La Puerta’s Second Location Now Open In Mission Hills

The second location of La Puerta is now open in Mission Hills! Known for its quality Sinaloan-inspired food, selection of agave tequila and good times, La Puerta’s new location now occupies what used to be The Patio on Goldfinch.

Gaslamp roots…evolved.

La Puerta’s 13-year old Gaslamp restaurant is an edgy neighborhood spot with a locals-first mentality that carries over to the Mission Hills location, yet in a slightly more mature and evolved version of the downtown Cantina.

La Puerta’s two restaurants have many similarities including menu items and offering only 100 percent blue agave tequila and mezcal, beer, wine and blended cocktails.

Owner Merritte Powell has dreamed of expanding for years but was waiting for the perfect opportunity. Years ago he had the chance to open a second location in Mission Hills and was tempted, but ultimately decided not to, stating, “I would be completely on board if I lived in the neighborhood.” Fast-forward several years, today Powell lives with his wife and two dogs in Mission Hills.

A menu filled with Sinaloan-inspired dishes

The neighborhood cantina offers an expansive menu filled with Sinaloan-inspired dishes including La Puerta cult favorites like T.J. Dawg & Fries with two bacon-wrapped turkey hot dogs, diced tomatoes, grilled onion and poblano, jalapenos; One Pound Wet or Dry Burritos, choices include Carnitas, Surf ‘n Turf, Veggie, and a California Burrito; and Surf ‘n’ Turf Fries with arrachera steak, sauteed shrimp and chipotle crema.

Additionally, La Puerta’s food menu includes a wide selection of items from a Tijuana Caesar, quesadillas, street tacos, and papas fritas.

4,000 square feet of good food, art, booze, and open air

At 4,000 square feet, the Mission Hills location seats 160 guests in two dining areas and at an expansive bar. At the entry, open floor to ceiling windows create an indoor-outdoor vibe that is enhanced by an adobe style fireplace, stained teak ceilings and multiple living plant walls lining the restaurant.

San Diego local artist, Marc Sandoval, designed all the graphics for the restaurant’s walls and tabletops with mixed-media collages of iconic rock and hip hop artists including KISS-inspired murals and a series of Keith Richards images, chronologically from the 1960s to present time.

Seating includes large faux crocodile skin booths and orange Kartell dining chairs that bring pops of color and complement Sandoval’s tabletop art, which is a mix of vintage florals layered with photographs of artists including Tupac, Prince, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and more.

To start, La Puerta Mission Hills will be open for dinner Thursday-Sunday from 3PM to 11PM.

See you there….and stay healthy, San Diego!