Sunda Opens as Detroit's Asian Wonderland
Sunda has opened downtown as a Southeast Asian "wonderland", designed to be both a visual and culinary destination. The menu showcases a range of pan-Asian dishes, and the ambiance is described as immersive and vibrant — perfect for foodies eager to explore new flavors in an Instagram-worthy setting.
Sunda officially opens its doors on March 10 at 33 W. Columbia Street, a pedestrian-friendly walkway situated between the Fox Theatre and Little Caesars World Headquarters. This marks the fifth location for the Sunda brand, which already has restaurants in Chicago, Nashville, and Tampa. The founder, Billy Dec, is an Emmy award-winning TV personality and actor of Filipino-American heritage. His personal connection to Southeast Asia inspired the Sunda concept, which first launched in Chicago in 2009. The Detroit location's decor will more deeply reflect his heritage, incorporating images from his documentary, "Food Roots." The 6,000-square-foot restaurant seats over 200 guests and includes a 1,400-square-foot patio. The design, a collaboration between Studio K, McIntosh Poris Associates, and Sachse Construction, blends Tokyo street style with Southeast Asian warmth, featuring a prominent resin flower art installation above the bar inspired by Japanese and Michigan cherry blossoms. Diners can expect many of the signature dishes that gained the original Chicago location a celebrity following, including oxtail potstickers, spicy tuna crispy rice, and miso-glazed sea bass. The culinary team is led by Pampanga-born Culinary Director Mike Morales and Tokyo native Head Sushi Chef Ise Matsunobu. The bar will offer craft cocktails, Asian beers, Japanese whiskies, and a curated selection of premium sakes.
