Hole-in-the-Wall Review: Sunny Deli
Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2012Until last month, the 15th floor of the URS building on E. 7th St. had housed one of Sunny Deli's two locations. But after more than a decade there, Sunny closed its doors: the tiny glass-walled soup-and-sandwich nook went dark, the smell of sesame oil wafting down the hall gone forever.
Fortunately, Sunny and her husband, both originally from Seoul, Korea, will continue to operate the deli that is her namesake out of Carew Tower. You can find it via the Vine St. entrance by hanging a left at the first floor lobby and continuing past the elevators.
The eatery is more than just a sandwich shop: Tasty Korean food is also available, including Bibimbap; Ma Po Tofu; Asian dumplings; a spicy chicken and veggies concoction; Bulgogi beef and rice; Curry chicken and beef dishes; and homemade kimchi.
In the years I've worked downtown, Sunny Deli has been my go-to for both Bibimbap and especially the Ma Po Tofu, a bean curd dish mixed with shredded veggies, a spicy bean paste and served over either white or brown rice in a gleaming metal bowl. A couple vegetable dumplings or kimchi are typically added as a side, making for a very hearty $8 lunch. Their Korean specialty dishes (what Sunny refers to as, "Well Being Food,") also come with a free bottle of water.
For those more aligned with American food, there are plenty of options, including an array of breakfast sandwiches and bagels; popular deli sandwiches like the Sunny Tuna Melt Bagel; the Sunny BLT; Lox and Cream Cheese; Reuben; Veggie Wraps; Chicken and Tuna Salads and more. You can also get a soup and sandwich combo --my favorites over the years have included the Chicken Noodle, Clam Chowder, French Onion and the Potato Cream Cheese soups.
Their Korean food is addictive enough that I crave Sunny Deli at least once a week. Sunny's dining area is small and cozy, with about six tables, and it's always fun to try to chat with Sunny and her family. Between my penchant for mumbling and Sunny's Korean accent, we honestly struggle sometimes to understand each other, but with a few smiles, nods and abbreviated sentences, a friendly conversation is always had.
Sunny Deli is one of those cubby-hole joints that make me happy I work downtown.
441 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202513-651-5090
Rating: 3.0 out of 4
= Outstanding
= Fair
= Poor
The best TACO joint in the city. I go there as a treat to myself every Monday. TEX MEX TACOS are delicious culinary treats that look beautiful and taste great. I'm so impressed with this place that I never explore the other items on the menu. If you don't get your taco fix here, you're losing in life.
posted: Tue., Apr 27th, 2021 @ 2:37 PM
My Wife and myself dined at Ferrari’s on Saturday and the Food and service was great/ I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli with misc nuts and sauce and it was the best meal I’ve had there/ My wife had the Fish and Vegetables and was very happy/ I also got a couple of their pizza and olive loaves of bread/ The bread is always a hit at work.
posted: Mon., Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 1:14 PM
@Rick: Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to remember to give them a try.
posted: Sat., Nov 21st, 2020 @ 9:06 AM
Try Joe's Pizza located at Airway and Smithville Rd. You might like it...That's one of favorite haunts. I definitely think it beats Cassano's.
posted: Fri., Nov 6th, 2020 @ 4:19 PM
Hands down the best Indian in the area. I have yet to find their yellow Punjabi dish anywhere. It is my favorite, and what keeps me coming back time after time. I think I have been here over 100 times. I love this place.
posted: Thu., May 28th, 2020 @ 12:03 PM
I found a gyro I keep thinking about
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tazikis-mediterranean-cafe-cincinnati
their lamb gyro is about 2-3 bucks higher in cost than a gyro elsewhere - B U T - it is made with whole pieces of lamb meat, not the lamb and beef loaf that all other Gyro joints in Cincinnati seem to do
it is a chain. A minus for me, and I suspect for you as well.
But its good.
really, really good
one caveat: skip the baklava as it is not made in-house
posted: Mon., Dec 9th, 2019 @ 12:43 PM
I'll take your word for it, then.....it is fairly close to work so it'll be an upcoming lunch
I also need to try out this little taco wagon near Quatmans in Norwood
posted: Mon., Sep 9th, 2019 @ 6:21 PM
Hi @TJ - We were pretty impressed with the quality of the items, which I think justifies some of the pricing. I really liked the house-made tortillas and their salsas. Chilero offered some extra little touches that were a pleasant surprise. :)
Just by way of comparison...that same week we'd tried the new Mazunte location downtown...and our experience at Chilero beat them out.
posted: Thu., Aug 29th, 2019 @ 10:18 PM
Great food and fantastic atmosphere
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 8:29 PM
Seems very pricey for a mostly carryout/counter-service joint
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 5:51 PM