Sonny's Place

Restaurant · Galveston

Sonny's Place

Restaurant · Galveston

1

1206 19th St, Galveston, TX 77550

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Highlights

This friendly neighborhood bar & grill is a beloved local spot where oversized burgers, delicious muffulettas, and classic gumbo come with a side of nostalgia.  

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1206 19th St, Galveston, TX 77550 Get directions

galveston.com
@galvestoncom

$10–20 · Menu

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1206 19th St, Galveston, TX 77550 Get directions

+1 409 763 9602
galveston.com
@galvestoncom
𝕏
@galvestoncom

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

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"Go for Seafood at Sonny's Place Sonny's has been open since 1944, making it the second oldest continuously operating eatery on Galveston Island. Hit it on a Friday gumbo night if you can, which comes in your choice of shrimp, crawfish, or both. Sonny's may seem like a hole-in-the-wall, but don't let that scare you off. It's just old school and really friendly seafood place. Photo via galveston.com"

A Day Trip to Galveston
View Postcard for Sonny's Place

Al

Google
I love these kind of places, man. Low key, normal, regular people kind of stuff, dude. The guy made us Hurricanes. He didn't have to, but he did. One thing - the cheese on the cheese fries needs a little work, and the bright fluorescent lights kind of killed it - some warm lighting would rock it. Other than that, we really enjoyed our burger and hanging around talking the bull crap, ayy. Good people here. They made us feel very welcomed and the prices were better than reasonable. Long live Sonny's.

Bart Cooke

Google
We had a great burger and fries at Sonny’s place. This place has been around since 1944. Service was great with lots of interesting pictures on the walls.

Kathy Langell

Google
We had lunch for the first time today. Will definitely be back. Their food and service was over the top. My mufalatta sandwich was huge. Their chicken soup was really tasty. Can't wait to back to try something else.

Hanna Ahadzhanian

Google
Wonderful place with excellent service! The staff was attentive and friendly. The fish was especially delicious flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Definitely coming back!

Mel Brooks

Google
It was more of a mehffuletta. The inside out bun was unexpected and there was way more bread than necessary. Ultimately the person who recommended this place for a muffuletta will no longer be trusted for food advice.

C M

Google
Hubby and I had dinner here on a Saturday night. Our waitress was friendly. We got a cheeseburger and fries, quarter grilled muffaletta and cup of soup with 2 alcohol drinks and it was about 55 bucks. The chili was decent. My husband said his burger was really good. The muffaletta was the best I've ever eaten and I've tried them everywhere including a bunch in Nola. I'd say it was a little pricey but I'll still be going back especially for that muffaletta

John Stoddard

Google
A true "neighborhood" bar and grill. A left over relic from the olden days. A bit off the mainstream roadways but worth it. Building has seen better days for sure. But the food was great. I am telling ya it was good. Bread was soft, not to thick, ingredients portioned just right, not sloppy, just the right amount of dressing. French fries were golden and hot. Looking at all the old photos you can see the love staff and residents have for each other. This fat boy went home with half a grilled muffuletta for two more meals. Honestly say the amount of food for the money was worth it. I even tossed a 5 into the old fashioned jukebox to listen to Some Patsy Cline, Elvis, Johnny Cash and others. No modern trash in that jukebox.

CL Johnson

Google
We were told to go here for the nachos by recommendation, and they were okay, but I wouldn't recommend to the next person. We added the muffaletta since it was featured in the menu; it wasn't our jam. Quaint place and service was good. I'm sure it's a great neighborhood spot!

Katherine C.

Yelp
Sonny's is an island treasure. Sonny's is Galveston's oldest bar and restaurant. As a local, I have tried many things on the menu, but nothing compares to the Muffelatta and Grilled Muffelatta. You can order it 1/4, 1/2 or whole. If you order it whole, hope you are hungry or have a partner to share. The atmosphere is casual and you can watch sports on multiple flat screens. You can also just come here to hang out with friends while playing pool, shuffle boards, and pinball. You'll meet locals and get a true feel for the island life. Christmas decorations are up year round, so bring the cheer. Be careful because all patrons are expected to abide by the southern way: watch your language and behave.

