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It's been a really rare experience to try a viral place that truly lives up to the hype and I feel like this place 100% does. Biggest tip is to get reservations because we waited 2 hours for a table on a Saturday afternoon. Absolutely loved everything we tried. We each had about 4 hand rolls and a couple dishes to share and it was the perfect amount. Everything was amazing, can't wait to try the entire hand roll menu. Highly highly recommend!
Apparently Sonmari is a favorite among LAers, and after eating here I completely understand why. It's so freaking good, and their lunch special in particular is SO worth it -- I don't think you can find this kind of quality at this price anywhere else. The clam chowder looked pretty unassuming when it came out, but it was so good that my entire friend group ended up passing the bowl around in a circle so everyone could take turns trying it. That should tell you everything. The don was also excellent. One of our friends highly recommended the uni toast, and I personally would have ordered ten of them because I love uni -- but I'll be honest that a lot of my friends didn't think it was worth it, so it really depends on how you feel about uni. The handrolls were so good, and I had some of the best tuna of my entire life here. Scallops are something I usually don't love eating raw, but they do them so, so well here that I completely changed my mind. Everything was very filling, service was great, and the price is honestly unbeatable. In my opinion this is one of the best restaurants at this price point, and I would come back in a heartbeat. 11/10.
Just returned from Hokkaido where we had our lovely fill of delicious seafood. While we knew nothing could compare, we were hoping Sonmari would meet our expectations at least at they sure did! No easy feat. We tried 3 Sonmaris - the Chili Yellowtail, Snow Crab and CUT, plus the Uni Toast with the Hikari Don and Perilla Soba Noodle to round out the meal. Loved the yuzu on the yellowtail that didn't overpower the fish, the snow crab was so deliciously sweet and crabby though just a touch to mayo-y for us and the CUT was delicious because the uni was delicious. We were bombed with such sweet and smooth uni at every turn during this meal and we loved it. The uni toast was yummy on crisp bread and while I love egg yolks, this could have been a tad too rich but the crème fraise mellow-ed the toast out but you do lose a little of the pow of uni flavor because of that. The hikari don was the star of the meal and we were so happy even though we were spoiled recently with eating kaisendon often for breakfast during our trip. Shrimp were super sweet, rice was on point - chefs kiss, scallops were sadly a little forgettable but the tuna and uni just sealed the deal. What a fun, handheld meal! We didn't need the soba noodle but I'm a sucker for the perilla flavor. My husband liked this more than the one at Hojokban, probably because it was a little more saucy and bright with ponzu flavor but I liked Hojokban more because I like the simple perilla oil flavor. Service was great, nice ambiance even at the sushi counter where there were plenty of lamps so we could see our food. Would definitely return! And try a different beer on draft with the meal because the heiwa was good, but was actually flat.
I have to say that the dishes and cocktails were delicious. Brilliant dishes. Plenty of options to choose from. I opted for the miso clam chowder which was a lighter version and consistency than your usual clam chowder but it packed plenty of umami. Just the right amount of clams, and it was equally as beautiful. I added a small bowl of rice to soak up the rest of the soup. I also had the spicy yellow handroll. Again good portion of seafood. Flavor wise it wasn't fishy and the serrano had a slight kick but not overbearing. The staff was attentive and polite. We didn't have to wait to long to be helped and when we ordered more they were on top of it. I would definitely come here again
I'm very skeptical when it comes to trendy places that receive a lot of hype on social media but my friends and I actually really enjoyed our meal here this past weekend. We were able to easily get a reservation about 2 weeks ahead for a Friday night dinner. The server told us they do lunch specials which are sets of their handrolls, but for dinner you need to order a la carte. I think based off this information, I would opt for lunch next time but almost everything we ordered was amazing. What we ordered: Small Plates: -Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice: One of my favorite tuna crispy rices I've had. The rice was crispy even after sitting at the table for some time. Had a nice brush of soy glaze on exterior which gave it extra flavor. I love that their rice had some chew after the initial crunchy bite. It wasn't hard and dry like other spots. Generous amount of spicy tuna. Topped w/avo and a tiny sliver of jalapeno. Comes as 2 pieces per order but they are a bit larger than other spots so you could easily cut them in half for optimal sharing. -Hikari-Don: The star of the show. Delicious. I am considering coming back and just ordering one for myself as the meal. Has scallop, shrimp, tuna, uni, ikura, and small bits of yellow radish for texture. We noticed the nori served with this dish is a thinner sheet that's the seasoned kind with probably sesame/salt as opposed to the plain sheets served with the sonmari handrolls. We had to ask for more which was an annoying $2 charge because the sheets are also cut smaller than the handrolls so you can't fit much into one. This bowl alone also costs $65 so it is hefty but very INDULGENT. Hand Rolls (Sonmari): -Scallop: Supple, fresh. Yummy, would order this again. -Seared Salmon: My friends and I agreed this might have been our favorite handroll. It was simple but done well. Fatty salmon, was not over-torched. Nice char flavor. -C.U.T (Caviar, Uni, Tuna): Decadent. Thick cut of tuna. Shiso leaf is not my cup of tea so I had to remove it but still a real treat if you're will to splurge $25 on one handroll. Otherwise, I would say this is skippable if you're already getting other high-ticket items. -Saewoo-Jang: