Detroit’s Cass Corridor is buzzing with the arrival of a unique new eatery: Sushi Lounge, a completely gluten-free sushi bar that just opened inside the Detroit Shipping Company food hall in Midtown. This isn’t your typical sushi spot, it’s the brainchild of renowned local chef Genevieve Vang and features “Detroit-style” sushi rolls with playful Motor City flair. From classic California rolls to creative inventions like the cheekily named Whatuproll!, Sushi Lounge is already drawing in curious foodies, families, and health-conscious diners eager to taste a fresh take on Japanese cuisine right in the heart of Detroit. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening in early September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live DJ, underscoring just how excited the community is for this new addition.
Located at 474 Peterboro Street in Midtown’s historic Cass Corridor, Detroit Shipping Company is a vibrant gathering spot, a food hall built from repurposed shipping containers, and the new sushi lounge fits right in with its eclectic, communal atmosphere. The addition of Sushi Lounge doesn’t just bring more flavor to the venue; it also highlights the neighborhood’s continuing revival. Locals know and love this spot for its mix of international eats and casual beer-garden vibe, and now gluten-free “Detroit-style” sushi is on the menu, too. It’s a dining experience that’s both approachable and distinctly Detroit, as if a neighbor invited you over to try their personal take on sushi. In a city that’s always blending cultures and innovations, this concept feels right at home.
Sushi Lounge Detroit, Facebook
Want a bigger Midtown bite list? Check our Midtown restaurants guide.
From Bangkok 96 to a New Sushi Vision: Chef Genevieve Vang’s Mission
Chef Genevieve Vang is no stranger to Metro Detroit’s food lovers. For decades, she has been the talent behind Bangkok 96, a beloved Thai restaurant in Dearborn that first opened in 1996. Her reputation for bold flavors and inclusive cooking earned her a James Beard Award semifinalist honor in 2019. Now, Vang is channeling that same passion and creativity into sushi. This new venture is deeply personal for her: after being diagnosed with gluten intolerance and a dairy allergy, Vang became determined to craft dietary-inclusive recipes that anyone can enjoy. Sushi Lounge is the result, a place where she can highlight her longtime love for sushi while maintaining a health-conscious approach to cooking. In practical terms, that means everything on the menu is gluten-free (right down to using tamari in place of soy sauce and a special wheat-free tempura batter) without sacrificing an ounce of flavor. It’s a bold move in the restaurant world, but Vang’s track record and personal conviction make it a natural next step in her culinary journey.
What’s also notable is that this isn’t Vang’s first foray in the Cass Corridor dining scene. She already runs the popular Bangkok 96 Street Food stall at Detroit Shipping Co., an offshoot of her flagship restaurant. That built-in local presence means many Detroiters walking into Sushi Lounge will recognize the name behind it, and likely trust that they’re in for something good. Vang has essentially expanded her footprint in Midtown, going from serving up spicy pad Thai to rolling out sushi maki, all under the same roof. It’s the kind of move that reflects a deep understanding of the community: she’s seen what Detroit diners crave and is delivering it in a new form. By marrying her established values (like sustainable sourcing and inclusivity) with a completely new cuisine, Vang is strengthening her bond with the city’s food scene in a genuine way.
Chef Jasmine White: A Homegrown Talent Leads the Kitchen
To bring her sushi concept to life, Vang tapped Chef Jasmine White, a Detroit native with serious sushi credentials, to lead the kitchen at Sushi Lounge. White’s culinary journey has effectively come full circle back to her hometown. She trained at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and went on to sharpen her skills at high-profile restaurants (including stints with Wolfgang Puck and even at a Benihana) before returning to Detroit. Most notably, White served as head sushi chef at Maru Sushi in downtown Detroit until it closed in 2024. In many ways, her joining Sushi Lounge fills the void left when Maru shut its doors, and it gives White a new platform to shine in the city she loves.
For White, this opportunity is the culmination of a long-held dream. “This is a dream I’ve been chasing for years,” she said, describing how meaningful it is to showcase her own style of sushi in her hometown in a way that’s fun, approachable, and truly reflects Detroit. You can feel her enthusiasm in that statement, a blend of pride in Detroit and passion for her craft. Vang, for her part, saw something special in White from the start. In fact, Vang has said she sees herself in the younger chef’s drive and creativity. “All my life in kitchens, people underestimate me because I am a woman. I see myself in her, and I believe she deserves this chance to show Detroit what she can do,” Vang remarked of White’s fighting spirit. It’s a compelling mentor-protégé dynamic: a veteran chef giving a rising local star the space to flourish. For diners, that translates into a kitchen led with both expertise and heart, a team that’s personally invested in making Sushi Lounge something special. The collaborative energy between Vang and White infuses the restaurant with a sense of purpose that goes beyond just business. They’re out to prove what two determined Detroit women can do in the sushi realm, and that’s a story locals can really rally behind.