Michael Amy H.

Yelp
The best on Hamburgers on the island. Great service I've cold beer. Really cold beer

Susan W.

Yelp
We ate here tonight. We were a bit hesitant as it looked like just a bar from the outside. I ordered the grilled ham and cheese it was really good. My husband ordered the burger, he said it was great. My grand daughter ordered the chili cheese fries and the Parmesan cheese pasta, she said it was awesome. I did try her food as well and it was really good too. After dinner we played pool and pinball. It was one of the best nights we have had in a long time. The staff was amazing, very kind, considerate and fun to talk with as well as doing a great job. We will definitely come back here again on our next visit to Galveston. Don't let the outside of this place keep you from coming into a great place......take a chance! Thank you for making our night! You all are the best!

Windy G.

Yelp
Part of me doesn't even want to tell you about this place. It's incredible. Get the muffaletta. Get the grilled one. Don't be scared by the signage, go in order a drink and get the muffaletta. This is five star and the history in this little tiny building is astounding. Meet Richard. He's the last of the lineage and is keeping his grandfather's memory alive. He's also lovely. This place is just awesome. Watch your language. Behave or leave. You'll get it when you go in. You're welcome.

Eric W.

Yelp
Richard and staff make some very delicious food. Whenever I'm in Galveston I make my way there for toasted muffuletta!

Jayne C.

Yelp
Reasonable prices but double the internet prices. McDonald's has thicker burgers. Schlotzsky's has a better sandwich. They didn't bring silverware. No one refilled the water. There are too many amazing local places on the island to return to this.

Larry T.

Yelp
Tried the grilled muffalata, it was disgusting. Tried the chili cheese fries greasy and disgusting. Water was the best part of the meal. Not impressed with the food in Galveston one bit!

Mike G.

Yelp
Great place, food and service was excellent. Marvelous atmosphere. Grilled muffuletta was amazing

Greg P.

Yelp
Came here about 4 years ago on a suggestion. Ordered 1/2 muffeletta. Could only eat 1/4. But man it was good. Came to Houston for a visit and made it a point to come back for another Muffeletta. Not disappointed. The place is definitely a hole in the wall but if you come to Galveston make sure you stop in for a Muffeletta. Besides, who's ever hear of a Muffeletta??? You won't be disappointed.

Zeke D.

Yelp
Disappointed! Server was lazy. Never came back to my booth, no silverware, no water refill. Website prices are about half the price of the actual menu. Cheese nachos were dryer than a popcorn fart. Shrimp sandwich was OK. Got to watch Gunsmoke.

Rhetta C.

Yelp
Bartender/server is rude. Pretty sure she rolled her eyes as we walked in. Food came out separately .... First 2 orders and the about 5-7 minutes later, 3 more orders and then fries after that. Husband said beer was hot.

Mohit L.

Yelp
Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant. Staff is super nice and the menu has some very nice sounding options. I had a half grilled muffuletta (good enough for 2 people) can't recommend it enough

Pam N.

Yelp
Great place, service was good and food was great. The vibe is old school cool, it's a place you feel like you're with family

Jacob M.

Yelp
This spot will take you back in time when things were a bit more simple. Full bar with some of the best prices in Galveston County. Extensive menu with some excellent options, some even made with grandmas own special recipes. Service is always friendly and fast. Screens for the game as well as pool and arcade for the gamers.

Laura C.

Yelp
TOTALLY recommend Sonnys!! My parents went there on dates back in the 40s and I eat there whenever I am really hungry for a great cheeseburger. Last year I went for a burger and was talking to the owner who remembered my mother AND her name and the street in which she lived!! Sonnys is a total 5 star!!

Dora S.

