Sunny's Sushi — Restaurant in El Paso

Although a bit plain upon first sight, the building which houses Sunny’s Sushi truly brings the phrase ‘great things come in small packages’ to life. I say this because the tiny sushi restaurant sits between a wing house and a modeling agency. Barely perceptible to the inattentive driver, this little gem cradles some of the best sushi I have had the pleasure of eating in many years.

As you enter, you will find yourself in a mix of wood-meets-modern space. The sushi bar reflects the style and tradition not unlike many of the sushi bars found in downtown Shibuya or Yokohama. Overhead, you’ll find decorative fish and soft light fixtures. All of which give Sunny’s a warm, welcome, and modern feel. Coupled with the size of the restaurant, Sunny’s feels both cozy and urban.

My partner cleverly never fails to point out the following: Sunny’s has a BYOB policy. This may prove to be a golden opportunity to those who love to pair wines/beers with certain Japanese dishes. The freedom to match drink and food may bring the inner sommelier to anyone wishing to try this lovely restaurant’s menu. We personally enjoy pairing white wines with our favorite raw seafood cuts (known as sashimi [さしみ]).

On our way to the restaurant, we pick a sauvignon blanc to pair with our sashimi. A Sonoma County Simi, which brought acidity to the mix later that evening, will prove to be a great complement to our meal. Upon arrival, we were promptly greeted and sat. We’ve never waited more than two minutes for a table at Sunny’s, which we appreciate, and their staff is excellent in keeping with social distancing (which we appreciate even more). As soon as we sit, our sever immediately notices our bottle and suggests a large bowl of ice which we, naturally, accept. As our wine chills, we order the steamed gyoza as an appetizer. They turned out to be super savory and light. Perfect as a palate opener for our entrees.

I ordered the Sashimi Tabledote, which features five sashimi cuts: tuna, yellowtail, two others (which escape me), and my personal favorite: salmon; all of which melt on your tongue at the slightest pressure releasing each of the cut’s delightful flavors. Did I mention the Sashimi Tabledote comes with a white rice and steamed vegetables serving prior to your sashimi cuts arriving?

Naturally, in keeping with the Japanese tradition, all meals are preceded by a small bowl of miso soup, served hot and steamy, it’s salty flavors a nice way to start your meal. Having visited Japan on many occasions, I can certainly say Sunny’s offers more than just a great meal, with a wide array in variety of choices at a...

Update review: My husband came back for dinner yesterday, and noticed the new dinner menu. We were so excited to be back. Unfortunately, our eyebrows came together in confusion when we noticed the new prices here have become ridiculous. It was $58 for 2 pretty basic rolls and 1 order of smoked salmon sashimi (6pcs), water for drinks and this was before tip. It's become more expensive than higher end sushi places we have been to in Miami, LA, and Houston. While the food was good and the service was good, these prices do not match at all anymore, and I say that from a place of love. As someone whose family owns several businesses like this, I understand that restaurants are trying to recover from the pandemic, but to charge $16 for salmon sashimi is pushing it, to charge an additional $7 to have it smoked (total of $23 for 6 pieces of thin sliced raw salmon) is crazy when nicer sushi restaurants with more prestige in London charge $15-20 for smoked salmon sashimi. I'm feeling disappointed but hopefully next visit will be different. From the delicious rolls, the tasty sashimi, to the customer service, this place is top notch.

We frequently go to Sunnys on the far east side on Montana, and this place was even better. The environment and the ambiance is classier, quieter, and more elegant. The food is more expensive here by a few dollars, but after trying their selection of nigiri and sashimi, it's very clear why. The quality and the flavor of their fish is just amazing. Our waitress (who was training another girl as well) was absolutely the best. Helpful and patient. We ordered the 28D nigiri/sashimi plate, and 2 rolls, and 2 drinks. Total was around $73. No complaints here, the entire...

My visit to Sunny's Sushi left me with mixed feelings, particularly when it came to the pricing and the quality of the food. It's no secret that dining out, especially for sushi, can be on the expensive side, but the experience should ideally match the cost. Unfortunately, in the case of Sunny's Sushi, the expense did not seem justified by the overall dining experience.

One of the main concerns I had was the pricing of the dishes. For instance, ordering a simple 6-piece salmon sashimi set me back $18, which I found to be quite steep. The quality of the salmon sashimi, considering the price, was another disappointment. When paying a premium for sashimi, one would expect it to be of top-notch quality, with fresh, melt-in-your-mouth texture. However, this was not the case, and the meat did not live up to the expected standard.

To make matters more challenging for Sunny's Sushi, there's a competing restaurant, Sushi Garden, located nearby that offers a much better experience. This neighboring establishment, by comparison, provides higher quality sushi at more reasonable prices, which highlights the value proposition issue at Sunny's Sushi.

In summary, while Sunny's Sushi may have an appealing atmosphere and location, the high prices and underwhelming quality of the food made my visit less than satisfying. When it comes to sushi, the balance between cost and quality is crucial, and in this instance, it felt skewed towards the former. Given the availability of a better option nearby, like Sushi Garden, I would be inclined to choose the latter for a more enjoyable and reasonably priced sushi experience...