been here soooooo many times. love the food, love the vibe. would definitley recommendread more

Black owned soul food restaurants are the best. Makes me feel at home. I've come here several times…read moreand every single time I come it is packed! They have seating inside and outside. This time I came on a Sunday afternoon (right when church lets out) so the line was out the door. Also they had the World Cup finals game on so all of the tvs were on and it was loud and festive. Everyone was cheering when Spain made the final goal. I came for a girls day with my mom, sister, aunt, and cousins. We ordered a variety of dishes and drinks which included the adult koolaid, lemon drop, spiked pineapple palmer, pork chop, greens, Mac n cheese, sweet candied yams, red beans and rice, potato salad, fried fish entree, smothered chicken, fish n grits, chicken & waffles, shrimp gumbo. Everyone enjoyed their food. On this day I had the shrimp gumbo with greens and Mac n cheese on the side. It was all very good and huge portions. I wish they gave 2 cornbread with it b/c it was so tasty! I've had the chicken n waffles before and I think that's my absolute fave. We will definitely be back here because we just love it! Consistent soul food that does not disappoint. Shout out to our waitress Chassidy and the rest of the staff for being so friendly to our large party.

SonMari stands out in Los Angeles's busy hand-roll landscape by thoughtfully combining Japanese…read moretechnique, Korean influences (reflected in the name itself, drawn from the Korean term for hand rolls), and a distinctly Californian/LA sense of creativity. The result feels both rooted and inventive--elevated neighborhood sushi that prioritizes texture, freshness, and interaction over pure tradition. The core of the meal is the deconstructed "sonmari." Fillings--seasoned rice, protein, and toppings--arrive arranged on a wooden stick or plank, accompanied by separate sheets of crisp nori. Diners assemble each roll themselves using a simple illustrated guide at the table: place the stick face-down on the shiny side of the nori, fold and gently pinch the edges, then slide the stick free. This approach solves a common hand-roll problem--soggy seaweed--by keeping the nori perfectly crisp until the moment of eating. It also turns the meal into a light, participatory ritual rather than a passive plate of pre-wrapped cones. The process is straightforward after one or two attempts and adds a playful, communal element that suits both casual lunches and more social dinners. Elevated neighborhood sushi bar. The interior leans dark and minimalist, with mood lighting and large windows overlooking Sunset Boulevard that create a polished yet approachable setting. Bar seating is especially rewarding because preparation is visible, and service there tends to be attentive and engaged. Creative hand rolls, high-quality fresh fish, generous portions, and solid value relative to the quality of ingredients. Pricing falls in the moderate-to-upscale range, commonly cited around $31-$50 per person depending on how extensively one orders. The overall experience balances refinement with accessibility. Lunch is a particularly strong entry point. Two hand-roll set meals plus a sushi combo offer flexible, value-oriented choices. The sets typically allow mix-and-match selections from both classic and signature sonmari, making them ideal for sampling the range. For a lighter, interactive lunch, the hand-roll sets alone work well. For a more complete meal, pairing them with a few small plates adds contrast and depth without overwhelming the focus on the rolls. Among the creative offerings, the Banh Mi Sonmari is a clear highlight. It reinterprets the classic Vietnamese sandwich in seaweed form, using albacore tuna in place of traditional meats. The roll is layered with nuoc cham-flavored pickled carrots, serrano peppers, chili oil, crispy garlic, cilantro, and a light brush of fish sauce. The result captures the sandwich's signature bright, tangy, herby, spicy, and savory balance--without the baguette. Crunch comes from the nori and pickled vegetables, richness from the fish, and aromatic lift from the herbs and garlic. It demonstrates how the kitchen's inventive ideas remain grounded and successful rather than merely gimmicky. Lunch specials are available daily, including weekends. Reservations are recommended, as the restaurant can fill up. The combination of high-quality fish, interactive format, and creative signatures like the Banh Mi makes it a memorable stop in Silver Lake's competitive sushi and hand-roll scene. Street parking in the area can be tricky. For those seeking a fresh take on hand rolls that rewards both the palate and a bit of hands-on engagement, SonMari delivers a well-executed and distinctive meal.

Went here on a Friday afternoon at 2:30 pm. You can reserve a spot to guarantee seating, but it's…read morenot necessary. Just be prepared to wait if you dont have a reservation. We ordered the Hikari-Don and Sonmari set. Both were large portions. We've gone to a couple other handroll/sushi restaurants but those were smaller portions and of lower quality, so this was happily better than expected. There are 2 gender neutral bathrooms. Service is pretty slow, about 20 minutes before we got our first meal. Waiters are friendly. Quite pricey but very good quality. Parking can be difficult because its going to be on the street somewhere. Would recommend, but only on special occasions because its pretty expensive in my opinion.

Dunsmoor has built a reputation as one of LA's toughest reservations, but it's honestly not…read moreimpossible to get. If you subscribe to OpenTable notifications, reservations are released gradually, and with a little patience it's pretty manageable to snag one. Walking in, I expected absolute chaos because of all the hype, but the restaurant wasn't overwhelmingly busy. There were actually quite a few empty tables waiting for later reservations. I understand that's how reservations work, but it did make me wonder if some of the "impossible to book" reputation is a bit overblown. The space itself is beautiful. The live wood-fired grill in the center of the dining room is definitely the highlight, and I loved the communal tables that create a warm, lively atmosphere. The warm cornbread with cultured butter was easily the best thing we ordered and an absolute must. It arrived piping hot, incredibly fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness, and paired perfectly with the rich, creamy butter. The baby albacore was outstanding--fresh, buttery, and perfectly seasoned. It practically melted in my mouth. The beef and eggplant stew, served with fresh tortillas, was another winner: rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. The only dish that didn't really land for me was the pork chop. The cut wasn't my favorite and, despite being cooked well, it tasted surprisingly underseasoned. The mashed potatoes, however, were silky, buttery, and honestly the best part of that plate. Dessert was enjoyable, especially the warm skillet cake with vanilla ice cream, but like much of the meal, it was very good rather than unforgettable. One thing that did catch me off guard was the automatic 4% surcharge added to the bill. It's disclosed, but it's still something to be aware of before dining. Overall, Dunsmoor is absolutely a five-star restaurant. The ingredients are top quality, the execution is thoughtful, the service is polished, and the atmosphere is unique. I just don't personally understand the level of hype surrounding it. I'm glad I finally experienced it, but it's not the kind of place where I'll be watching for the next reservation release. If friends wanted to go, I'd happily join them, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to book another reservation myself.

Dunsmoor was a great experience. I loved the tuna toast, cornbread and beef ribeye. We also had the…read moreCarolina gold rice and braised green beans. They were nice too, but probably wouldn't have it again. The ambiance was lovely - very old school. The staff was super courteous!

Went for brunch........ Great atmosphere, food and service!…read moreTry the lemon ricotta pancakes, crispy polenta and hash browns with poached eggs. Yum!

We had a lovely dinner here last night. The food was delicious, prices were reasonable and the…read moreservice was excellent. It was hot so we tried to order on the lighter side. The green beans were very crunchy and tasty and a little different from the norm. Focaccia was excellent as was one of the special salads of the night (peach and burrata). Overall a very enjoyable dining experience!