William Sonbuchner was born on August 22, 1984, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He is an American YouTuber and filmmaker known as Sonny Side.
Sonbuchner created and hosts Best Ever Food Review Show, one of YouTube’s largest food and travel channels.
Who is William Sonbuchner?
William Sonbuchner, known professionally as Sonny Side, is the creator and host of Best Ever Food Review Show. The channel documents street food and local cuisine across dozens of countries, filmed primarily by a production team based in Vietnam.
He built the channel from scratch, without network backing or major early viral luck.
Sonbuchner uploaded the show’s first episode on December 14, 2015, after creating the channel five years earlier, in September 2010.
In 2019, Best Ever Food Review Show became the first American-owned YouTube channel to receive filming access inside Iran.
The show won the People’s Voice Award in the Viral Video category at the 24th Annual Webby Awards in 2020. It also received a Webby Official Honoree distinction that same year in the Food and Drink category.
Early Life of William Sonbuchner
Sonbuchner grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and attended Sauk Rapids-Rice High School alongside his older brother, Timothy.
He has described a modest upbringing, saying his family mostly ate canned fruit and that he did not try a fresh peach until his twenties.
He worked ordinary jobs in his early adulthood, including a stint as a server at Applebee’s.
At age 24, he moved to South Korea with about $2,000 in savings, where he taught English and taught himself film production.
That decision eventually reshaped his entire career path.
He later relocated to Vietnam, where he began building the concept that became Best Ever Food Review Show.
William Sonbuchner Age
William Sonbuchner is 41 years old as of 2026, born on August 22, 1984. His zodiac sign is Leo, a sign often associated with confidence and a strong on-camera presence.
He was 31 years old when he uploaded the first episode of Best Ever Food Review Show in 2015.
William Sonbuchner Ethnicity and Nationality
William Sonbuchner holds American nationality. He grew up in a working-class Midwestern family in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with no additional ethnic background detailed in his public interviews.
His years living and working in South Korea and Vietnam have shaped much of his on-screen persona and cultural approach to food storytelling.
William Sonbuchner Education
Sonbuchner attended Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Minnesota. He went on to attend three different colleges but did not complete a degree at any of them.
His film education instead came from hands-on experience.
He taught himself filmmaking while living in South Korea in his mid-twenties, working odd video jobs, including some work for lesser-known K-pop acts, before turning that skill into a full career.
William Sonbuchner Career
Channel Launch
Sonbuchner created the Best Ever Food Review Show YouTube channel on September 23, 2010, but did not post its first real episode until December 14, 2015. The gap reflects the years he spent building skills and relocating internationally before settling into the show’s format.
He moved to Vietnam to base his production work there.
His early videos focused on street food, unusual regional dishes, and cultural storytelling delivered with a fast-paced comedic style.
Breakthrough Moment
Sonbuchner’s channel grew steadily through the late 2010s, and by 2019 it had become the first American-owned YouTube channel granted filming access inside Iran. That access marked a turning point for the show’s global reputation.
The 24th Annual Webby Awards recognized the show in 2020 with the People’s Voice Award for Viral Video.
It also earned a Webby Official Honoree distinction in the Food and Drink category that same year.
Current Content
Best Ever Food Review Show has grown to nearly 12 million subscribers and more than 3 billion total views. Sonbuchner now works with a production team of around 20 people, based mainly in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
He continues to travel to countries many other food creators skip, including conflict zones and isolated regions.
His appearances have expanded beyond his own channel, including a 2023 conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience and an interview on The Adam Carolla Show.
William Sonbuchner Brand Endorsements
Sonbuchner has worked with sponsors including NordVPN and Audible on his channel. He also runs Best Ever Coffee, a coffee brand tied to his food and travel content.
His Patreon page offers fans a paid membership tier that supports the show directly.
Merchandise sales and branded content deals round out his income streams alongside YouTube ad revenue.
William Sonbuchner Wife
Sonbuchner has confirmed that he is married and that his wife is Vietnamese. He first spoke publicly about being married during his 2023 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
He has never shared her name, photo, or other identifying details.
Sonbuchner has said the decision to stay out of the spotlight belongs to his wife, and he has repeatedly said he respects that choice. She reportedly helps with filming and production for the show, working entirely behind the camera.
William Sonbuchner Children
Sonbuchner and his wife welcomed a daughter in December 2024. He shared the news in a rare personal post that drew significant attention from his audience.
Consistent with his approach to his wife’s privacy, he has kept most details about his daughter out of the public eye.
William Sonbuchner Net Worth
William Sonbuchner’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from YouTube ad revenue, brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, and his Patreon membership program.
Best Ever Coffee adds another revenue stream tied directly to his content brand.
His production team of about 20 people supports a business built entirely without network backing or outside investment.
William Sonbuchner Social Media
Sonbuchner is active on Instagram under @besteverfoodreviewshow, where he shares food photos and behind-the-scenes content from his shoots. His main YouTube channel remains Best Ever Food Review Show, where new episodes post regularly.
He also maintains a Patreon page for fans who want to support the show directly.
Sonbuchner keeps most of his social media focused on food and travel rather than his personal life.
The Bottom Line
William Sonbuchner turned a $2,000 move to South Korea into one of YouTube’s biggest food and travel channels. Best Ever Food Review Show won a Webby Award in 2020 and became the first American-owned channel to film inside Iran in 2019.
He grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on canned fruit and Applebee’s shifts, a background he still references on camera. Sonbuchner taught himself filmmaking abroad rather than finishing a college degree.
He continues hosting new episodes from his production base in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, while keeping his family life private. Sonbuchner welcomed a daughter with his wife in December 2024.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Who is William. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!