Ai Chef Express, the hibachi and sushi spot on South Westnedge Road in Portage, will close its doors in December after a little over three years in business. Owner Opal Sangrudee announced the closure in a Facebook post, saying she is moving on to her next adventure.
The closure was first reported by 95.3 The Ticket, which noted Sangrudee's announcement came per her Facebook post. The restaurant built a following in Portage for Japanese cuisine with unique twists, offering affordable dine-in and takeout options that drew regulars to its Westnedge location.
From Empty Storefront to Neighborhood Favorite
Ai Chef Express didn't always have a set path to opening. Back in July 2023, WRKR reported that a new hibachi, sushi, and rice bowl restaurant was preparing to open at 5728 South Westnedge Road, taking over the former Sprint store located next to Medawar Jewelry and Aarons Electronics. At that time, the station noted there was no set opening date yet for the new restaurant.
That uncertainty eventually gave way to a full-service menu that became a staple for Portage diners. Ai Chef Express served up curry, sushi, pad Thai, poke bowls, bento boxes, milk tea, and hibachi dishes, carving out a niche in the local dining scene over its three-plus years on Westnedge.
Owner Points to a New Chapter Ahead
Sangrudee's announcement framed the closure as a personal transition rather than a struggle, describing it as a move toward her next adventure. The report did not specify an exact closing date in December or detail the reasons behind the decision beyond that characterization.
The restaurant's Facebook page, Aichef Express, has built a modest but loyal online following of 423 followers, with 56 users marking that they had visited in person. The page describes the business simply as a new restaurant in town offering sushi, hibachi, ramen, and boba teas.
With the December closure approaching, Portage residents who've made Ai Chef Express part of their regular dining rotation have a limited window left to stop by the Westnedge Road location before Sangrudee moves on to whatever comes next.