Soy-marinated shrimp. My friend and I both agreed we would not order this one again. The flavor was very one-noted. It really only had a pronounced kimchi flavor. The flesh was also on the tough side and difficult to get a clean bite (I had to yank on the shrimp). We wished the shrimp was as soft and plush as the ones in the hikari-don. We don't recommend this one. Cocktail: -Citrus Splash: Sweet but not overwhelming. Good acidity and fragrant rosemary. Would order this again. Portion size: I think if you eat an average/small amount and were planning to get the Hikari-don to share, I would start with 2 handrolls and share a small plate before splitting the hikari-don with 1-2 other people. I ate 4 handrolls and 1 spicy tuna crispy rice before eating a large chunk of the hikari-don and was pretty full by the end so do keep that in mind; the handrolls can be filling from all the rice and plump size. The restaurant and parking: The restaurant has nice ambiance with a main medium-sized room and bar seating, and a separate room closer to the entrance where reserved seating is. Service was attentive and prompt. They provide a wet nap at the beginning before you eat. The prices are on the higher end but I would go here for a special occasion. The restaurant faces Sunset and I believe they offer valet in the front but I easily found free street parking on a Friday night next to the elementary school on the right turn before you approach the restaurant. Overall: A delicious dinner! Would come back for a nice occasion
Food: 5/5 such a good spot for drinks and food. Every dish was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Every sonmari was so good, I literally tried as much as I could eat! Service: 5/5 Staff was great, attentive and fast. Ambiance: 4/5 Great atmosphere, parking a little challenging but worth coming!
Great ambiance and amazing food! Contemporary and minimalistic interior. Perfect setting for a date night! I came in on a weekday evening and there was no wait! I tried the Salmon, Scallop, and Blue Crab Sonmari. All of them had a wonderful blend of flavors and the ratio of toppings to rice was perfect! The salmon stood out to me the most! It tasted really fresh and was slightly cold, which really emphasized the flavors. I love how the seaweed comes separately so that it doesn't get soggy from the fish and rice. You simply slide the hand roll off the wooden paddle onto the seaweed when you are ready to eat! Our server was great! Always checked on us and food came quick! Street parking is available, but can be hard to find. Overall, really enjoyed the vibes and the food!
Presentation and ambience were top notch! Everything was beautifully presented, and the portions were generous, especially with the fish. The rice to fish ratio was absolute delicious. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious. Truly a feast for both the eyes and the tummy! Highly recommend: * Uni toast * Seared salmon hand roll * Wagyu donabe (2-4 person portion) * Hikaru Don Bonus: Plenty of free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood, which is always a win! Would definitely be back!
The hype for this place is real, this is now my favorite hand roll spot in LA. Everything we ate was 10/10 and I will be definitely back to try more menu items. My favorite by far was the uni toast, I was in bliss eating that. The service was good but not blow you away elevated to bring this out of casual to a higher tier restaurant when you're paying a higher tier price. This is actually a 4.5 stars for me if I could do half stars. Service/Ambiance: We made a 7 PM reservation for Thursday night. Parking is street parking, which we didn't have an issue with parking by the church/school down the neighborhood street. The interior is dark and vibey, when they sat us down they turned on the lamp on our table. Our table was a small two person table so at times it was packed with all of our dishes. They have the hand wipe that looks like a little tablet that they add water to. Though we put we were celebrating on our reservation, they didn't do anything special for it or even acknowledged it which was a bit of a bummer but I guess it's just a default field on the reservation app. Just know they won't make your night special for it. Drinks: Their drinks menu has a lot of sake options but we opted for the yuzu soju cocktail (it was so refreshing and delightful - reminded us of a calamansi juice) and the seasonal golden ale from Japan (was refreshing). I saw they had non alcoholic Suntory but I wish they had their regular beer. Small Bites: The waiter advised for two people to order 2 small bites for the table and three handrolls each. We did three small bites, three handrolls each, and a dessert. We left stuffed! For our small bites, we ordered the crispy rice, half a dozen oysters, and their most popular uni toast. The ratio on the crispy rice was perfect and I loved how there was a sliver of avocado too. It was fried perfectly and still had the white rice inside. This dish was pretty sticky and got stuck to my teeth so might not be a great option if you're on a date but it came off after chewing for a while. The oysters were fresh and standard. The uni toast though, absolutely delicious. The taste was phenomenal with all the individual components making a symphony of taste. The uni was fresh too, my girlfriend does not like uni unless it's very fresh and she enjoyed the uni toast. A must try! Handrolls: Now for the handrolls, everything blew me away. The standouts for me were (in order of my favorite to least) the salmon, seared salmon, blue crab, and the bossam! Almost everything we ordered except the scallop. Don't get me wrong though, the scallop was good it just wasn't especially tasty like the others. It came aesthetic and I loved being able to decide which ones to eat first/taking my time without having to worry about the seaweed soggy-ing up. All the fish was fresh and seasoned perfectly. The chili yellowtail wasn't too spicy. The bossam was such a unique blend of flavors and the mackerel didn't taste really fishy. Dessert: We finished the meal off with the matcha basque cake and it was a 10/10 too. The matcha wasn't overpowering and the texture was done perfectly.