Detroit-Style Sushi: A Gluten-Free Menu Full of Flavor and Fun
One of the first things you notice at Sushi Lounge is a small detail with big significance: the entire menu is 100% gluten-free. Traditional soy sauce (which contains wheat) has been swapped for tamari, and even the tempura batter is made gluten-free. In the sushi world, where soy sauce and tempura are staples, this kind of inclusive approach is rare, it’s “health-conscious” dining without sacrificing the joy of eating. In fact, few restaurants attempt such a completely gluten-free take on sushi, making Sushi Lounge a potential game-changer for those with dietary restrictions. Consider this: approximately 1 in 20 Americans can’t consume gluten due to celiac disease or sensitivities, and many more choose to avoid gluten as a lifestyle choice (one 2020 study found about 25% of Americans have tried or follow a gluten-free diet). For Metro Detroiters who fall into those categories, or have family members who do, Sushi Lounge means no one has to miss out on a sushi night. You can dig into crisp tempura shrimp or drizzle tamari on your nigiri without a second thought. It’s a welcome peace of mind that comes alongside bold flavors, so diners get the best of both worlds: worry-free eating and top-notch taste.
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Sushi Lounge Detroit, Facebook
Menu Highlights: Classic Meets Creative “Motor City” Rolls
When it comes to the actual sushi menu, Vang and White have crafted offerings that balance familiar favorites with local creativity. Yes, you can get the tried-and-true classics, California rolls, Rainbow rolls, tuna and salmon rolls, you name it, because they know some people (and kids) like to stick to what they know. But the real buzz is around what they’re calling “Detroit-style sushi”: inventive rolls and bites named for Detroit icons and inside jokes. These fun creations don’t just have catchy names; they’re packed with bold ingredients. A few standouts include:
- The Big Three Roll: A monster roll loaded with fried lobster, shrimp tempura, torched scallop, avocado, pickled daikon, and scallions, a nod to Detroit’s automotive “Big Three” heritage. It’s as indulgent and hefty as its name implies, marrying land and sea in every bite (and yes, it’s completely gluten-free despite the tempura!).
- Whatuproll!: A spicy, crunchy homage to the Detroit colloquial greeting “What up, doe!” This roll wraps fried crab with cucumber, roasted red pepper, asparagus, avocado, and Fresno chili for a little kick. It’s colorful, playful, and delivers a satisfying crunch, likely destined to be an Instagram favorite for its name alone.
- Sushi Bombs: A rotating five-piece set of temari sushi, think bite-sized colorful sushi balls. Each “bomb” is a petite flavor explosion, perfect for those who want to sample a variety of fish and toppings in one order. This option also makes sushi fun for kids; the small, round pieces are easy to handle and visually appealing.
- Sushi Stack & Snack: Imagine a sushi-deconstructed tower. This dish layers diced sashimi in a three-tiered stack, served with gluten-free chips on the side for scooping. It’s great for sharing, almost like a seafood dip meets poké concept, and it lets you play with your food a bit, which is always fun.
In addition to these signature items, the menu offers daily chef’s nigiri selections (so you can trust the experts to give you the best cuts of the day) and unique red and green onigiri, Japanese rice balls, for a portable snack option. Importantly, vegan and vegetarian diners will find options here as well. The chefs have made sure that plant-based palates aren’t left out, perhaps with veggie-filled rolls or creative use of ingredients like roasted peppers and avocado. And for those with a sweet tooth? They haven’t forgotten you: ube ice cream (a purple yam ice cream popular in Filipino and Thai desserts) and green tea mochi ice cream are on the dessert menu, bringing a cool, creamy finish to your meal. These treats are not only delicious but also gluten-free, of course. To top it all off, the adjacent Detroit Shipping Co. bar is introducing a selection of new Japanese sakes to pair with the sushi offerings. Whether you’re a sake aficionado or new to rice wine, sipping a delicate Junmai or fruity Nigori sake alongside a Detroit-themed roll can elevate the whole experience. It’s clear that every aspect of the Sushi Lounge menu, food and drink, has been thoughtfully curated to offer something for everyone, all while sticking to the gluten-free promise.
If patio energy is your thing, browse our Detroit patio guide.
