Sonny Side – the on-screen name of American filmmaker Will Sonbuchner – is the host and creator of the Best Ever Food Review Show, one of the most popular food and travel channels on YouTube. Based in Vietnam, he travels the world to eat and explain local, traditional and often extreme foods, combining genuine curiosity with high-quality filmmaking and real respect for the people and cultures he features.
He is not a restaurant chef but a storyteller and video producer whose work has introduced millions of viewers to street food, rural cooking and food traditions far off the tourist trail.
TL;DR
- American filmmaker and YouTube host, born 22 August 1984 in St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator and host of the Best Ever Food Review Show, launched in 2015
- Based in Vietnam, with a production team that films episodes worldwide
- Channel has grown to more than 11 million subscribers
- Won a Webby Award in 2020
Sonny Side (Will Sonbuchner) key facts
| Born | 22 August 1984, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Best Ever Food Review Show (YouTube) |
| Based in | Vietnam |
| Launched | 2015 |
From Minnesota to Asia
Will Sonbuchner was born on 22 August 1984 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. After high school he attended college without completing a degree, and at 24 he moved to South Korea, where he taught English and worked as a video producer for clients in marketing and entertainment. That experience behind the camera – learning to shoot, edit and tell stories on video – would prove more important to his future than any formal training in food.
The Best Ever Food Review Show
Sonbuchner later relocated to Vietnam, where he built his production base, and in 2015 launched the Best Ever Food Review Show, posting his first videos in December of that year. The channel follows Sonny as he travels to eat local specialities – from street food and market dishes to rare regional and “extreme” foods – always framing them with context about the people, history and techniques behind them. Filmed to a high standard by a Vietnam-based team that shoots episodes around the world, the show grew into one of YouTube’s biggest food channels, passing eleven million subscribers, and won a Webby Award in 2020.
Signature style
What sets Sonny apart is the balance of adventure and respect in his work. He is willing to try almost anything, but he treats his hosts and their food traditions seriously, often highlighting rural cooks, small vendors and endangered culinary customs. The combination of cinematic production, honest reactions and cultural storytelling has made the Best Ever Food Review Show both entertaining and genuinely informative.
Sonny Side in context
Sonny is one of the leading figures in food-and-travel video, working in the same space as other food explorers featured on Pickup Table 4 such as Mark Wiens and Trevor James (The Food Ranger).
Follow Sonny Side
Best Ever Food Review Show on YouTube
Sonny Side FAQ
Who is Sonny Side?
Will Sonbuchner, an American filmmaker and the host and creator of the Best Ever Food Review Show.
Where is he based?
In Vietnam, where his production team films episodes shot all over the world.
When did the show start?
He launched the Best Ever Food Review Show in 2015.
Is he a chef?
No – he is a filmmaker and host, not a professional restaurant chef.
How big is the channel?
It has grown to more than 11 million subscribers and won a Webby Award in 2020.
