I've been going to SunnyBlue since their first location opened in Santa Monica on Main Street! I'm seeing people get confused between the locations and the CULVER CITY LOCATION HAS SEATING with a community table inside and several smaller tables outside. The Santa Monica one is more grab and go as it's their smaller flagship location. This business has been carried by the owner Keiko who has brought a slice of Japan outside of the designated communities of West LA's Sawtelle and DTLA's Japan Town! Here (at either location) you will find unique delicious flavors of omusubi but also called onigiri rice balls! That you won't find anywhere else! Rice balls are actually shaped into triangles and stuffed or mixed with simple ingredients like a salted plum called ume (it tastes salty, and tangy with a touch of sweetness) To more engaging offerings like the lucky cat with japanese pickles with fresh wasabi, ginger, and bonito(dried fish that is sliced paper thin) These finger foods can be enjoyed as a snack or grab a few to make a meal. The Culver City Location has a decor that immerses you in Japan. They have a small market section with alcohol such as saki, handmade dishware from Japan, cute claw machines for kids, and expanded meal offerings! Besides Keiko being absolutely amazing, the food is as well! From curry stuffed to fresh shisho leaves and pickled wasabi!!! There's lots to choose from and the best part.,,.they have always had an expansive vegan menu! Yes they are very Vegan Friendly! I love the Eggplant Chili Miso and Wasabi Tsukudani. I highly suggest checking out the Culver City location so you can sit down and enjoy a drink and the ambiance and expanded offerings. After going to this place for nearly 16 years there are rare days where things like the rice may be off due to a mistake, but I've only experienced that a total of 2 times in 16 years so it's pretty rare! read more

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Came here on a random weekend. Food was tasty with plenty of vegetarian friendly options. The price and size of the onigiri are reasonable. 3 items was quite filling for 1 person. The people working there were very helpful in helping us decide what to get and we enjoyed what was recommended. They sometimes have seasonal flavors as well. The place is a bit small, tough for larger groups, you'll likely need to split up if you decide to eat there. Been meaning to come back and I don't think there are many places like this, that specializes in Onigiri. If you're in the area, this place is worth a stop, even if you just get 1 or 2 items as a snack. read more

Ask anyone who's ever eaten Chinese food or Indian with me will tell you: I love rice. So I was excited to try this place, which makes omusubi, which is basically a hockey puck of rice stuffed with meat or fish or veggies. I had it once before, when I was Tokyo, but don't remember it. I won't soon forget this place. I tried 3 omusubi: the Sunny Blue Curry ("tender chicken and scallions simmered in wafu curry), the Miso Beef ("tender beef and caramelized onions cooked with homemade miso sauce"), and the Tokyo Tori ("chicken with sweet and sour sauce"). hard to pick a favorite; they were all really tasty. Though I kind of think the sushi-like nature of omusubi might work even better with fish, which they also offer; specifically the Kara Tuna ("albacore tuna with diced cucumbers and onions with spicy mayo sauce") and Spicy Salmon ("cured salmon with chili seasoning"). Maybe next time. As for the place itself, it was clean and neat, and while there was only one table inside, they had a nice outside area on the side. They also have a staff who were friendly and helpful. As for parking, I easily found a spot on a side street on a Wednesday around noon. There's also some metered parking on Washington. Just watch the signs. If I had a complaint -- and I don't, really -- it would be that I wish they had some coffee drinks. But that kind of wouldn't fit the vibe (and, to be honest, there were tons of coffee places on Washington on my way home). Instead, their beverages were fittingly rather Japanese. Like Ramune. read more

Went here on a Wednesday night around 6:30. They close at 7 in person. Online ordering closes at 6:30. The happy hour was $1 off of beer and wine. We came since I saw a TikTok of someone showing the vegan options. I've been to the Santa Monica location when I was in my pescatarian era. I remember the salmon and tuna were fresh. We ordered the two mushroom options, the eggplant, then the wasabi one. The eggplant had the most flavor. The lions mane mushroom had the most chew. The wasabi one needed more wasabi. The mushroom one with the peas and carrots was simple. Sauce is additional charge. There is a communal indoor table then the outdoor seating. After 6pm there's free parking then Sundays are free all day. I'd go back for a weeknight dinner or a post Costco trip read more