Yelp
So glad we checked this place out. We had a rental for the weekend and this was a half mile walk from it. From the outside I thought it was just a bar, but after looking for somewhere to eat that was close enough to walk to we found out they had food. My daughter devoured the double cheeseburger. I was lucky enough to have gotten a bite, and it was amazing. I had a chili cheese dog and it too didn't disappoint. My daughter had a soda, and I had a soda with a little whiskey in it and the total was around $20 or so which in my opinion was well worth it. We will be stopping by next time we are in town.

Catherine B.

Yelp
Great place. The best grilled muffalata in Galveston. We really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Preston I.

Yelp
It took me over two years of living in Galveston, but I finally made it to Sonny's Place. This restaurant has been around forever, so it has become a very well-known establishment among Galveston locals. I came for a Friday lunch and ordered a bowl of the seafood gumbo and the dressed shrimp bun. Both were really good! The gumbo came out hot and was very flavorful. It also had a respectable amount of shrimp. I'm definitely ordering the large bowl next time. The shrimp bun was a decent size and filled with fried jumbo shrimp, veggies, and their homemade tartar sauce. The bread was nicely toasted and tasted great. The sandwich might fall apart while you're digging in, so ask for a fork if you're too modest to pick up the falling shrimp with your hands. The service was fast and attentive. And the owner came by our table to tell us a funny dad joke. I loved that a lot. I can see why this place has withstood the test of time.

Mark H.

Yelp
Great burger ! Friendly service and very affordable. Great local hangout. Shrimp gumbo on Fridays until they run out.

James W.

Yelp
So glad we found this hole in wall Great food, chili is worth 2-3 visits along with muffallata , very friendly, atmosphere was fantastic with chance to visit with Sonny

BP A.

Yelp
Delicious food no matter what you order. If you are lucky Sonny Jr (92 yo) will come by your table to chat!

John S.

Yelp
Cool historical place. Beer selection is a bit limited. The grilled muffuletta was pretty good.

Kathy W.

Yelp
Wowza, we thought this place looked a little divish from the outside, and it seemed to always be closed when we walked by, but the menu and the reviews looked good,and it was only a block or 2 from our b&b. We arrived shortly after they opened, and we were the only people there. We were greater promptly, and seated ourselves. Our server was amazing. We ordered a half dozen mug oysters, and the full sized grilled Mufaletta to share between 3 people. The oysters were fantastic, and a great price, and we could have easily ordered the half Mufaletta, because we ended up takin mor than half home. It was so good! Don't let the outside scare you off, this is a great place that has been in the same family for generations!

Eric C.

Yelp
This is a hole in the wall dive bar and restaurant. I was leery based in the drab, rundown curb appeal, but inside is a welcoming, spacious atmosphere. It's apparently a hotspot for locals and the oldest continuous operating bar in Galveston. We got burgers and fries to go. They were delicious and reasonably priced. I'd definitely go back if in the area looking for a quick meal with a lively interior atmosphere.

Carissa F.

Yelp
My husband and I chose to eat here based on their website, famous for their burgers & history. First impression was disappointment, there was a swarm of flies populating this place. The menu was jumbled to me so, I asked the waiter what she recommended. She took us all around this cluttered menu and got to the burgers last. I asked about showing a picture of my ID since I forgot my hard copy (I'm 25). The waiter went to ask the manager but the locals through in their opinion and I guess talked him out of it.. he never said anything to me, I never saw him leave his stool at the bar- he seems like douche bag. The place was dusty, disorganized and dull. The burgers weren't bad but fries and garlic bread were soaked in grease. I'd have to be starving to come back to this mess.

Elizabeth G.

Yelp
Don't go on looks when you get to Sonny's! It's just good people and honest good food! We were trying to decide where we were going to stand in line for dinner when I found the reviews for Sonny's and realized it was about 4 blocks from our rental house! We both just wanted "something that we would make at home"- we had plenty of Seafood all week and decided to wander over after the hubby heard they had frito pie! I had a chili dog and fries both were just what we were hoping for! Great prices and good food - you really can't beat the service either!

