SUNN'S

Book SUNN'S if you want Korean banchan reimagined with French and Italian instincts, served in a 20-seat wine bar where walk-ins still have a shot. Chef Sunny Lee's James Beard-nominated approach, side dishes promoted to star billing, Chinese hot mustard in leeks vinaigrette, olives crushed into eggplant namul, delivers more vegetable creativity per square foot than anywhere else in Chinatown. Tuesday through Sunday from 5 PM, the energy skews intimate and neighborly; arrive early for counter seats or risk a wait.

Banchan Beyond the Usual Set

Lee built her reputation on Banchan by Sunny pop-ups before opening this permanent space with Parcelle in 2024. The daily set of six banchan arrives like a silent wish fulfilled, a phrase the New York Times used to describe traditional Korean side-dish service, though here the format is the main event. Extras are available beyond the core six, the menu rotates to follow what's in season. The teensy kitchen turns out leeks vinaigrette with Chinese hot mustard standing in for Dijon, eggplant namul folded with crushed olives caponata-style, a house salad that won regulars over enough to earn Eater NY's Best Wine Bar award in 2025. For diners hunting more vegetables in their rotation, this is the way to do it, Lee's plates are Korean in contour but stubbornly original in execution, with occasional forays to France and Italy that feel earned rather than grafted on.

Wine, Soju, Walk-In Strategy

Parcelle oversees the wine list, the thoughtful selection pairs well with Lee's vegetable-forward cooking. Soju, makgeolli, ice-cold Korean lagers round out the beverage program. After the glowing Times review, Lee set aside more spots for walk-ins, so reservations remain hard but not impossible. Try for Tuesday or Wednesday at 5 PM if you want the leading odds at a counter seat without booking weeks ahead. The room is cozy, 20 seats total, fills fast by 7 PM most nights. Reservations: Book two weeks out minimum; walk-ins are likeliest early Tuesday or Wednesday. Dress: Casual. Budget: Pricing details aren't publicly listed, but the format (banchan sets plus extras) suggests a moderate spend relative to full-service Korean restaurants in Manhattan. Hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday through Sunday 5–10 PM. Getting there: Division Street on the Lower East Side, walkable from Kopitiam or Bacaro.

How It Compares

SUNN'S occupies a rare niche in New York City: wine bar with a vegetable-forward Korean lens, no direct peer in that exact lane. For wine-and-small-plates intimacy at similar scale, Bacaro offers Italian cicchetti in a similarly snug room, though the cooking skews more traditional Venetian. Tolo (Chinese, Cantonese, $$) delivers wine-bar energy with a Cantonese menu, slightly easier to book and better for groups of four or more. Cervo's ($$$, Seafood, Spanish) is the splurge-worthy comp if you want coastal European flavors and don't mind a higher check average, book there if SUNN'S is full and you prioritize wine-pairing depth over vegetable creativity. For dessert after, The Little One is a short walk and worth the detour.

Value-wise, SUNN'S sits between Kopitiam (Peranakan, easier walk-in access, faster service) and Tolo (similar price tier, more flexible for groups). If you're chasing vegetables and originality, SUNN'S is the clear pick. If you need a table tonight and can't wait two weeks, try Bacaro or Tolo instead, both offer comparable intimacy with less booking friction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I order at SUNN'S?Start with the daily banchan set of six, this is the core of Lee's menu and the reason the restaurant earned its James Beard semifinalist nod. Add extras like the leeks vinaigrette with Chinese hot mustard or the eggplant namul with crushed olives if the daily rotation includes them. The house salad is a sleeper hit, often mentioned by regulars as surprisingly creative. Wine pairings from Parcelle's list are worth exploring, though soju or makgeolli work just as well if you prefer traditional Korean drinks. Since the menu rotates, ask what's in season when you arrive, Lee's kitchen is narrow but potent, the daily specials often showcase ingredient sourcing at its peak.Can SUNN'S accommodate groups?Not easily. The restaurant seats 20 total, the format (counter and a few small tables) makes it a poor fit for parties larger than four. Couples and trios will have the best experience, especially at the counter where you can watch Lee's kitchen work. If you're planning a group dinner, try Tolo or Cervo's instead, both offer more flexible seating and menus better suited to sharing across a larger table.What are alternatives to SUNN'S in New York City?Tolo is the closest comp for wine-bar intimacy with an Asian lens, slightly easier to book and better for groups. Bacaro offers Italian small plates in a similarly cozy room, though the cooking is more traditional. Kopitiam (Peranakan) is easier for walk-ins and faster service if you can't wait two weeks for a reservation. For a splurge, Cervo's ($$$, Seafood, Spanish) delivers wine-pairing depth and coastal European flavors with more flexible booking. All four are within walking distance on the Lower East Side. See our full New York City restaurants guide for more options.Is lunch or dinner better at SUNN'S?Dinner only, SUNN'S operates Tuesday through Sunday from 5–10 PM, no lunch service. Early dinner (5–6 PM) is the sweet spot for walk-ins and quieter counter seats. By 7 PM the room fills and the noise level rises, which suits the wine-bar energy but makes conversation harder. If you're booking ahead, aim for Tuesday or Wednesday when the reservation grid is slightly less competitive. Weekend evenings (Friday and Saturday) are the hardest to secure and the loudest once full.Is SUNN'S good for a special occasion?Yes, if your idea of celebration is intimate, ingredient-driven cooking rather than white-tablecloth service. The James Beard semifinalist recognition and Eater NY Best Wine Bar award signal serious culinary ambition, the format, banchan refined to star billing, feels special without formal ceremony. The 20-seat scale makes it feel personal, though the noise level after 7 PM can work against romantic quiet. For anniversaries or milestone dinners where you want to linger and talk, book early (5 PM) or choose a Tuesday or Wednesday. If you need more space and polish, Cervo's offers a more traditional special-occasion setup.What should I wear to SUNN'S?Casual. The Lower East Side wine-bar vibe skews jeans and a nice shirt, not jackets or heels. Lee's kitchen and the intimate counter setup create a neighborly, approachable mood, dress like you're meeting friends at a favorite spot, not attending a formal event. That said, the James Beard recognition means you'll see some diners treating it as a destination, so smart casual works just as well if you prefer.Can I eat at the bar at SUNN'S?Yes, the counter is often the best seat in the house, you'll watch Lee's narrow kitchen turn out banchan in real time, the sightlines make it easier to ask about daily specials or wine pairings. Walk-ins have better odds at counter spots than tables, especially early (5 PM) on Tuesday or Wednesday. If you're solo or a pair, request the counter when booking; it's the most engaging way to experience the restaurant's format.