Taste: 4 Creativity/Authenticity: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 4 Was able to snag a reservation for this place cause I've heard good things. To start not a lot of parking in the area so be prepared to walk but the area is silver lake so hipsters and homeless. So this is a Korean Japanese fusion restaurant very interesting. Came here with a group so we got the spread, all the top handrolls and the favorites. Starting with the uni toast, great texture and interesting combinations but the uni didn't hit, next the Hikari don, amazing can't get any better! Now to the handrolls, banh mi, cut, chili yellowtail, blue crab and wagyu all were amazing but the cut and banh mi take the top. Service here is fast and the staff is very friendly. Overall great spot and when I'm In the area will def try to get a spot.
Went here on a Friday afternoon at 2:30 pm. You can reserve a spot to guarantee seating, but it's not 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.
We were in town for a concert and usually HATED driving to LA. If we were going to eat somewhere, we had to make it count. We stumbled upon Sonmari on TikTok and were not disappointed at all. The handrolls were a new concept in my opinion. I liked the taco holders they came in. I was inspired to make some of these ceramics on my own. Each ceramic had their own little design that were super cute. Service was quick and the sushi chefs were attentive. Food was amazing. I loved the uni toast. I wasn't expecting there to be the most perfect grilled cheese underneath the uni. Now I'm destined to make the perfect grilled cheese now.
Stopped by with some friends as a party of 3 on a Monday afternoon for lunch, we heard about this place and we were excited to try it! The place is small but very nice inside. We got seated within 5-10 minutes and got our orders taken fairly quickly. We waited around 15-20 minutes for our hand rolls, but they were well worth the wait! We each got the Temaki Mori lunch special which is a great deal especially with the portions. My favorite was the yellowtail hand roll, but all of them were delicious. At times it did kind of feel like we were getting rushed, even though it wasn't too busy, since they cleared our plates immediately as we finished the rolls. Other than that, the service was great. Overall, it was a great meal and would definitely recommend to anyone. Can't wait to come back soon.
NOTE: Dined in on 4/9/26. Can be tough to find parking around this area, but we got lucky with a spot nearby. When I heard that the team behind Temaki Society was opening up a dedicated non-shared space restaurant, I was ecstatic. They make some of the best handrolls you can find ANYWHERE (especially the seared salmon) and this expanded space allows them to also flex an expanded menu! They took over the former Omakase by Osen space and it is largely unchanged. While it's a busy stretch of Sunset, it's actually reasonably quiet inside and if you sit in the patio area, they can choose to either open it up for some semi-al fresco dining or keep in closed depending on the weather. Going to apologize that I didn't take photos of the seared salmon handroll nor did I take photos of the spicy tuna crispy rice, but I'll touch upon them briefly in the written review: Seared salmon handroll - Unfortunately, not as good as the version at Temaki Society. I feel like the chili crunch flavor is muted and the sear on our handroll was insufficient (maybe just a little off this time). Ideally, you want to be able to taste the slight garlicky spice from the chili crunch and enjoy the difference in texture. And you want the salmon to melt in your mouth by being seared just enough, but it was still almost completely raw. Would definitely help if I had taken a photo to showcase what I mean. Spicy tuna crispy rice - A fairly standard interpretation of this dish, but prepared super well. Checks all the boxes with spicy tuna, avocado, a slice of jalapeno, a little bit of sauce underneath, with rice cooked perfectly, and it was still hot. It's rather large and the price reflects that for the two big pieces you get. They're pretty much the same size as a handroll each. Really appreciate how good the rice was and how it didn't gum up in my teeth. Okonomiyaki shrimp - panko fried shrimp, okonomi sauce, and bonito flakes. This tastes exactly like you would expect! I don't think there's too much to say about it. It's crunchy, the sauce + mayo mixture complements the batter + plump shrimp well. Hambagu - While this was good, I think it's a little much to be charging more for this than the seared salmon handroll, for 3 bites of hamburger, caramelized onions, cucumber, and thousand island on top of rice and nori. I probably wouldn't order it again. Hikari-don - while expensive, this has tuna (seemed like chutoro aka medium fatty bluefin tuna), takuan, ikura, sweet shrimp, and uni and comes with nori on the side for you to make your own little handrolls. You can even ask for more nori if you run out (we did). The rice is perfect, just like the rice from the handrolls, and all the ingredients work well together. Really rich and decadent if you throw in bits of the tuna and uni together. Easily the best item here, but you're paying a premium for it! Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Sonmari and I'd come back to try other items, but I can't say I was pleased with everything I tried... mostly due to the value proposition. Some of the items are quite expensive for what they are. Still highly recommend giving it a shot, but maybe stick to going to Temaki Society if you're looking for the best version of the seared salmon handroll. read more