Dining at Detroit Shipping Company: Midtown’s Food Hall Vibe
Part of what makes Sushi Lounge special is the setting itself. Detroit Shipping Company (DSC) isn’t a traditional restaurant venue, it’s a lively food hall and beer garden fashioned out of old shipping containers, complete with an open-air courtyard and communal tables. Since opening in 2018, DSC has become a favorite hangout in Midtown. On any given day, you’ll find a mix of downtown office workers grabbing lunch, Wayne State students studying over coffee, families with kids sampling gelato, and sports fans meeting up before a Tigers or Red Wings game. The addition of Sushi Lounge amplifies this vibe even further. Now you can wander in with a group of friends or relatives and have a world of options: one person might get Thai curry from Vang’s Bangkok 96 stall, another grabs tacos from a neighboring vendor, and you head straight for a plate of sushi. Then everyone reconvenes at a picnic-style table in the courtyard to share a meal together. It’s the kind of flexible, come-as-you-are dining experience that suits both families and adventurous eaters. No one is left out, and the casual setup means you don’t have to worry if the kids get a little loud or if Grandpa decides he’d rather have a burger from the spot next door. In other words, inclusive dining here refers not just to the menu’s gluten-free philosophy, but also to the overall atmosphere, all are welcome and everyone can find something they enjoy.
The ambiance at Detroit Shipping Co. is as much a draw as the food. Think street art murals on the container walls, strings of lights overhead, and often the sounds of local DJs or live music playing on weekends. (In fact, Sushi Lounge’s grand opening DJ set was a hint of the kind of energy this place can have.) On a warm evening, you might catch a pop-up event or trivia night in the courtyard; on a chilly day, the indoor seating areas provide a cozy refuge with heat lamps and the aromatic warmth of various cuisines in the air. It’s a dynamic space that engages all the senses. Importantly, it’s also pretty convenient: unlike many city spots, Detroit Shipping Co. offers a free parking lot for its patrons, so you can load the family in the car and not stress about feeding the meter or finding street parking. And if you’re coming by for a quick lunch, the central Midtown location (just a few blocks from Woodward Avenue and a short walk from Little Caesars Arena) makes it easy to pop in and out. All these factors combine to make enjoying Sushi Lounge an experience that goes beyond just tasting great sushi. You’re also soaking in the local culture, mingling with neighbors, maybe chatting with the chefs at the counter, and feeling the creative Detroit spirit in the air. For longtime Michiganders, it’s a proud moment to see how far the Cass Corridor has come: from gritty past to a vibrant present, with places like Sushi Lounge proving that the community can honor its roots (like a roll named after a Detroit slang) while continually reinventing itself.
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Sushi Lounge Detroit, Facebook
Experience Detroit’s Newest Culinary Gem (and Get Connected)
In the end, Sushi Lounge is more than just another restaurant opening, it’s a reflection of Detroit’s innovative, inclusive spirit. It combines a trusted local chef doing something refreshingly new, a setting that encourages community and comfort, and a menu that manages to be both adventurous and accessible. Such a combination educates newcomers on what Detroit’s food scene is all about, engages locals with a fun twist on a beloved cuisine, and builds trust by delivering exactly what it promises (when they say gluten-free, they truly mean it, no compromises). It’s the kind of place that makes you feel proud to be a Detroiter, knowing that our city is leading the way in culinary creativity in its own friendly, unpretentious style.
So what’s next? If you’re in the Metro Detroit area, the obvious move is: go check out Sushi Lounge for yourself. Grab a friend, your kids, or a coworker and head to Midtown to taste the buzz. Whether you’re a sushi aficionado or a skeptic, the experience is worth it, you’ll get a great meal and a fun outing in one. And if you happen to bump into one of the owners or chefs, say hello! They’re the kind of people who genuinely love chatting with fellow locals and might even tell you the story behind your favorite roll. For those thinking bigger, maybe you’re curious about what else Midtown Detroit has to offer, or even considering making a home in this thriving area, don’t hesitate to reach out for some local expert advice. Detroit’s resurgence is built on community, and lifelong Michiganders (like the folks behind Sushi Lounge, or neighborhood real estate experts who’ve seen the changes over years) are usually more than happy to share insights. From other new restaurants to housing tips and upcoming events, getting the scoop from someone in-the-know can turn you from an interested observer into an insider. In a city like ours, connections and local knowledge are everything.
Want more ideas after Sushi Lounge? See our Top 50 restaurants in Metro Detroit.
Sushi Lounge at Detroit Shipping Company is a must-visit new spot that showcases the best of Detroit’s culinary evolution, it’s creative, inclusive, locally rooted, and just plain fun. Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of it. Plan a trip to this Midtown gem, enjoy some Detroit-style sushi with a side of community atmosphere, and savor the feeling of discovering something truly special in your own backyard. Who knows, after a few visits, you might find yourself proudly recommending the Whatuproll! to the next neighbor asking for dining suggestions. See you in Cass Corridor, and bon appétit!
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