SapSap expands from Zócalo food truck to a 3rd Street Market Hall hawker stall

A Lao food concept moves into downtown’s high-traffic food hall

SapSap, a Milwaukee-area Lao cuisine concept best known for its presence at Zócalo Food Park in Walker’s Point, is expanding into 3rd Street Market Hall at The Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. The move places SapSap inside one of the city’s most visited multi-vendor dining destinations, shifting part of its business from a food-truck setting to a permanent indoor stall.

The Market Hall operation is set to take over the hawker-stall space previously run by In Yun. The downtown location will be led by SapSap founder Alex Hanesakda alongside Ivan and Oscar Rubio Gutierrez, who have been operating In Yun. The arrangement keeps experienced on-site operators in place while introducing a new cuisine focus to the stall.

From pop-ups to a full-time truck, now to a second venue

SapSap’s Milwaukee footprint has been built over years of pop-ups and limited-run events, followed by a full-time presence at Zócalo Food Park beginning in 2025. The concept has been associated with Lao barbecue and Lao comfort foods, including sticky rice and chili-based dipping sauces known as jeow, and it has developed a following in the region through a combination of catering, special events and regular service.

Its expansion to 3rd Street Market Hall signals a step toward broader everyday access, particularly for downtown workers, tourists and eventgoers who frequent The Avenue corridor. Market Hall hours extend from morning through late evening most days, aligning with lunch, dinner and nightlife traffic.

What diners can expect on the menu

The downtown menu is expected to center on Southeast Asian and Lao-influenced dishes that have been associated with the SapSap brand. Items highlighted for the Market Hall stall include sticky rice, egg rolls, Pad Thai, Pad Krapow and Lao-style beef jerky, along with grilled meats.

• Staple Lao accompaniments such as sticky rice and spicy dips
• Fried and grilled items that travel well in a food-hall setting
• Rice- and noodle-based dishes aimed at quick-service dining

How the addition fits Market Hall’s vendor strategy

3rd Street Market Hall has continued to rotate and add vendors as it refines its mix of cuisines and service styles. SapSap’s arrival adds another Southeast Asian option to the lineup while also reflecting a broader pattern in Milwaukee dining: regional concepts using food parks and pop-ups as proving grounds before expanding into permanent indoor spaces.

The SapSap name has been tied to family recipes and Lao culinary traditions, positioning the concept as both a restaurant operation and a cultural food offering within Milwaukee’s evolving dining scene.

Operational details such as the opening date and final stall hours have not been publicly finalized in the Market Hall’s posted vendor information, but the business is positioned as an active addition to the downtown vendor lineup.