This is THE spot for handrolls. They fill it up so much, you can just order their combo and it will be very filling. We even got theirvother appetizers and they were filling on their own too. Left very satisfied and full. All of the fish was fresh tasting. A must try!p read more
14 days ago
5 months ago
There's a pretty good reason why this place is rated so highly. Came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with no wait and then also Sunday evening with reservations. Everything was tasting so fresh and of high quality. As a first timer, I would recommend going for the Lunch special (sonmari set) as it provides all the basics that you would want to try at a good price point. Then once you come for lunch, go for dinner as the menu expands and there even more offerings. Highly recommend the hikari-don as there is a decent amount of good quality fish in it plus the carbs which provides a balance to the fatty fish and a satisfying bite. After trying all the sonmaris, all are great though if I had to choose my least favorite, it would be the Bahn-mi. The pairing wasn't as much too my liking especially when compared to the other offerings. Overall, the head chef has trained at Michelin starred restaurants along with a great team. They provide an excellent dining experience and an outstanding take on handrolls ensuring thst each piece of seaweed is crisp and that the fish is tasty. For a small menu and quick to go experience, Temaki Society in DTLA is a great option but for the full on experience, I would recommend Sonmari. Definitely would recommend this place. read more
5 stars for our first visit which was lunch, 4 stars for our second visit which was dinner. The service upon our first visit was excellent, second visit was a bit amateur. No knowledge of the sakes they served, and overall a bit sloppy and inattentive. We also preferred the food items that we tried during lunch. Hand rolls are all solid. Favorites were the seared salmon and the hambagu, both 5 stars. The crispy rice spice tuna was also solid and tasty. Miso clam chowder was really good, 4 stars. The GAMJA-JEON (which is like a little potato pancake) was beautifully presented but lacked a bit of flavor, 3 stars. Ambiance is beautiful, I definitely prefer eating inside at a table or by the sushi bar. I feel like since this spot is new the service will be more consistent but you just can't beat these fun hand rolls here and I'll definitely be back. read more
2 months ago
Chef Kang is a genius... each bite is mind blowing. All the dishes are so elevated and the combinations of flavors work so well. Im Korean myself and I truly appreciate all the Korean inspired dishes (potato pancake, the bossam handroll, the soju drinks) Tip: Do your best to make reservations... walk ins are easily a 1-2 hour My favorites: 1. Drinks: Yuki drop, citrus splash 2. Appetizers: clam chowder, uni toast 3. Handrolls: banhmi, seared salmon, bossam read more
5 months ago
Let me start off by saying that I fell in love with the handrolls from Temaki Society, so when I found out they opened a legit restaurant.. I was floored to say that least! Only bummer is that it is in Echo Park which means parking is not the easiest (and honestly the only reason why it took me so long to finally dine here). There is a valet lot ($15-20) across the street so that helped with our lunch dining experience. We were seated at the bar and it was awesome to watch all the action unfold. We started with the Yuzu sake (AMAZING) and a glass of the German Sparkling wine (Hild) both of which were super refreshing! Highly recommend. We ordered: Uni Toast - Super yummy and what you would expect, though the cream sauce was to die for. Red Snapper Sashimi - Super fresh and delish Temaki Mori (Lunch Combo) - Relived my yummy Temaki Society days Sonmari Set (Lunch Combo) - So tasty The service was wonderful and the staff was so accommodating when we accidentally spilled our complimentary miso soup. Special shout out to the Chef/Owner who was so kind and hospitable. He gave us complimentary Banh Mi hand rolls (his favorite) and Yuzu sorbet. While this roll didn't taste like a Banh Mi to me, it was super delish and fresh. I will definitely order it the next time I visit! Lastly, the yuzu sorbet was so refreshing and the perfect ending to the meal. So grateful I finally got to visit and happy they have an expanded the menu with a beautiful restaurant. read more