Al S.

Yelp
Sonny's is a great lunch place. They have a huge selection of food. The hamburgers are really good. Order a double meat if you like a bigger burger. Their spaghetti is also very good. Mostly it's just a really cool "old Galveston" place.

Greg K.

Yelp
I've eaten at Sonny's on many occasions. Good service and really good food. Highly recommend giving it a try.

Ken W.

Yelp
Enjoyed the atmosphere and good food. Unique dishes and good prices. I would recommend.

Eren D.

Yelp
We came in town late to visit some friends and were getting hungry as the evening passed. So we searched for a bite on the late night tip and found this jewel. We ordered one muffalata for 4 people and it was enough. The bread, meats, olive spread was all hittin. Probably thest muff I've ever stuffed.

Geraley T.

Yelp
It is so refreshing to see that some places never change! I was a frequent visitor with my parents. So when I came to town for a girl's weekend, we stopped by on a Friday night. Food was tasty as ever! Gumbo was on point! Make sure to try the grilled muffaletta! Previous owner was at the bar, feisty and sassy...LOVED it!

Tom C.

Yelp
Not sure why it took me so long to finally try this place, but now I have. For years, I've heard people rave about this place. It's one of the more well-known Galveston restaurants, and also the oldest. We went in the other night, sat at the bar next to a hilarious gentleman who turned out to be the previous owner and the current owner's father. A really nice girl took care of us. The drinks were stiff and at a fair price. You don't see that very often these days. It's a divey-looking place with a fun atmosphere and excellent juke box. Cool people all having a good time. My bowl of chili was perfect and beer was cold. My friend's chicken salad was also perfect. We saw all these giant muffulettas, pasta dishes, and burgers being served. We're definitely going back to try these other dishes. Thank you Sonny's for a great time. We can't wait to come back.

Stacy S.

Yelp
Old school bar and cafe. Good food and bar with reasonable prices. Very interesting menu, check it out.

David D.

Yelp
How can you rate this place 4 or 5 star OMG is mediocrity food, establishment and service. Please if you're not a good critic food person shut you're mouth. Sunny's is Chinese management with no idea about food. If you're eat just anything this is you're place. Super bad grill chicken sandwich and old taste oil soaking fries. Establishment old stinky mold odor please owner get help on management. Health and clean place first, then food then service.

Deidra B.

Yelp
We had a great time here on a Friday night. We came right after work and had the raw oysters in a mug, a cup of gumbo and split a half Muffalata(huge) Everything was very tasty. The bathrooms were clean. This is an old burger style joint. But they have a lot of food choices. We had a young guy waiter that was a really gracious and provided excellent service this place is well loved by the locals so it can get packed!

Marianne G.

Yelp
What a find off the beaten path.. we went at dinner just for a bite to eat. My husband said the homemade chili was the best he has ever eaten and he has eaten a lot of chili. I had a fried shrimp sandwich with homemade tartar sauce and it was delicious. Husband had a bottle of beer and when we went to pay discovered beers were $0.50 before 7. Felt like we had won the lottery. Next visit down I want to try the homemade spaghetti sauce . They did tell you up front not to come if you are in a hurry... but service was excellent and faster than most of the other restaurants on the island.

Charlene H.

Yelp
Local place. Great raw oysters in a mug. Seriously good. Fresh, tasty. Muffulettas were great. Grilled wasn't necessarily better though. Lots of locals, to be expected. Waitress did not smile at us and zero small talk...unless you were a local. No worries though.

Alyssa M.

Yelp
Loved this place! The food was fantastic and the portions are huge. I'd love to go back next time I am in town.

Chris K.

Yelp
My first time at Sonny's. Wow the Muffuletta was huge and delicious. First time I tried a grilled one. It took a little longer to prepare but it was worth the wait. I barely finished 1/4 of it. Next time I will come back with friends that want to share one. 8 of us could have shar The picture does reflect the size of the sandwich. It is LARGER than the plate.

