BDP9: Tortilla Sunrise Tacos
Posted by Huw,
With voting for submissions to BrickLink Designer Program series 9 ending tomorrow, this will be the last in our series of articles about specific models written by their designers.
Hello! Lucas from BrickAndMortar here. I’m excited to share the creative journey behind Tortilla Sunrise Tacos, and you can find more of my work on Instagram @lucasthelegoguy.
Welcome to Tortilla Sunrise Tacos, already nicknamed "Taco of the Town", the newest culinary hotspot to join your LEGO city! This vibrant eatery brings fresh, flavourful Mexican cuisine to life through a cleverly repurposed blue shipping container brimming with personality.
Design & Exterior Details
The sun-drenched patio features authentic ironwork furniture nestled among blooming pink bougainvillaea, creating an ideal spot for minifigures to gather and dine. A majestic, weathered palm tree provides natural shade, while carefully placed cacti and charming touches, including a miniature chilli pepper plant, add delightful discovery moments throughout the build.
Bold, eye-catching colours define the exterior, from the container's bright walls to the playful signage that announces this beloved local establishment. Thoughtful touches like crates of fresh ingredients, a chalkboard menu, and whimsical décor reward builders who take time to explore every detail.
Creative Inspiration
This design draws from my childhood travels and the diverse cuisines I was fortunate to experience around the world. Mexican food has always held a special place in my heart, which sparked the idea: why not create a colourful LEGO Mexican restaurant that feels at home on any beachfront in a LEGO city?
The shipping container format offered the perfect canvas, compact yet full of possibilities. During the design process, I knew I wanted to incorporate brick-built food elements. The breakthrough came unexpectedly while preparing guacamole at home—suddenly, I envisioned a LEGO guacamole bowl, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the final result!
Technical Achievements
One of my key priorities was creating a modular roof system, allowing builders flexibility and easy access to the detailed interior. Balancing the exterior’s unique angles while maintaining structural integrity presented a challenging task. The building’s overall geometry evolved through extensive iteration, ultimately achieving a shape that feels both authentic and playfully LEGO.
Each window and architectural detail was carefully considered capturing the lively, welcoming atmosphere of a community favourite. The interior spaces are just as rich with detail, inviting builders to imagine countless stories unfolding within this bustling taco joint. Tortilla Sunrise Tacos celebrates vibrant colours, coastal living, and the joy of sharing good food, all packaged into an engaging LEGO building experience that encourages creativity, storytelling, and endless play possibilities.
Voting is open until October 17th! I would greatly appreciate your vote and any feedback you’d like to share. You can support Tortilla Sunrise Tacos here.
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5 comments on this article
I really like the name of this model. I hope it comes with a sound brick with Mexican tunes for bonus marketing points.
In all honesty, there are so many submissions in the Bricklink Designer Program now that I just don't bother voting. It takes so long to go through them that I just don't have the time.
I do like looking at the various ones that have appeared so far on Brickset though. I'll leave others to vote to decide what comes up to actually be ordered eventually.
This would be nice companion to the Snack Shack! The cactus is brilliant too!
Some feedback: it's very parts heavy for its size. Snack Shack is 538 parts compared to 962 for this build. The text for this article feels very AI-generated too...
I love it! I already voted for this a few days ago. Good atmosphere, a little set full of life!
It's very clever and cute, but like many Bricklink Designer Program sets ... it's just so busy. For example, you probably only need one food signage on top, not two. I would recommend you keep the taco and ditch the other one. Also, the crumbling wall along the right side doesn't add much, and it just makes the space in front of the shop feel tight and claustrophobic. You could easily ditch the wall as well.
It's sort of like writing a short story -- be brutal with your edits and leave only the stuff that really matters.