“Sueño” means dream. For brothers Christian and Marco Lujano, the name is more than branding. This is the story of a family and what’s possible. It’s how you can turn a spot that used to be a Burger King into one of the best Mexican restaurants in North Texas, serving up fine food and excellent drinks with hospitality as good as it gets. This is the heartfelt story of Sueño.
Their story begins in Mexico, where they grew up before moving to Dallas at ages 10 and 7. They didn’t speak English — an experience that reminds me of my own kids when they moved here from Japan. “We were just kids,” Christian tells me, over drinks. “Everything was overwhelming. But we learned quickly that this city rewards effort.”
A Restaurant Built By Hand
We’re in a blue booth, Christian, me and Marco, who oversees the bar program. Guest after guest files in; impressive for a chilly mid-week evening. The interior is modern and polished. “We didn’t have a million dollars to go into Uptown in Dallas,” says Christian. “We had plywood from Home Depot and concrete for the bar. We designed everything ourselves.”
But for Christian, the location, a former fast-food spot, was strategic. “Richardson was underserved,” he says. And he thought he could bring a dining experience — one that, at the time it opened in 2021, you’d have experience in Dallas — to right here on West Arapaho Road. I know the area well: There used to be a Blockbuster Video right next door, where I once met Mickey Mantle. True story.
After years of opening other people’s restaurants, Christian wanted to open his own.
The Meaning Of La Familia
This is a family business, with cousins, aunts and even their mother rounding out the roster. Heck, their grandfather — the man who introduced Christian and his brother to hospitality — buses tables six days a week. “He’s one of the most genuine, enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet,” Marco says…