Sunda New Asian Detroit

Located in District Detroit, Sunda New Asian Detroit emerges as restaurateur Billy Dec’s newest and most personal hospitality destination.

Entrusting Studio K as the design partner for his first two Sunda concepts in Chicago’s Fulton Market and Tampa, Dec re-engaged the team to build out this new location with a refreshed sense of place. Drawing on Dec’s Filipino heritage and the vibrant energy of Tokyo street art, Studio K Founder and Principal Karen Herold created a space defined by curated installations and artifacts from Dec’s travels and heritage. Bright pops of color, honey wood tones, and rich traditional materials balance the grit of Detroit with the pulse of Tokyo in a material narrative that moves from floor to ceiling.

Upon entry, guests are greeted by a sculptural host stand carved from wood and a striking red floor that pays homage to the Midwestern city’s post-industrial revival, a theme that continues throughout the restaurant. Open shelving and greenery complement the entry, serving as a subtle preview of the concept beyond.

Steps away from the entry, the bar comes into view. Restrained wooden dowels frame the bar rack, displaying spirits and modern Japanese ceramics within easy reach. The pink natural stone bartop creates an equally functional and ornamental anchor within the room, accented overhead by a canopy of colorful resin flower art inspired by the sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines. Along the room’s perimeter, honey-wood tables fill the area with high-top seating. Zellige-inspired tiles envelop the columns throughout, eliciting a bespoke atmosphere.

Just beyond is the sushi bar, featuring elongated pink straight-stack tiles to create visual continuity between the two zones. Entering through a threshold of open shelving, guests walk beneath a veil of uplighted bamboo. Overhead, a capiz shell lighting installation sourced from the Philippines serves as the space’s centerpiece, while an oversized carved-wood demo mirror invites guests to watch sushi prep unfold as they sit in banquette seating.

Further into the restaurant is the dining area, which can be closed off with drapery for private parties and events. Botanical woven wallcovering serves as a decorative backdrop for a gallery wall of artwork, while custom shelving with wabi-sabi proportions displays a globally sourced collection of sake. Overhead, a tatami mat-inspired ceiling installation lends a cozy atmosphere, with an oversized custom lantern fixture bathing the space in a warm glow.

Throughout, elevated contemporary furniture, honey-wood fixtures, and woven rattan accents work alongside the restaurant’s materials to create a story about Filipino heritage, Tokyo’s street culture, and Detroit’s distinctive characteristics. In balancing global influences with local character, Studio K delivers a restaurant that carries the legacy of its predecessors while rooting itself in a new locale.

Design: Studio K
General Contractor: Sachse Construction
Architect: McIntosh Poris Associates
Photography: Sunda Detroit