La Puerta To Open Second Location In Mission Hills

La Puerta, the 12-year old Gaslamp restaurant that instantly became a cult-favorite with locals and created a neighborhood-vibe among droves of conventioneers and tourists, will be opening a second location in Mission Hills in the next four to seven months. Known for its quality Sinaloan-inspired food, selection of agave tequila and good times, La Puerta will open in what used to be The Patio on Goldfinch.

La Puerta is an edgy neighborhood spot with a locals-first mentality that will carry over to the Mission Hills location, yet in a slightly more mature and evolved version of the downtown Cantina.

With more space (nearly 4,000 square feet) comes more opportunity for added menu items and nightly specials, while still featuring the many similarities including being drink-forward, offering only 100 percent blue agave tequila and mezcal, beer, an expanded wine list and not two, but three different 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. During one of their first calls, serendipitously, Jeff Silverman, President and CEO of Carleton Management (the company that owns the Mission Hills property), discovered that Powell lives in the Mission Hills home he grew up in.

Powell had been in discussions with Carleton Management before COVID-19 surfaced and did his final walkthrough of the space on March 17, just days before stay-at-home orders were implemented throughout California. The unknown effects of the pandemic have been prominent in Powells’ conversations the last couple of months, but he officially signed the lease on May 15.

We’re looking forward to it!

See you there!