Detroit Gets Southeast Asian Wonderland
Sunda, a new Southeast Asian restaurant, opened in downtown Detroit aiming to be a "pan-Asian wonderland" with a diverse menu inspired by Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and beyond. The restaurant's arrival signals Detroit's continued emergence as a culinary destination and reflects the city's growing diversity and ambition in food culture.
Sunda's Detroit outpost is the fifth location for the restaurant group, which first opened in Chicago in 2009. Other locations include a second in Chicago, as well as restaurants in Nashville and Tampa. The concept was inspired by founder Billy Dec's travels throughout Southeast Asia and his own Filipino heritage. The man behind the brand, Billy Dec, is a Filipino-American entrepreneur, an Emmy Award-winning TV personality, and an actor. A graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law and Harvard Business School, Dec also served as a presidential appointee on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders. He recently produced a documentary called "Food Roots," which explores his journey to the Philippines to learn his ancestors' recipes. The 6,000-square-foot Detroit restaurant is located at 33 W. Columbia St. in The District Detroit, near Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena. The interior design blends Tokyo street-inspired elements with Southeast Asian warmth and features a resin flower art installation inspired by Japanese and Michigan cherry blossoms. The space can seat over 200 guests and includes a 1,400-square-foot patio. Sunda's menu features a cross-cultural selection of dishes from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Signature items include Oxtail Potstickers, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, and Miso-Glazed Sea Bass. The bar offers a wide array of sake, Japanese whiskies, and craft cocktails.
