the best path to success. photo credit: Erin Ng Manti A solid beef dumpling. You won’t be mad about ordering this. photo credit: Erin Ng" - Julia Chen
