Mehmet Kaplan is from Cappadocia and spent his formative years in Istanbul, becoming a chef and culinary tour guide. He and wife/partner Lisa Matarazzo shifted Al Sanabel Bakery into a higher gear when they took over the beloved Little Arabia cafe in Anaheim. The couple added Koftegi to the space to serve flavorful Turkish dishes like Iskender to a deep flatbread roster.

Döner is a great choice at Koftegi, featuring 70/30 blend of beef chuck and lamb shoulder and a 48-hour marinade that includes onion, milk, and yogurt juice, resulting in tender results with deep flavor. Staffers shave the döner from a vertical spit, which stars in a variety of dishes. I’d highly recommend Iskender ($14.99), a regional Turkish preparation. At Koftegi, Kaplan plates a healthy pile of meat on a bed of supple toasted, house-baked pita that soaks up jus, browned butter, and zesty tomato sauce. Each plate includes a tangy, cooling lake of yogurt that counterbalances the rich Iskender.