A California taco chain known for hand-pressed blue corn tortillas and house-brewed Mexican lagers is about to make its first move outside the Golden State, and it's landing in the heart of downtown Nashville. Puesto is scheduled to open at Nashville Yards on Friday, October 23, taking over ground-floor space inside The Everett apartment tower just steps from the live music venue The Pinnacle.
The opening marks Puesto's first location outside California, according to Nashville Post. Founded in 2012 in La Jolla, Puesto is a family-owned business, according to the San Diego Tourism Authority. The chain now runs eight full-service restaurants across California plus outposts at Levi's Stadium, Petco Park, and the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, per Nashville Post.
Why Nashville, and Why Now
The Tennessee expansion traces back to a personal connection: co-founder Isidoro Lombrozo attended Vanderbilt University, a tie that helped drive the company's five-year search for its first location beyond California, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Local design firm Powell is overseeing the buildout, incorporating saturated pinks, deep teals, and custom tilework, the Nashville Business Journal's reporting notes, while Nashville Post confirms Powell is handling the project's design.
The menu centers on Mexico City-style tacos, including filet mignon, Maine lobster, Baja fish, and chicken al pastor options served with house-made salsas, per Nashville Post. Those tacos are built on hand-pressed blue corn tortillas made daily from fresh masa. San Diego Magazine identifies Beau du Bois with Puesto and Roma Norte, the San Diego concept bar that was a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Bar. Puesto also brews its own Mexican lagers in-house, a capability built out in 2020 when the company opened Puesto Cervecería in San Diego's Mission Valley to produce lagers, pilsners, and specialty beers on-site, San Diego Magazine's earlier coverage shows.
A Prime Spot Inside a Booming Development
Puesto's location puts it on the ground floor of The Everett, a 361-unit luxury apartment tower where resident move-ins were expected to begin in December 2024, according to Axios. The restaurant also sits adjacent to The Pinnacle, a 4,500-capacity indoor live music and event venue co-developed by Southwest Value Partners and AEG Presents, giving it a built-in audience of concertgoers alongside building residents. Southwest Value Partners operates offices in both Nashville and San Diego, Nashville Post reports.
The restaurant is one piece of the broader Nashville Yards development. Puesto's arrival adds to the dining and entertainment offerings at the development, alongside Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão and the April debut of Hooky's 50,000-square-foot dine-in theater and bowling venue, as Hoodline has reported.
Hours and What to Expect on Opening Day
Once open, Puesto plans to serve lunch and dinner daily, with hours running 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, according to Nashville Post. The scheduled October 23 debut would place Puesto squarely within downtown Nashville's crowded new restaurant scene.
