Post updated at 9:27 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4:
A new restaurant from a former owner of Cielito Lindo will hold a grand opening this week. Los Guapos Latin Food is set to open its doors at 1500 W. Sixth St. on Saturday.
The restaurant is the latest venture by Lourdes Perez Rojo, in partnership with Víctor Roman. Perez Rojo is also known for her ownership of Cielito Lindo, which was destroyed by a fire last year, and Lulu’s Latin Food.
For Perez Rojo, the opening of Los Guapos is more than just a business opportunity — it’s a chance to remake what was lost after the fire at Cielito Lindo.
She said the project is not a new Cielito Lindo, but rather a new restaurant that embodies her and Roman.
“We created this new project together, which is completely different and very original,” she said.
“We designed all the decor ourselves, and we worked nonstop for seven months. Now, that hard work has become a reality. For this and 1,000 other reasons, my excitement is immense, and although I am extremely nervous about the opening, I am more than happy and ready for this new beginning.”
Los Guapos Latin Food will blend a wide array of Latin American cuisines under one roof. The menu will feature dishes from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, Peru, Costa Rica and Argentina.
“Almost all Latin American countries will be represented here,” Perez Rojo said. “My intention is to surprise students from other countries studying at KU, as well as residents from other Latin American countries now living in the U.S., just like myself. Our food will be very artisanal. You will feel as though you are dining at your mother’s house.”
Perez Rojo said they want the restaurant to be accessible to everyone. It will include vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a make-your-own section of the menu.
Though Los Guapos is a new venture, Perez Rojo invites the community to embrace it as a continuation of what they experienced at Cielito Lindo.
“I also invite you to become part of my new family,” she said. “This new project is created with a great deal of love. Although it will not be Cielito Lindo, it is a fresh initiative that will remain very enjoyable. You will truly fall in love.”
The grand opening for Los Guapos is set for noon Saturday, Sept. 7. The building, on the northwest corner of Sixth and Florida streets, was formerly home to Szechuan House.
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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