Sunny Blue - Vegan options - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love Sunny Blue! I like this particular locationon West Washington in Culver City an extra lot! It's less busy than the Santa Monica location, they have a cute outdoor seating area on the side, AND they serve liquor & have a happy hour. I'm a fan of their Omusubis ~ rice triangles with some fun ingredients inside - plus they are all made to order. Some of my favorites - I get the tuna & mayo nearly every time I go, love the mix and no skimping on the ingredients. The Miso Mushroom is shredded with excellent flavor. Sweet and Sour Chicken Tokyo Tori is delicious. The chicken Sunny Blue Curry has the smallest dash of heat giving it wafuu curry perfection. They also have seasonal specials on the chalkboard! When I went in this weekend they had a yuzu pork belly I tried and didn't love...but hey! The specials are fun. When I need a cheap and fairly healthy meal full of fresh ingredients, Sunny Blue is one of my go to spots! read more

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Got short changed. Ordered the $60 dinner meal was only given 7 out of 8 onigri. No sides at all and edemame and the karage. Terrible experience read more

Sunny Blue - In complete order - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cute little Japanese eatery with rice balls and more! Our favorites so far are the Miso Beef and the Spicy Salmon. We had a side of the Karaage Chicken (Japanese Fried Chicken) and it was very good. Street parking available. There are several tables along the side of the restaurant made to look like an alley in Japan. So cute! Great little casual place to eat good, healthy food. Rice balls are around $5 each. read more

Sunny Blue - Karaage Chicken. It is served filled to the top with an interesting vinegary sauce - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I absolutely love Sunny blue! This place has been around for 10 years. Whenever I'm in the mood for clean eats I have to stop by! Onigiri and omusubi is a must! I got miso beef, obi mayo, spam omusubi and pork chasu. I would most definitely come back and it's looks tricky but there's definitely street parking. Oh and they even sell wine and have a great happy hour! I don't remember them having wine 10 years ago lol So that's definitely a plus! read more

Sunny Blue - Spam musubi with qewpie mayo and furikake! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Sunny Blue (named after Japan's sunny blue skies) is a hidden gem and serves up the freshest, most flavorful omusubi (Japanese rice balls) also called Onigiri. I first came here solo. a few years ago and loved it--had to bring my son back. After cruising around in a Waymo driverless cars (5* fun) , we walked here from Third Street Promenade and every long step in the hot Saturday sun was worth it. Same guy behind the counter as years ago (owner)?--focused, friendly, and running a great little business. No seats, just standing room, but the vibe is cool and casual. Seriously it's like a walk in closet. Order and get out... the sign says, in slightly nicer words. Delicious, simple, and satisfying. I picked beef and curry - both excellent but will try tuna or salmon next time (my son loved those). Hope they open in Orange County someday! read more

Sunny Blue - This is his teen happy face - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Delicious omusubi! We've been to the other location but decided to stop here. A little more sitting room and the omusubi's are wrapped differently but the same great flavor and quality read more

Sunny Blue - Tokyo Tori, Miso Beef Omusubi, Spicy Salmon Omusubi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The cutest and most welcoming little hole in the wall with the yummiest food! I ordered the spicy salmon (3/5) and the kara tuna (5/5), and my boyfriend ordered the spicy salmon (he rated it a 5/5) and the miso mushroom (4/5). I would definitely come by again read more

Sunny blue has a variety of options for Omusubi cravings. Their menu isn't limited and also caters to veggie options and seafood options. Along with appetizer and sides. The service and craft is great. There is indoor and outdoor seating. My Favorite is the tuna and spicy salmon along with the miso beef! read more

