Sonny Side, born August 22, 1984, is an American YouTube filmmaker, food host, and travel content creator. His real name is William Sonbuchner, and he runs the Best Ever Food Review Show, one of the most-watched food and travel channels on YouTube.
His channel has grown to nearly 12 million subscribers and over 3 billion total views.
Who is Sonny Side?
Sonny Side is the creator and host of the Best Ever Food Review Show, a YouTube channel that documents food and culture across the world. His real name is William Sonbuchner, and he goes by the nickname “Sonny Side” professionally.
He travels to countries that most food creators skip, eating everything from street food to unusual regional delicacies. His videos blend food reviews, cultural storytelling, and humour.
Sonny’s crew is deliberately small, with fewer than a dozen people involved in production.
His most recognisable accessory is a simple red bandana, which he wears to manage sweat during shoots in humid climates like Vietnam. In 2020, he and the Best Ever Food Review Show team won a Webby Award for People’s Voice: Viral Video of the Year.
The channel was also the first US-owned YouTube channel to film inside Iran, a milestone that reflected the breadth of his travel work.
Early Life of Sonny Side
Sonny Side was born on August 22, 1984, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. He grew up in the American Midwest with a growing interest in filmmaking and visual storytelling.
He attended Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, where he first began experimenting with filmmaking. After high school, he tried college three times but did not complete a degree.
He moved to South Korea at the age of 24, where he taught English and worked as a video producer.
During his time in Korea, Sonny worked with clients in the marketing and entertainment industries. He later relocated to Vietnam, where he built both his career and his production base.
His older brother has a PhD, and another sibling holds a law degree, as he has mentioned publicly.
Sonny Side Age
Sonny Side is 41 years old as of June 10, 2026, born on August 22, 1984. His zodiac sign is Virgo. In 2020, he won a Webby Award alongside his team for Viral Video of the Year.
Sonny Side Ethnicity and Nationality
Sonny Side holds American nationality, born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. He is of white American ethnicity. After spending years in South Korea and Vietnam, he currently calls Vietnam home.
Sonny Side Height and Weight
Sonny Side stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall. His weight is not publicly confirmed. He has mentioned in interviews that he lost 80 pounds before launching his YouTube career, a personal transformation he has referenced on his channel.
Sonny Side Career
Sonny Side began his professional life as an English teacher in South Korea at age 24. While living in Korea, he also worked in film production, creating content for companies and clients in the entertainment industry.
In 2015, he launched the Best Ever Food Review Show and posted his first videos in December of that year. From the beginning, the channel focused on food and travel, particularly in Asia.
He relocated his production base to Vietnam, where his team continues to film and edit content. The channel grew quickly, reaching millions of subscribers within a few years of its launch.
Channel Launch and Breakthrough
Sonny posted his first YouTube content in December 2015. His early videos covered Vietnamese and Korean street food, combining personal storytelling with food reviews.
By 2017, he had featured in a video titled “Sonny Side VS Andrew Zimmern – Stinky Tofu,” which brought wider attention to his channel. That collaboration helped introduce him to a larger international audience.
His channel crossed the one-million-subscriber mark and continued climbing steadily through 2018 and 2019.
Webby Award and Global Reach
In 2020, the Best Ever Food Review Show won two Webby Awards: People’s Voice for Viral Video of the Year and Official Honoree in the Food and Drink category. The Webby Awards recognise excellence in digital media and internet content.
That same year, Sonny filmed in Iran, making the Best Ever Food Review Show the first US-owned YouTube channel to gain filming access in the country. The milestone underlined how far his travel work had taken the channel.
By 2024, the channel had crossed 11 million subscribers. As of late 2025, it had grown to 11.9 million subscribers and over 3.12 billion total views.
Recent Work and Content
Sonny continues to produce weekly content from Vietnam and travels globally to document food cultures. His secondary channel, More Best Ever Food Review Show, has also grown to over 2.5 million subscribers.
He earns revenue through YouTube advertising, brand sponsorships with companies including NordVPN and Audible, Patreon, and merchandise. His “Bestys” merchandise line includes branded bandanas, T-shirts, and other items popular with his fanbase.
In December 2024, he welcomed his daughter Layla, which he shared with his audience on his channel.
Sonny Side Awards and Recognition
Sonny Side won the 2020 Webby Award for People’s Voice: Viral Video of the Year and the 2020 Webby Official Honoree for Food and Drink.
These are among the most recognised awards in digital content creation.
His channel reached 3.12 billion total views as of late 2025, placing it among the top food and travel channels on YouTube worldwide.
The Best Ever Food Review Show was also the first US-owned YouTube channel to film inside Iran.
Sonny Side Wife
Sonny Side is married to a Vietnamese woman. He began wearing a wedding ring in early 2021, which is when fans first noted he had married.
His wife’s identity remains private, as he has chosen not to share her name or images publicly. She reportedly assists with filming and production behind the scenes.
Together, they welcomed their daughter Layla in December 2024, which Sonny shared on his YouTube channel.
Sonny Side Net Worth
Sonny Side’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes from multiple streams, including ad revenue from his YouTube channel, which averages hundreds of millions of views per year.
Brand sponsorships with companies like NordVPN and Audible contribute significantly to his annual earnings. His Patreon, merchandise sales, and production work also form part of his income.
Sonny Side Social Media
Sonny Side is active on multiple platforms. His primary YouTube channel is the Best Ever Food Review Show, where he has nearly 12 million subscribers.
On Instagram, he posts behind-the-scenes content and travel photos at @sonnyside. He also maintains a presence on Facebook under the Best Ever Food Review Show page, which has attracted over 900,000 followers.
Fans engage with him across all platforms, and his fanbase calls themselves “Bestys,” a name he uses in his videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sonny Side’s net worth?
Sonny Side’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income includes YouTube ad revenue, brand deals with companies like NordVPN and Audible, Patreon, and merchandise.
How old is Sonny Side?
Sonny Side is 41 years old as of June 10, 2026. He was born on August 22, 1984, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.
Who is Sonny Side married to?
Sonny Side is married to a Vietnamese woman whose identity he keeps private. The couple welcomed their daughter Layla in December 2024.
What is Sonny Side’s height?
Sonny Side stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall. His weight is not publicly confirmed.
What is Sonny Side famous for?
Sonny Side is famous for the Best Ever Food Review Show, a YouTube food and travel channel with nearly 12 million subscribers and over 3 billion views. He won a Webby Award for Viral Video of the Year in 2020.
Where was Sonny Side born?
Sonny Side was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. He currently lives in Vietnam, which he has called home for many years.
The Bottom Line
Sonny Side launched the Best Ever Food Review Show in December 2015 and grew it to nearly 12 million subscribers and over 3 billion total views by 2026.
In 2020, the channel won two Webby Awards, including People’s Voice for Viral Video of the Year.
He grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and moved to South Korea at 24 before eventually building his life and career in Vietnam.
His signature red bandana and no-fuss production style are consistent features across every video.
Sonny and his Vietnamese wife welcomed their daughter Layla in December 2024.
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