Lago Tacos, the modern Mexican mini-chain with locations in Minneapolis’s Lyn-Lake area, Excelsior and Plymouth, is bringing its fare to the Viking Lakes development in Eagan. Meanwhile, the Lyn-Lake location, on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis, is scheduled to close and reopen in St. Louis Park within the next few months, a spokesperson confirmed.

The Eagan restaurant, which will occupy a significant 6,000 square feet plus an “expansive outdoor patio,” aims to open during the summer in time for Minnesota Vikings Training Camp.

The restaurant has not yet decided on a specific closing date for its Lyn-Lake location, which opened in 2014 as its second outpost, after Excelsior. Marketing director Nicole Farrell said several factors contributed to the decision to leave Lyn-Lake but she declined to name specifics. Its replacement location in St. Louis Park will be the longtime former location of McCoy’s Public House along Excelsior Boulevard.

As at its existing locations, the Eagan location’s menu will include tacos, burritos, bowls and salads, ranging from classic varieties like chicken tinga and beef birria to more inventive interpretations like a Southern fried chicken taco with apple and blue cheese, and sesame chicken tacos with cabbage slaw and sweet chili sauce. A full cocktail menu will also be available.

Farrell said the restaurant is planning to work with the Vikings and the Minnesota Aurora, the women’s soccer team that plays at TCO Stadium on the Viking Lakes campus, to introduce menu items at the Eagan location linked to specific players.

Other tenants at Viking Lakes, the massive football team HQ and training facility owned by the Wilf family, which also owns the team, include a hotel, a sports medicine center, an apartment complex, and a few other retail options.

Lago Tacos >> Opening summer 2025 at at 730 Vikings Parkway, Eagan, and opening date TBD at 3801 Grand Way, St. Louis Park; lagotacos.com

— Jared Kaufman

Estelle owners to open Liliana in Woodbury

Exciting news coming out of Woodbury: The owners of Estelle and Mario’s are planning an Italian restaurant to open there this summer.

Chef/owner Jason Hansen and co-owner Peter Sebastian had been looking for a place to put their concept, called Liliana, and the space off Woodbury Drive and Hudson Road fits the bill.

“Peter and I had been looking at a bunch of different spots, and this one really grabbed our eye,” Hansen said. “We have a great relationship with the landlord … he really likes Estelle and kept it open for us for a while.”

The duo has paired with Kenzie Edinger, the current sous chef at Saint Dinette, which will close March 22. Edinger, who will be Liliana’s executive chef, previously led the kitchen at Mucci’s, so Italian is right up her alley.

“She said she really missed cooking Italian, so it was a perfect fit,” Hansen said. “I’m a big fan of hers.”

Hansen said it’ll be a very pasta-focused menu — much larger than at Estelle — and there will be a full bar program. They’re starting with dinner but will add lunch and brunch shortly thereafter.

The 100-seat space (there’s also a small, 20-seat patio out front) is under construction. Collage Architects is doing the design.

Hansen said they’re excited to bring something new to the suburb and are especially excited to have a restaurant with a parking lot, something not many city places can muster.

Liliana >> 10060 City Walk Drive, Woodbury; on Instagram @liliana_wdb

— Jess Fleming