The abundance of restaurants in Los Angeles is well-known, and living here, we reap the benefits of having a plethora of dining choices. We’re talking variety here. It ranges from the local favorite dicey-looking hole-in-the-wall joints to Michelin-rated haute cuisine bistros. All in all, we have arguably every cuisine known to man at our fingertips. Not many other cities can boast like this. Case in point? Sunny Spot. It’s Caribbean cuisine with a chilled-out, finger-licking-good vibe.

Sunny Spot is located on the Westside within a couple blocks of its sister restaurants, Aframe and Alibi Room. All under the clever hand of Roy Choi (the Kogi BBQ Truck empire man), this trifecta of eateries is anything but ordinary.

Sunny Spot’s self-proclaimed mantra is, “Think roadside cookshop, where Roy Choi’s in the kitchen, and everyday’s a holiday.” Not a bad idea, eh? Sounds like fun, tasty, no-attitude type of joint. Because after all, as Chef Choi declares, “Y’all are here to eat!”

For the unadventurous, you may have to check your fears at the door. Tongue-in-cheek titled dishes make up the menu, starting with the “two-fisted cheeseburger,” the “diablo prawns,” and the “what a jerk wings.”

The brightly colored, slightly handwritten menu is divided into categories: “Start Here,” “Keep Going,” “Something Sweet,” and “Really Delicious Sides.” The whole feeling is chill, down-to-earth, Westside hipster, but in a no-judgment, chow-down kind of way. It’s a nice change from some of the showier restaurants around town.

The starters all hover around $10 to $12 and vary from salads with beets, rum-spiced honey cashews, and pickled strawberries to compressed melon, shiso, and a spicy vinaigrette. Cured hamachi is a standout with fried quinoa and “mojo” sauce.

For bigger plates, choose from the pork terrine Cuban sandwich with pickled jalapeno, and provolone or the brown sugar, scotch bonnet short ribs. For a family-style option, order the pound of shrimp, grilled and served with allspice butter and lots of limes.

King of the sweet, salty, and spicy combo, Chef Choi kills it with creative interpretations of Caribbean-esque staples. The environment is chill, the drinks strong, and the food delicious. All of this is not pretentious or overpriced. Come for brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner. Whatever you do, just come.

Sunny Spot
(310) 448-8884
822 Washington Blvd.
Marina del Rey, CA 90292