Sunda Opens as Detroit's Asian Wonderland
Detroit's downtown welcomes Sunda, a new restaurant billed as a "Southeast Asian wonderland." The venue offers diverse pan-Asian flavors in a vibrant, contemporary setting, reflecting national trends toward regional Asian cuisines and immersive dining experiences.
The Detroit outpost of Sunda is the fifth from owner Billy Dec, a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV personality and Filipino-American entrepreneur. Dec, who also served as a presidential appointee on the White House's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, has expanded the Sunda brand to Nashville, Tampa, and two locations in its flagship city of Chicago. Sunda Detroit is located at 33 W. Columbia Street, a pedestrian-only walkway in The District Detroit situated between the Fox Theatre and Little Caesars World Headquarters. The 6,000-square-foot interior, designed by Studio K with local partners McIntosh Poris Associates and Sachse Construction, has seating for over 200 guests. The restaurant also features a 1,400-square-foot patio for outdoor dining. The design concept merges Tokyo street style with Southeast Asian craftsmanship, highlighted by a resin flower art installation over the bar inspired by both Japanese Cherry Blossoms and Michigan Apple Blossoms. The kitchen is helmed by Pampanga-born Culinary Director Mike Morales and Tokyo native Head Sushi Chef Ise Matsunobu. Signature dishes making their way to the Detroit menu include Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Oxtail Potstickers, and a 3lb Japanese Wagyu Tomahawk Steak. The original Sunda restaurant was founded in Chicago in 2009. The brand has since garnered a significant celebrity following that includes Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Michael Jordan, and Barbra Streisand.
