Photo Credit: Alex MontoyaFood & Drink
New Los Cucos Mexican Cafe Concept to open in City Place late 2025
CDC Houston, the master developer of north Houston business and leisure destination, City Place, today announced that the Cabrera family, operator of the popular Los Cucos Mexican Cafe brand, will launch an elevated new location within the community’s mixed-use urban core. Slated to open on the ground level of the two-story LEED Silver-certified office/retail building located at 1401 Lake Plaza Dr., in late 2025, the restaurant will occupy a prime, 7,676 square-foot endcap space, a stone’s throw from a picturesque lakefront promenade and heavily programmed City Place Plaza.
Alan Chodrow with Chodrow Realty Advisors represented the tenant and Lindsey McKean with SHOP Companies represented the Landlord, a joint venture of CDC Houston, Patrinely and Affinius Capital.
The City Place outpost of Los Cucos Mexican Cafe will represent a next-generation expression of the brand, featuring upgraded interiors, a large wraparound patio, and a more urban, cosmopolitan vibe—modeled closely after the successful Montgomery, TX location that opened last year. A lively, full-service bar program will be designed to activate an evening and weekend audience with margaritas, craft cocktails, popular happy hours, and later-night bites.
“Our vision for this location goes beyond being just another dining option—it’s about bringing energy and atmosphere to the heart of City Place, especially in the evenings and on weekends,” said owner and brand steward, Sergio Cabrera Jr. “We were drawn to City Place not only by its thoughtfully designed setting, but also the built-in customer base. You’ve got major employers like Exxon Mobil, HP Inc, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, plus thousands of multifamily units within walking distance, in addition to three on-site hotels — including one just steps from our front door. It’s a wonderful opportunity to serve a wide-ranging and growing audience of professionals, residents and visitors every day of the week.”
Los Cucos Mexican Cafe has built a loyal following across Texas and beyond for its bold, flavorful Tex-Mex cuisine, generous portions, and welcoming service. Signature dishes include sizzling beef, chicken and shrimp fajitas, enchiladas verdes, parrilladas, and their signature creamy green sauce. The bar will spotlight house margaritas—frozen, on the rocks, and fruit-infused—as well as a rotating list of Texas craft beers and tequila-forward cocktails.
Over the past 30 years, Los Cucos has grown from a single restaurant on Clay Road and Highway 6 into a multi-brand hospitality operator (Vida Mariscos, Lago Mariscos, Gauchos Do Sul) with over 20 locations across Texas. The family-owned business has built a reputation for creating welcoming, high-quality dining experiences that blend authentic family recipes with modern operations and design. In recent years, focus has shifted to expanding into high-growth markets with elevated, strategically located formats such as the upcoming City Place location.
City Place’s Los Cucos joins a cluster of neighboring culinary offerings including Common Bond Bistro & Bakery, Sushi Rebel, Island Grill, Star Cinema Grill, Chipotle and Starbucks, enhancing the vibrancy of the community’s central waterfront Plaza and its year-round calendar of mostly free, family-friendly events.
City Place recently welcomed the inaugural phase of its first school- Harmony Science Academy – this summer and construction of its fourth multifamily community – Fein’s Echo Lake – is now under construction with initial move ins slated for April 2026.
Source: City Place