Sunny Blue - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Such a hidden gem! Perfect onigiri set and hits the spot for when you want a tasty meal. My friend introduced me to this place, outdoor seating in this cute alley way, and the variety is wonderful. I will def come back to try other onigiri. My friend got the miso soup as well and said it did the trick read more

Delicious quick snack or small meal! Think pricing is fair considering the convenience. Enjoyed the flavor of the sunny blue curry omusubi - decent amount of filling inside read more

Sunny Blue - Sunny Blue Curry Omusubi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My review is a bit skewed due to door dash :) I ordered a $20 lunch box that included 2 onigiri, 1 specialty item (I picked chicken karaage), 1 veggie side (daikon), and I think pickled plum. I'm not sure that I know quite how to eat this but what worked for me is taking a bit of each "side" with each onigiri bite! We got the spicy salmon onigiri and I don't know what I expected with "cured salmon." It was flaky, flavorful and the seaweed was still so crispy! The chicken karaage was seasoned well and had a thin layer of fried coating. I haven't been inside the place yet, but am hoping to visit in person sometime. They made the food a lot quicker than originally expected for door dash, which I think is solid! read more

Sunny Blue - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Really good! Parking is going to be hard but it's worth it tbh. I've only tried rice and nori but this place might be better.

Went here on the weekend and it was great. They have a cute outside area that is perfect for eating the onigiri. I need to come back to try all the flavors. I enjoy that they have specials that change up sometimes too, last time I went they had spam. The staff seem super nice and hardworking. read more

Sunny Blue - Spicy Salmon Omusubi Miso Beef Omusubi - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The service is friendly & fast. These mouthwateringly tasty little omusubi treats are the perfect snack to bring on bike rides or to outdoor movie nights & concerts. Some personal favorites are the Sunny Blue curry, the miso beef & the tuna mayo. Plus they always have an interesting new omusubi-of-the-month! Plus, if you let them know you can't eat it right away they wrap them in this ingenious way where the stay warm but the nori doesn't get soggy!!! read more

Sunny Blue - Tuna mayo omusubi packaged to go - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a cute place. The staff was friendly. The inside is a little small but they had a nice bit of shaded seating outside. We found street parking with a meter. The food was ok. I had never had omusubi, and I'd watched a YouTube video of some people who came here and they compared it to sushi hand rolls. I can sort of see that, but they were really mostly rice. I got a tuna mayo roll and was disappointed to see they used tuna from a can. My husband got the spicy tuna and it was also from a can. The sides in the bento box were fine, but nothing notable. All in all, a pleasant lunch but not a place I would seek out. read more

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Pretty nice, but very small establishment to enjoy Japanese style rice wraps. Inside only has one table;however, there are a few outside tables. Tried their ume & shrimp wraps and they were delicious. One perfect place to enjoy the wraps for snack! read more

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Loved this place so much!! No doubt I will be returning soon!! I ordered the Bento box with two Omusubi's. Since it was my first time I ordered an extra Omusubi (Kara Tuna) delish. The karage was so tasty. Moist and crunchy. Everything was outstanding. I want to add I tried the Tokyo Tori and Sunny Blue Curry. It was a rainy day so, I wanted a nice lunch indoors and this hit the spot. I also want to add the staff was friendly and helpful. Gotta try!!!! read more

I usually love Sunny Blue and come here often for their omusubi -- always delicious! Unfortunately, my last visit was disappointing because of how I was treated by a young employee named Avery. I came in with my service dog just to place a quick order (literally 15 seconds), and instead of politely explaining anything, he abruptly told me to step outside after asking what kind of service dog she was. There was no kindness or professionalism in the way he spoke, and he made me place my order standing outside the door, which honestly made no sense since I wasn't planning to sit inside regardless. I completely understand if there are rules about animals, but there's a respectful way to communicate with customers -- especially when it involves a service dog. I hope the management provides better training on professionalism and customer service, because this experience was very off-putting. read more

I found sunny blue to be very average. I got a couple different things and everything was ok nothing special. We got the following items Miso Beef Spicy Salmon Ginger Pork Curry I found all the items to be average. read more

