Sunny Deli

It is a very small, quiet place, nestled in a back corner of Carew Tower. Be careful to blink because you just might miss it. When you walk in, you are greeted by the most hospitable staff you will ever come across. Though their English is rough, they always have a smile on their face and willing to do anything to make your visit more enjoyable. Their food is wonderful and most of it is prepared right before your eyes. The prices are reasonable for this area of downtown. I suggest everyone who has the free time, to stop in and enjoy a bite to eat.

THIS IS IN CAREW TOWER. THE 7TH STREET LOCATION IS CLOSED.
I stopped in for the [secret] bi bim bap on Wednesdays. It’s the daily special. It’s a healthy portion, and you can get brown rice. The ingredients seem fresh and tasty. However, the egg is scrambled and cold. Also, there’s no stone bowl option. Then, there’s the price — $ 10. For a lunch special? I don’t know if that’s a good deal. It’s ok, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it again.
Bottom Line: I might stop by for the bi bim bap if it was convenient.

I was writing a review recently for TJ’s Korean Restaurant — a new, cheap Korean place on Court Street — and then did a quick search on other Korean places in town. This place popped up, and I was surprised to learn it was downtown and also had cheap Korean.
I give it 3 stars because there are are a few catches — but those same catches also arguably put it in hidden gem category, so that it could warrant another star pretty easily.
This place is on the 15^th floor of an office building on 7^th Street, between Walnut and Vine (and they have another location on 5^th Street as well, they said. They have a sign on the street in front of the tower, you walk in to the elevator and head upstairs. The menu is composed of almost exclusively deli sandwiches, but on Wednesdays you can get bibimbap! Also, they sell a spicy chicken dish they said is Korean, and they mentioned ma po tofu, but I don’t if that’s only on certain days.
My friend and I each ordered the bibimbap, and really enjoyed it. They asked me what I thought in comparison to TJ’s and I told them it tasted very similar. They put some pickled zucchini, carrot, cucumber, bean sprouts, lettuce, strips of cooked egg (like strips of an omelette), and beef in a bowl and then poured their spicy/​sweet sauce on the top before I mixed it all up. As we talked about it afterward — they were very nice — they said that they also have a more traditional sauce that is just a chili sauce without any sugar. I’ll definitely have that the next time I go.
Overall, this is a fun little find that I will definitely go to again. It’s a little further than TJ’s for me, but if you’re somebody who likes unique experiences or wants to impress someone with your knowledge of Cincinnati treasures, this is worth a stop.

lunchtime at the office…
eric: ok, let’s go.
rickell: wait, where are we going?
liz: sunny deli. it’s in the UDF building. or is it the UDS building?
eric: isn’t it UBS?
liz: oh, maybe.
rickell: where is that?
liz: i’m not really sure. i have the address… oh shit, i forgot the address. it’s on 7^th street somewhere. we’ll have to look it up on eric’s iphone.
eric: we can’t, i forgot my phone at home today.
liz: oh yeah, that reminds me, can one of you guys lend me money? i left my wallet at home. ooh, i think we’re here!
rickell: what is this place and why are we getting on an elevator?
eric: what floor?
liz: 10, i think.
rickell: the 10^th floor? how did you hear about this place?
liz: i read about it on the blogs.
eric: you and the blogs.
liz: you know, you guys are lucky to know me. think of all the food you wouldn’t have eaten if it weren’t for me.
rickell: oh yeah. that’s what i think every morning when i wake up. i am so lucky to know liz.
eric: oh me too. it’s my first thought.
liz: whatever, you guys are jerks. look, here’s the menu, what are you guys getting?
eric: bibimbap. no beef.
liz: i thought you were eating meat now.
eric: i am but i am not sure what beef will do to my stomach. what are you getting?
liz: bibimbap too.
rickell: what is this thing you guys are getting?
liz: bibimbap. it’s rice and meat and veggies. yummy. spicy. they only have it on wednesdays.
rickell: only wednesdays? what is this place?
liz: i don’t know, they’re korean but they have a deli. look, here’s a picture.
rickell: ooh, that looks good, i want that.
liz: hi, i think we all want bibimbap. one with no beef.
girl behind the counter: no beef?
eric: no wait, i want beef, i changed my mind. do them all with beef.
girl: beef?
liz: this is the first time he’s had beef in 15 years, can you believe that?
girl: beef or no beef?
eric: yeah. beef. sorry.
owner: here you go.
liz: yum, thanks! how long have you been here?
owner: 5 years.
liz: really? how long have you been doing bibimbap?
owner: since november.
liz: oh ok, so we haven’t been missing out for that long. i was worried.
owner: haha, no. we just started.
eric: mmm… this is good.
rickell: this is damn good. what is this stuff in this little container?
eric: kimchee. pickled cabbage.
liz: it’s fermented.
rickell: that’s nasty.
liz: this is sooo good. we have to come back.
eric: mmm… beef…
(sounds of eating)