RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen Opening in Oak Brook

RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen will mark its debut in Oak Brook, IL on Tuesday, December 5. Located adjacent to Oakbrook Center, the upscale-casual destination from Singapore-raised, New York-trained Executive Chef Mohan Ismail (Spice Market, Tabla, Blue Hill), will serve Southeast Asian cuisine, showcasing dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. All dishes will be crafted in-restaurant with fresh ingredients, and will offer flavor developed from daily fresh hand ground spice blends frequently used in Southeast Asia. 

“We are thrilled to open our first restaurant outside of California in such an extraordinary food destination as the greater Chicago area,” said Chef Ismail. “Capturing the spirit and flavors of Southeast Asia, while bringing greater subtlety to the traditional dishes of the region was my goal for RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen, and what we are most excited to debut in the lively and accessible neighborhood of Oak Brook. 

The Southeast Asian restaurant, with its interiors that will transport guests to an exotic locale as soon as they step through the front doors, will seat 202 guests and will include breakout spaces for private dining.

RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen, which takes its name from an essential ingredient used by Asian chefs, is a concept drawn from memories of family meals Chef Ismail’s mother used to make. When developing his innovative menu, Chef Ismail brought together the exhilarating tastes of a half-dozen Southeast Asian nations through dishes that are not fusion, but rather capture the spirit and flavors of Southeast Asia. The dining options will mirror the Los Angeles location’s menu, while the dessert menu will feature the Vietnamese Che Sundae – exclusive to Chicago. The dessert is a take on a Vietnamese treat that is typically served street side in plastic cups with a tumult of ingredients snowed under shaved ice and christened with sweet condensed milk. The restaurant will also feature a full-service bar and a wine list as well as an onsite bakery with fresh-made desserts that infuse traditional French flair into nearly a dozen Asian-influenced items.

RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen will be located adjacent to Oakbrook Center at 2022 Spring Road and is open Sun - Thu 11:30AM - 10:00PM, and Fri - Sat 11:30AM - 11:00PM.