I love a good onigiri/musubi from time to time, and I was curious in trying out Sunny Blue. It's a small store located off a busy, main street, and it appears it's metered parking only. I ordered a spicy salmon, miso beef, and miso mushroom, and the total came out to $16. There's one table inside and a few seats out on the patio (although there's not much shade if you come for lunch, so be warned)! The verdict: - Spicy salmon (5/5): creamy and the salmon wasn't too dry. I could taste the spicy kick and overall, a solid one. - Miso beef (5/5): tender beef, similar texture to Korean bulgogi, and the subtle, earthy miso taste. Another good one! - Miso mushroom (3/5): meh, could've skipped this one or gotten something else. Not bad, but the mushrooms were bland despite the miso flavor, and nothing really to write home about. Overall, tasty onigiri with good-quality ingredients. However, they are on the small side and $5 a piece, so they're more of a snack than a meal. Glad I tried them, though, and I certainly satisfied my onigiri cravings! read more

Sunny Blue - From left: spicy salmon, miso beef, and miso mushroom - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Absolutely loved this spot. Small shop in Culver City, only one table inside and a cute little patio outside as well. Order at the counter with kind customer service. They'll make your food to order and have a large, extensive menu. The onigiris are pricey, but not much pricier than other LA shops, and they're delicious. I love their seasoning so much. read more

Sunny Blue - Miso beef & tuna mayo omusubis - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Need to come back because my review is only for the boba tea which was a special on Spooky Saturday. Sweet place with Halloween treats for the kids on trick or treating day. Kids were stoked to get a boba (they actually chose that over ice cream!) and I was told it isn't too sweet. Fun little patio side seating with plenty of atmosphere. read more

Sunny Blue - Patio seating - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here before a photo shoot appointment with my partner since we were in the area. Wanted something that seemed affordable. It's kinda hard to find affordable food in LA lol. And tbh idk if I would even say this place is affordable considering it's almost $5 per onigiri, but they have a lot of different flavors for their onigiri and they're made fresh so I'll give them that haha. I believe when we went, we ordered the miso beef, pork ginger curry, tokyo tori, and spicy salmon? I remember enjoying them. To order, you wait in line and order at the counter and then they call you and you pick up your order. The shop is pretty small and has some seating inside, but there's more seating outside as well. It's honestly a very cute little spot! All in all, if you're in the area, and wanna try some different onigiri flavors, I'd recommend this spot. Personally, I wouldn't come back. But that's mainly because I'm rarely ever in LA haha. :P read more

Sunny Blue - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I am in a deeply devoted relationship with the food here at Sunny Blue. I recommend this place to all of my friends and I go at least once a month. I've yet to find better omusubi/onigiri in LA. This visit, we got the tuna mayo (a personal favorite of mine), miso chili eggplant, spicy salmon, and miso mushroom. Every single one of these was excellent! The place is quite small but it has a good amount of outdoor seating and you can always find street parking nearby. A must visit if you like this type of food! read more

Sunny Blue - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is a super cute Japanese place to stop by for lunch. The onigiris were yummy and the prices are not terrible. I feel like in terms of onigiri, I'm not an expert. I'm happy as long as it's fresh. I love the little seating area they have outside. It really makes me feel like I'm back in Japan. For the onigiri, I highly recommend the curry chicken one! That one is the best :3 read more

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We have been fans of SB since they opened years ago in Santa Monica. This is our preferred location to meet friends and we are here monthly if not twice monthly! They have great omusubi options (pork curry, hijiki, spam), cute dining area inside and outside, and reliable service. 5stars for this fun, creative small business. read more

The aesthetic of this place is so cute! I love how they have a small section of Asian goods as well. There's a cute outdoor seating space as well. The onigiris are freshly made and you can watch the worker make them right in front of you. I like that they have a fair amount of vegetarian options. I got the spicy salmon and miso mushroom onigiris. I preferred miso mushroom one. The mushrooms were cooked well and had a good flavor. Just wish there was more furikake on top. A little pricy for the smaller size but still the better onigiri place I've tried in LA so far! read more

Sunny Blue - Spicy salmon onigiri in front - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love this place! Excellent onigiri. Great variety of flavors at a solid price. Friendly staff. Wish I knew about it sooner. Big fan.

