Hey, Sunshine Kitchen — Restaurant in Culver City

As we strolled through the busy Culver center last weekend, an unexpected restaurant surprised us – Hey, Sunshine Kitchen. Without prior knowledge of its existence, we ventured inside, curious to learn what Hey, Sunshine has to offer. Much to our delight, we discovered a vegan restaurant with a wide ranging menu consisting of various bowls and salads, tacos, sandwiches, and burgers, and an array of tantalizing sides.

Guided by our enthusiastic server/ host, who confidentally described each dish and side, we finally settled on the hot chicken sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries.

The hot chicken sandwich was nothing short of extraordinary – its tender texture and subtle yet satisfying kick of heat was utter bliss. The carefully curated combination of crunchy pickles and creamy slaw accentuating the spice and gave the sandwich much needed textures.

The sweet potato fries, a definite favorite of ours, were next level good. These fries achieve a perfect balance of a crisp exterior and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior – a feat that most restaurants struggle to accomplish. To further elevate our fries, we requested a side of dill aioli, and its zesty tanginess served as the perfect symphony of flavors, elevating the sweet potato fries even more.

We eagerly anticipate our return to explore the various options that create their menu. With items such as bowls, burgers, and sides like mac and cheese and chickpea nuggets beckoning us, Hey, Sunshine Kitchen has undoubtedly gained itself a few additional customers. For anyone seeking an exuberant celebration of plant-based options, and a warm and welcoming vibe, Hey, Sunshine Kitchen is a must-visit stop at the Culver center that we hope sticks around for...

Wow, where do I start.

Every square inch of Hey, Sunshine Kitchen sparkles with good juju. The bright signage outside previewed the ear-to-ear grin that I was met with by the gentle and welcoming staff behind the counter. I must say I had a tough choice with selecting my lunch items, but upon recommendation by a lovely human named Heather (who it turns out is one of the co-founders of HSK) I settled on the Spicy Carnitas Tacos and the Mediterranean Chickpea bowl.

Mind = blown, heart = wide open.

Having been a lifelong vegetarian, I've sampled hundreds of plant-based restaurants across many countries, and can say with full conviction that Hey, Sunshine outshines them all! Not only did I find the flavors so refreshing, they had a very particular profile I've never sampled before. Not only that, the preps were filled with freshness and were plated beautifully. I could tell that each part of the menu and kitchen operations was tended to with care, love, and with a singular focus on total gustatory delight.

And, to top it all off, the decorations in the bathroom were a total feast for the eyes (pun fully intended). Do yourself a favor (and flavor!) and welcome in the summer with a trip to this place. It's sublime.

It helps that it's SO central and easy to get to (with plenty of parking pretty readily available).

Writing this makes me want to rush back there, actually. As it happens, I'm about 15 minutes away, so I might do...

I came here with my mom and we could not have had a better experience! First of all, we were blown away by the atmosphere and thoughtful decor! The mural in the bathroom is amazing. The detail on the floor? To die for. Heather and Jenny obviously put a lot of detail in to the space. I'm so sick of going to fast casual places that feel sterile so this was a refreshing experience. I ordered the Sunshine bowl and my mom ordered the BBQ tofu bowl. And then because we could not resist we also got the chicken sandwich to split! It just looked too delicious on the menu board- and it was! The food was so fresh. Once again, the attention to detail was astonishing. We loved the way the sweet potatoes were diced and the plating. Definitely get the rice! Not sure what they do to it to make it so craveable, but it is next level delicious! And finally, the staff was so friendly!!! Everybody introduced themselves. I use a walker and the employee Robert even folded it and made sure we had plenty of room. By the end, my mom and I were joking and laughing with everyone. I just truly love that this is a sister-owned restaurant with all non-gmo ingredients. I can't wait to go back and get my pollinators. Apparently they offer them free with an entree at certain points during the week? Talk about making a difference. Now I just need them to open more locations so I can have some wherever I go. I'm...