Known for their SONMARI, DIY way, which I find is preferred over the original way of serving already wrapped and brought out to the table. Each hand roll is served on a thin wooden spatula and side of crisp seaweed sheet to wrap it yourself at the table. Very easy to do-place the seaweed in your left hand. Then place the spatula on the seaweed. Gently roll the sides of the seaweed around the spatula creating a boat. Then pinch the sides (the sushi rice body) as you pull the spatula out leaving the rice and sushi on the seaweed. This keeps the seaweed crisp and crunchy until ready to eat. I absolutely love this ! Tried five different rolls, and the Banh-Mi, chili yellowtail and CUT were my favorites -Banh-Mi: albacore with Serrano, cilantro, garlic and ponzu - Chili Yellowtail: yellowtail with Serrano, cilantro, and ponzu - CUT: tuna, uni, and cavier. The Italian sub of the sushi world - Seared salmon: simple seared salmon with light smoky flavor - Bluefin tuna: tasted like a tuna salad with avocado. My least favorite. Would skip this one next time. Also ordered the limited Uni toast which is served on a light toast and poached egg yolk with four generous servings of Uni and chive. Good m, but honestly would probably order another CUT SONMARI instead next time. Great place for lunch and light dinner. Coming back again for sure. read more
I came here with my husband to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We walked in on a Saturday night and only waiting 20ish minutes for a table. They do take reservations and would recommend if you have a larger party. We ordered the miso clam chowder, crispy rice and sonmari hand rolls. The waitress was very nice and explained the menu to us. The chef is French trained which is why some of appetizers are have a fusion of French inspiration. The miso clam chowder (9/10) was yummy and had lots of clams in it! The crispy rice (9/10) had a lot of spicy tuna on it! It was flavorful and l liked the crispy rice. Our favorite was the sonmari interactive hand rolls. I got the bahn mi, seared salmon, unagi gochujang, and blue crab with avocado. I liked the concept of making your hand rolls when you're ready so the seaweed doesn't get soggy. My favorites in order: 1. Seared salmon (100/10) - flavorful and caught us by surprise how good it was. There was a creamy, umami sauce on top 2. Bahn mi (9.5/10) - I believe it it was yellow tail with sauce 3. Unagi Gochujang (9.5/10) - the eel was very soft and tender and had a nice sweetness with the gochujang 4. Salmon (9/10) - very fresh and had a nice creamy sauce 5. Spicy tuna (8/10) - nice spicy kick 6. Blue crab (5/10)- it was a bit fishy, would skip next time Overall the food and service was amazing! Our waitress gave us a yuzu sorbet to celebrate our anniversary. The sorbet is made in house by true chefs. It was very refreshing and had a nice yuzu flavor that was not tart. It was the perfect finisher for our dinner. Would definitely come back again! Great date night spot. read more
If you're reading this, you're clearly in for some sushi. This place is an absolute must-visit. Everything we ordered was top tier, but the lunch sushi combo and the Sonmari set are 100% the way to go. The uni was incredibly fresh and rich, and the saewoo-jang was perfectly marinated. For real some of the best bites I've had in a long time. The Sonmari (hand rolls) were hands down the best I've had to date. They're packed with flavor and super generous with the toppings, which makes every bite worth it. Plus, they're fun to eat. You can tell the chef puts a lot of care into every piece because everything is prepared thoughtfully right in front of you (if you sit at the bar). Service was just as impressive. Kevin took great care of us. We sat inside in the AC and it felt very nice. Definitely coming back. Highly recommend! read more
Just found the best Japanese restaurant that we will be returning back to time and time again. For lunch they do hand roll sets, these hand rolls are massive, and I definitely recommend sharing. The seared salmon hand roll was my favorite, there is this sweet crispy chili oil that's inside that makes the hand roll. The Uni toast is so good, and I definitely think you should give it a try at least once. The jammy yolk inside is absolute perfection. The sober noodles are really fresh, to me. It tastes like it has a little bit of a green tea underlying flavor. And saving the best for last, the Hikari - don is absolutely incredible. It comes with Toro, sweet shrimp scallops Uni, negitoro, ikura, and every single bite is packed with flavor. The service is so nice here, they have a nice covered outdoor patio, sushi bar, and indoor space. Food comes out at a really nice pace as well. Street parking only in the area. read more