Elifonso G.

Yelp
Been a little while that I went on Friday at lunch and got special shrimp gumbo that's only sold on Friday. Man o man pretty dang good gumbo . Slap your girlfriend good. Friendly waitstaff, atmosphere was taking me back yrs in Galveston. You won't be disappointed I promise....

Melissa C.

Yelp
Met Sonny's son...elder gent who hangs out there...what a character !! Place is nothing fancy. They have window units (so sit in the middle of the joint) I noticed flies...might have been because table was very near front door. I didn't feel like the young girl waitresses were very attentive and one of them had just started and didn't speak or understand English to well. We ordered the "Only on Fridays" shrimp gumbo...it was ok. Many good size shrimp, but, the roux needed more flavor...green onion, little s/p...something? The grilled 1/2 muffelatta was big and very tasty. Prices are cheap. Took a photo of the bullet hole on the bar (near the plaque in remembrance. Might go back for a burger and frosty root beer next. SUPPORT LOCAL BUY LOCAL

Lauren B.

Yelp
I love the owner and his lil prank. You'll see if you go there :) Burger was one of the best I have had on this earth so far.

Roy B.

Yelp
This was a little dive bar restaurant. We had the muffuletta and chili cheese fries. The whole sandwich is massive. We split one and the fries and we had left overs. The sandwich was good and so were the fries. We will go back and try a few others in the future.

Chris H.

Yelp
4 stars for the grilled muffuletta! It was cheesy, buttery, and huge! Got the whole muffuletta for ~$18 and split it 4-ways. So filling and overwhelming for just a quarter of the sandwich. I won't order this again. I felt super slow and sleepy afterwards. I also had a difficult time breathing. Don't get me wrong, the sandwich was damn good. It was just too much for me. Also got the super nacho fries which were horrible. 1 Star! It was way too pricey at ~$15 for a large order. Portion size was small and the fries were soggy. I'll definitely visit Sonny's place again tho. It's supposedly the oldest bar in Galveston. Very cool, history-filled vibe to it with the wooden walls, musty smell, white-gray photos, and jukebox. I also heard from someone that they have the best gumbo on the island. Too bad we couldn't try it on this trip. It's only served on Friday's. We will be back only on Friday's to try the gumbo.

Daniel D.

Yelp
This is a really neat, oddball local dive restaurant and bar. It's in the middle of a residential neighborhood and looks like it's been around forever. Food and drinks are affordable. Waitstaff could be friendlier, but they're attentive enough.

Christy T.

Yelp
Love love this place. Great people and good food! Mug of raw oysters is the BEST! Can't beat the prices either! A gem of a place!

Valentine A.

Yelp
Me and my coworkers just ordered our lunch and we where very disappointed with the food. Our French fries were over cooked and my patty melt was like a grilled cheese sandwich with a piece of meat slapped on it. My coworkers hamburger was made sloppy her bun was all wet and her fries where over cooked to. Maria was very rude to us when went to pick up our order and when we called to let them know about our order. I've heard rave reviews about this place but today they fell short. We are very disappointed.. We will not be visiting here again for our lunch hour.

Paola R.

Yelp
I saw they had a 4.8 rating on Google and thought why not , the pictures looked good. We went and EVERYTHING was just not good ? The gumbo was gross , the fried shrimp was not good, even the chili cheese dog and burgers were mediocre. And Omgggg the raw oysters were disgusting. And I picked the place so it honestly ended up being in me that everyone didn't like their food . The wait staff was also not attentive and we were the only other party there. And the man who I'm assuming is the owner even made an inappropriate comment towards one of our friends because of his weight . 0/10 would not recommend. The only good thing was that it was cheap so we didn't get stuck paying an arm and a leg for a bad dinner .

Galveston B.

Yelp
The food here is Awesome! Great food food for lunch or supper. Everything you could ever want is listed on the menu. Try it! You won't be disappointed!