Photography by Kathy Tran.
If you’re a regular at Lake Highlands Cafe, you probably already know that the local diner is under new ownership.
Regulars are a considerable part of the clientele at the eatery, which was opened by the Mustafi family in 2023. New owner Sungmin Choi knows how valuable these customers are and says they’ve already given him some suggestions.
“All the regulars, they actually know owners have been changing,” he says. “So they actually came up to me and said hi, and they’re giving me a little advice, like ‘don’t change much things.’”
Choi bought the business from the Mustafis in late October. He says as a new father, he wanted to build something of his own after years in the hospitality industry. He is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and has worked in kitchens for close to two decades, including stops at Japanese eateries like Oishi Japanese in Lewisville and Edohana Sushi. He was the head chef for Jinbeh Sushi in Lewisville, managed high-level corporate dining, and most recently served as a vice president at F&F Japanese Grill.
A native of Coppell, he says he has volunteered in the Vickery Meadow area before. His parents also own Southern Maid Donuts at Casa Linda Plaza, so he has some familiarity with the area.
“I love the community here in Lake Highlands,” Choi says.
Changes in ownership are typically met with skepticism at places like Lake Highlands Cafe, which is not at all related to the original Highlands Cafe at Walnut Hill-Audelia. One of the biggest fears that can come with new ownership is losing favorites. Cafe regulars have nothing to worry about on that count, Choi says.
“I want to keep it that way,” Choi says. “But what customers used to like here, that’s why they’re returning, so I want to keep doing their favorites. I want to keep having great service. And if there’s gonna be changes, it’s going to be in better service.”
Choi says the country-fried steak with sausage gravy and the omelets have been his favorite items off of the menu.
The menu — just as extensive as Choi’s hospitality resume — comes with five crepe options, eight pancake varieties, nine different french toasts and eight omelet choices. Crepes and pancake offerings are highlighted by the cafe’s signature berry toppings, which include fresh berries, mascarpone, blackberry coulis and a special house white sauce.
French toast comes in all varieties of sugar-filled extravagance at the cafe. S’mores french toast comes served with marshmallow spread, graham crackers and chocolate, and the stuffed toast comes filled with cream cheese and topped with strawberries, chocolate chips, raspberries and chocolate sauce. All toasts are made on Empire Baking Co. challah bread.
Aside from sweeter breakfast options, the cafe offers hearty bowls and hashes made with house-made corned beef. Filling breakfast entrees like country fried chicken and biscuits and gravy offer a substantive start to the day alongside Tex-Mex favorites like migas. The crab cakes Benedict comes with premium lump crab, which Choi says is a credit to the Mustafis.
“They have good recipes, because I’m just checking it, but there’s not much to mention. …We’re using real crab meat instead of imitation,” he says. “So there’s not really much change, but I am wanting to maintain keeping up with products.”
Healthier options include yogurt, avocado toast and oatmeal.
“We’re serving an omelet, and hearty, healthy breakfast options,” Choi says. “We have lots of older people coming here, and I want them to think this is clean and safe and healthy food.”
For lunch, the cafe serves sandwiches, paninis, wraps, burgers and salads.
As opposed as he is to removing customer favorites, he’s thought about expanding the menu. Choi says that he would like to begin incorporating seasonal offerings and wants to look at bringing a convection oven into the kitchen for pies and cakes.
Choi is looking forward to becoming more involved in the community. He says he would like to host area first responders and organizations, and hopes to create a comfort place for his “family,” which includes his staff, customers and, of course, his own family.
“I want my staff to be here and happy, and I want myself to be happy through them, and I want my customers to be happy through us.”
Lake Highlands Cafe, 6751 Abrams Road, 214. 613. 6310