Street parking is a bit of a mission but the spot is solid. Drink: Well-curated selection but definitely on the pricier side per glass especially wine! Needs more head on the pour *draft beer* The Food: * Miso Clam Chowder: Absolute banger. Don't skip. * Uni Toast: Fire, though the cheese flavor is pretty loud. * Handrolls: The Banh Mi roll is the MVP here--super unique. Salmon quality was top-tier. Everything else was pretty much what you'd expect. * Special Chawanmushi: Basically a "throw everything delicious in" situation. It hits. Overall: Great quality and cool vibes. Perfect for a quick and delicious bites ! Young Korean server was so kind and friendly ! read more
My friends and I were craving handrolls so we wanted to check out this new spot in LA. It's really cool that they give you the handroll on a stick with seaweed on the side so you can eat at your own pace and the seaweed stays crispy. That being said, the handrolls themselves were only okay. The chili yellowtail came out as one whole chunk of fish and I wished they had chopped it up into pieces like some of the other ones because the texture of the fish fits better when it's chopped up. The soy marinated shrimp was my favorite because of how unique it was. Other than that, the handrolls were good but didn't stand out too much. Our food came out decently fast and the servers were pretty nice. This is a nice place to stop by for dinner in Silver Lake! read more
6 months ago
My boyfriend had a reservation for 7:15 but at 7:32 we still hadn't been seated. As a hungry and impatient group, we were very close to leaving to find a place with faster service, but I am so grateful we didn't!! Everything I tried was unbelievably fresh, meaty, and flavorful. Our table got quite a few things but the standouts to me were the Serrano Hamachi, the Chili Yellowtail, and the Unagi Gochujang. I think the Unagi Gochujang is a must get; I ordered one of these when I knew I was already full because it was so good. The seared salmon was great too! This is another must get. Really friendly and attentive service. I'll be back for sure. read more
8 months ago
Came to celebrate my birthday here and it was fantastic. It's a new restaurant owned by Chef Hoon Kang who is also the owner of Temaki Society, so you know for sure that the quality, love, and creativity is there. It's located in the hipsterish area in Silverlake right across from Milly's Cafe. We made reservations on OpenTable and were able to get bar seatings to see the famous chef in his motion. We ordered 2 of the Sonmari (5pc) hand roll set which consist of Seared Salmon, Chili Yellowtail, Salmon, Scallop, & Spicy Tuna. For only $39, it was totally worth it because the quality of the fish is good, flavors are creative and yummy, and the portion is huge. I don't like spicy tuna, but this spicy tuna was freaking bomb and it's actually spicy! My favorite hand roll is probably the scallop. It's creamy and tastes buttery. Uni toast was also delicious and a game changer! I ate that shit up in two bites, lol. The Uni was not fishy nor salty, just lots of umami. Theres an egg squashed between the crispy toast. It's limited and it cost $29 for one piece. For first timers, you gotta try it. Chef Kang even gave us a complimentary dish to try since it was my birthday. He knows what's up. Eat like a boss! I prefer Sonmari waaaay better to KazuNori and Rol Hand Bar by Kei Concepts. It's a little bit pricey, but remember the experience you paying for alright. The staff were friendly and helpful as well and always refilled our water and napkins. The whole time was a trip and we got tipsy off from the Kikusui and Sapporo. The vibes were good and the whole place was clean. People come here for a good time! read more
A fancier temaki society since well ... it's their sister restaurant (didn't realize this till after eating here lol). Street parking is never fun in Silver Lake, but was able to find a spot across the street. Had an rsvp and was sat immediately. Vibes are first time date-ish. Ordered a few side dishes (crispy rice, Serrano hamachi, and eventually a mul-hwe) and a couple rolls (seared salmon, chili yellowtail, crab, and an uni roll). Side dishes came out first - crispy rice and Serrano hamachi were on point and as expected, crispy tuna-y goodness and saucy fish a hint of spice. Next came the rolls ... however I was told that they ran out of uni - which was sad cuz I was really looking forward to it. Ended up ordering the mul-hwe instead, which was fine. Was really craving uni though. The rolls were pretty good - you get the nori separately so it stays crispy. The descriptors of the rolls are exactly what it is - it's all pretty good stuff. Sadly - no uni roll. Will probably end up coming again - but for now, 4 stars since I was gutted and was told a bit late they were out of it. read more
Business owner information
Hoon K.