The musubi rice balls were delicious. I chose the hijiki and shiso ume- yummy! The sides of gobo, pickles and edamame paired well with the rice. The store is small with limited seating but is bright and cheerful. Street parking can be a challenge. The wait time was average but the servers were pleasant. Definitely a place I'll be returning. read more

I work down the street and come here for lunch every day. I am not exaggerating when I say this place over-delivers every single time. Their food is insanely consistent and delicious. Their prices are fantastic (14 for a bento box and 18 for a lunch box). The food is incredibly unique, your palette is very much rewarded for exploring foods you haven't tried before. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for anything, even on busy days, which is awesome. My only qualm is that they are closed on Mondays ;-; I cannot recommend this spot enough. I would be surprised if someone came here and had a bad time. The only exception would be if you ordered, say, the eggplant omutsubi and don't like eggplant. The variety is wide so it can be easy to be overly adventurous for pickier eaters, but no one can turn down their classic omutsubi flavors (beef, chicken curry, spicy tuna, salmon) read more

I visited this place with a coworker because our other colleagues love grabbing a quick bite here, and even my friends from Australia have it on their list to try! More power to this business for reaching such a broad audience! The unique menu offers different options than a typical Japanese market, and the portions are big! However, when I ate there, the nori got a bit soggy. If you get it to-go, they wrap the nori in plastic to prevent that. Overall, my coworker and I really enjoyed our picks and it's definitely a solid place for a quick and affordable bite (especially with LA pricing)! read more

Solid place if you're looking for a yummy on the go rice ball! Food: Large variety of rice ball flavors here all packed with unique delicious flavors. This time around I tried the Miso Beef, Sunny Blue Curry, Spicy Salmon, Kara Tuna, Pork Ginger Curry, & lastly a spam musubi. Miso beef, spicy salmon, pork ginger curry were easily my top 3 I highly recommend ordering these if you want something that's packed with flavor. Kara tuna was probably my least favorite it was just bland & didn't stand out compared to the others. The sunny blue curry was good but if I to choose between the chicken & the pork the pork would win every time. The spam musubi was nothing special I wouldn't order again. Something I love about their rice balls is that they pack the seaweed separate from the rice ball so that the seaweed doesn't lose its crispness. Overall, rice balls are very tasty & filling. Location: location is very cute but beware of the parking it can be tricky as it is street parking. Inside is spacious with indoor seating, there is also outdoor seating as well. Staff was super friendly & food was ready fast! Overall, great experience! read more

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best onigiri EVER but the curry fries were bad): The mentaiko was scrumptious, the Kara Tuna was immaculate, and the spicy salmon was satiating. All of the rice balls were made with fresh hot sticky rice, high quality indeed. Some options were a bit pricey for a rice ball, but the quality can't be beat. Meanwhile, the fries are cut huge and have a crispy batter on the outside but taste bland due to the amount of unflavored potato with each bite of these huge fries, on the other hand, the pork curry in the fries objectively tasted great but for loaded fries, they were quite dry. Only having bits of onion and thin slices of pork. if you're looking for saucy loaded fries, don't go here especially for 8 buckies. ALSO the spicy mayo is 50 cents this place isn't sauce boss friendly read more

Sunny Blue - Loaded Curry Fries - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Everything is soooo good!! Highly recommended and they have a cute seating area outdoor. There's lots of street parking and good service

Being a tourist who comes from somewhere with barely any onigiri around, i was happy to discover this place.

Solid option when you're in the area and want a bite. Staff is great. There's usually a line - so service is pretty slow, but there's some nice shade where you can wait outside. The onigiri's are OK - heavy on the rice, hits the spot if you have a craving but not the best. It's more of a grab and go spot, there's some minimal seating. read more