A second location for Sticky Rice is coming to 707 E. Brady St. And that means the East Side will soon have more fresh, delicious Lao cuisine to explore and enjoy.
Partners Leo Kingsawan, Khamlae Phonisay and Teerasak Boonwatana opened the first location for Sticky Rice at 1000 E Locust St. in Riverwest in August of 2020. But when they happened upon the opportunity to take over the former home of The Truck Stop, Kingsawan says it was something they couldn’t pass up.
The new Brady Street location, which could open as soon as June 1, will offer counter service, plus casual seating for between 25 and 40 diners.
Kinsawan says the menu will remain largely the same as their Riverwest location, offering a combination of Lao and Thai dishes from popular standards like pad thai, volcano chicken and curries to Lao style pork ribs, Lao sausage, larb and khaopoon.
However – thanks to a larger kitchen – guests can expect a few new items (potentially including some Lao BBQ) as well as specials.
“We are very passionate about the restaurant and sharing our food with others,” says Kinsawan. “And we’re excited to open a second location where guests can sit down and enjoy our food hot and fresh.”
Kingsawan says they are currently working on implementing some cosmetic changes to the space, which he says will reflect a more natural look overall, but will display a few pieces of local artwork and neon signs on the walls.
Once open, Sticky Rice on Brady is expected to serve both lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday with tentative hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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