Hi Arthur,…
7 months ago
My friend and I visited on a Saturday night. When you walk in, there's a waiting area followed by the host stand. The host asked if we had a reservation, and since we didn't, he let us know the next available table would be in about an hour. Our server was kind and shared some of the most popular menu items with us. We started with the crispy rice (two pieces) which was good! We then ordered a variety of hand rolls and they were all fresh and delicious! I tried the chili yellowtail, salmon, and blue crab. When the hand rolls arrived, the staff explained how to prepare them (and there are instructions on the table as well) which was helpful. For dessert, we had the Monaka with green tea ice cream and red bean. They also offer yuzu sorbet and black sesame Mont Blanc. It's a small space and it's getting popular so I recommend making a reservation in advance. Parking can be challenging since it's a busy area for dinner and drinks. We got lucky and found a meter across the street (2 hour parking from 8am-8pm). read more
Came here with my fiancé for Valentine's Day and it absolutely did not disappoint! We ordered the popular uni toast and WOW! The uni was insanely fresh and buttery, and the toast was perfectly golden and crispy. I loved that they serve the nori separately so it stays nice and crisp. Such a thoughtful touch that really elevates the experience. We also tried the tuna tako, seared salmon, chili yellowtail, CUT, unagi gochujang, saewoo-jang, and blue crab! Every single bite was delicious and super fresh. You can really taste the quality of the fish. Service was amazing too. The staff took the time to thoroughly explain the menu and even guided us on the best way to enjoy their handrolls, which made the whole experience feel welcoming and special. Parking can be a little tricky. We went on a Sunday night and got lucky, but I can imagine Fridays and Saturdays being tougher. I'd recommend arriving a bit early if you have a reservation. Overall, such a great vibe and an even better experience. Highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back! read more
4 days ago
7 months ago
This place is owned by Temaki Society and used to be Omakase by Osen. I think it is already doing way better than Osen. Food: The handrolls really shine here. Whoever created them let the quality of the fish shine through without being overzealous with garnish. The only one I didn't prefer was the Banh Mi. I would come back just for the handrolls! The seaweed was the crispest I've ever had and the stick presentation made it easy and flawless. Uni toast was good but honestly just tasted like rich cheese toast? Crispy rice was perfectly double fried with fresh fish. Service: Prompt & friendly. Ambiance: Interesting. Both the outside patio and inside of the restaurant were kept at a pretty chilly temperature and the random pop music was so quiet you could hear people's voices so it sounded quiet but also echo-y on the night we went. read more
8 months ago
We loved our experience at Sonmari. The moody interior and romantic vibes make it a great option for girls night or date night. The food is Korean and Japanese-inspired, and we enjoyed every single bite of the evening. STARTERS - Gamjajeon: A modern upscale take on a crispy potato pancake. I really enjoyed the caviar topping. - Miso clam chowder: The miso flavor is subtle, but apparent, and I love the Maine style chowder with the thinner creamy broth. - Nori soba: This cold appetizer was a refreshing palate cleanser. SONMARI (hand rolls) - Seared salmon - Tuna taku - Blue crab (husband's fave) - Chili yellowtail (my personal fave) - Saewoo-jang: soy-marinated shrimp The citrusy yuzu sorbet was the perfect way to round out the meal. The hostess and servers were very friendly. Parking is tricky, but we found a spot in a nearby neighborhood. We did a walk-in for a Saturday dinner and got seated in about 10 minutes. I recommend making a reservation if possible. I would definitely return when I'm in the area. read more
4 months ago
Really tasty handrolls! The fish is nice and thick cut and the flavors are great. My favorite was the salmon hand roll - it had a delicious sauce and a nice sear. The server was nice and explained the menu to us as it was our first time here. Parking can be found on the side streets in plethora! read more
3 months ago
The vibes are there, indoor is more intimate and the porch you can enjoy the fresh air. The table setting is really aesthetic. I was trynna order the hikari don but they said it might be too much for a single person so I got 4 hand rolls and the chawanmushi instead which is a good amount to not feel gluttonous. Service was quick with the water refills and food came out pretty fast The chili yellow tail and the seared salmon were the best tasting of the hand rolls. There's no parking bc it's on sunset, but would return if in the area read more
4 months ago
huge handrolls and actually good! they had a banh mi one with yellowtail and pickled toppings and was actually rly good. saw tht they had a 5 handroll set for lunch that i would love to go back for read more
What a great handroll spot with delicious clam miso soup. The unagi handroll was super delicious and better than the crab handroll. The seafood bowl is also very fresh but has lots of ikura and pickled vegetables which personally aren't my favorite. Service was fast and very friendly. The ambience is nice and simple like a good no frill handroll spot. The yuzu sorbet is also a great way to finish the meal! read more
From the same owner of Temaki Society, Sonmari is an asian-fusion handroll spot, and I would highly recommend. From the service to the presentation to the quality of fish, I was wowed. I would recommend the Miso Clam Chowder, Shiro Hana (Red Snapper), and of course the hand rolls (specifically the Banh Mi & Seared Salmon). You really can't go wrong here, though. The Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and Gamja-jeon (potato pancake) stood out to me the least although still delicious. Also, don't sleep on their drinks! I loved the Perle (sake & white wine mix). SO light and refreshing and gave me a nice buzz without it tasting like strong alcohol. read more
3 months ago
Everything was amazinggggggg! Best hand rolls of my life. They really perfected the spicy tuna. Fish to rice ratio was perfect. The seating was nice and romantic. The servers were sweet and attentive. Loved it. Pricier than kazunori but def worth it No parking bc it's on sunset. I miss living walking distance to this restaurant read more
12 days ago
2 months ago
Business owner information
Hoon K.
We’re very sorry for the frustration and disappointment you…
5 months ago
Had a great dinner experience here. Parking was actually super easy, came on a Friday night around 5:30pm and there were plenty of free street parking. Made a reservation and was seated right away. We ordered the Crispy Rice and a couple of the Sonmari's. All were really delicious and a hefty size. My favorites were probably the Chili Yellowtail, Salmon and Scallop. Service was also really sweet and quick with the entire process. Was also celebrating a birthday and was gifted a Black Sesame Mont Blanc! Had an amazing time, will definitely be back. Thank you! read more
2 months ago
I went to Sonmari last week with my friend and honestly it kinda blew me away! I've been to a few handroll spots and even worked at on briefly but the fish quality and the ambience were next level. my friend got us a reservation and they were able to take us in 30 minutes early (probably because it was midday, between rush times)! we were sat at a cute half booth table and immediately waited on. i ordered a handroll set (the $45 ish one), she ordered a fish bowl... i think it's similar to a chirashi bowl but i don't remember what it's called. and then we spit 6 oysters and the clam miso soup. all the fish was super fresh tasting and the servings were heaping! 10/10 delicious. the service was great; one of our servers was very nice and very proactive with the prebussing, and the server who took our order was cute and fun! overall a great experience and i would recommend this place to anyone! read more
1 month ago
Food: I will start off with that this unique way to serve hand rolls is what caught my eye. The taste of these rolls were a hit or miss. Best two were the spicy tuna and seared salmon. I'm not one to really be bothered by smelly foods but the reg salmon handroll was fishy. It was shocking because I had higher expectations for what they priced these rolls at. Parking: It's on a busy street so you will have to find street parking. I turned into a neighborhood street right before the restaurant and was pretty lucky to find a spot. Service: Standard friendly staff. Not much to say since we didn't order much. Ambiance: Nicely decorated with dim lighting. Restaurant is pretty small and most tables were filled. They have chair, booths and bar seating. Cleanliness: The place was well kept but had a couple gnats fly around our table. I'll give them brownie pts for having an aesthetic and clean restroom. LOL Overall, the concept of this restaurant is aesthetic and thoughtful. Even though nothing stood out to us, we're still glad we gave it a try! Highly rec making a reservation on OpenTable. We got there an hour early before our reservation and requested to be seated early. Host said no at first but luckily we got seated 30 minutes early, just right after the lunch menu ended..... do what you will with that info lmao. Since they don't mention it on their menu, lunch is from open-3pm. read more
2 months ago
Sonmari was so good. We ordered the Chawanmushi, Gamja Jeon, Hikari-Don, Sonmari Uni, Sonmari Salmon, and the Crispy Tuna Rice, and every single dish was mouthwatering and delectable. Also, thank you to our waiter. We were ready to order even more when we first sat down, but he told us we'd probably be full already, and he was absolutely right. I'm so glad he talked us out of it because we would've ordered way too much as the portions are a good size. If you're only getting one thing, the Hikari-Don is a must. It was easily my favorite dish of the night. The food was amazing, the ambiance was great, and overall there wasn't anything we didn't enjoy. Definitely can't wait to come back soon!!! read more
2 months ago
I love their food very fulfilling. Its a small place but also has an outdoor option i believe. People were nice and helpful. Def would reccomend and come back here again if near the area. read more
2 months ago
My wife and I dined here for lunch this past weekend. What started off as an exciting opportunity for the both of us unfortunately ended with a less than stellar, less than average experience. Prior to getting to the food, I will first say, as is the issue with many places in silverlake, parking is an issue. I have not docked any points due to that. Furthermore the service was relatively fine so no complaints there. The issue comes to the taste and the price. We ended up ordering a few items, the crispy rice, the Gamja-Jeon, the Uni Toast and the Sonmari set. For the volume of food we had gotten we didn't expect to spend $200 dollars. Alas, even the price could've been justified if the food was of good taste. What followed was mediocre food after mediocre food. The Uni toast had a a rather unsavory taste, hanging on bland. This unfortunate symphony was the theme in all the foods. The hand rolls were either too salty or mediocre, the crispy rice didn't have the crunch and taste that I would've expected from a place like this and the Gamja Jeon is definitely worth the skip. Overall, if you are craving hand rolls, I would highly recommend this place to be skipped. You can get a better taste and definitely a better price at Kazu Nori. read more
2 months ago
More info about Sonmari
3503 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Silver Lake
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(323) 741-0001
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Ask the Community - Sonmari
Do you have happy hour?
Not yet! But we offer a Lunch Combo every day from opening until 3 PM.
Is it true you guys don't accept walk ins after 9pm? There were plenty tables available but we got rejected..
sorry for the confusion. We were fully booked after 9pm, with tables reserved and waiting for confirmed guests. That’s why we’re unable to accommodate walk-ins at that time.…
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
23 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Sonmari - sushi - Updated September 2026
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