01What happened
The story, straight
The world's first official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria has opened on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, currently in a trial phase ahead of its grand opening on June 20. The restaurant, masterminded by creator Andy Nguyen—who also runs a One Piece-themed cafe in Little Tokyo—serves New York-style pizza alongside weekend alcoholic drinks. Staff are dressed as ninjas, and the space is decorated with TMNT memorabilia and merch for sale. Paramount announced plans in February to open real-life TMNT pizzerias in multiple international locations.
there's a real ninja turtle pizza spot open on Third Street Promenade in santa monica—staff in full ninja fits, TMNT memorabilia everywhere, merch for sale, new york-style slices, and a bar doing alcoholic drinks on weekends. it's in trial mode right now, grand opening is june 20. the creator is Andy Nguyen, same guy behind the One Piece cafe in little tokyo. Paramount announced the whole TMNT pizzeria rollout back in february with plans for multiple international locations.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
04What's solid, what isn't
Claims by status
- The world's first official TMNT pizzeria is open in trial phase on Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica.
- Grand opening is scheduled for June 20, 2026.
- Creator Andy Nguyen, who also runs a One Piece cafe in Little Tokyo, masterminded the project.
- Paramount announced plans for international TMNT pizzeria locations in February 2026.
- Additional TMNT pizzeria locations and their specific cities have not been confirmed.
05Why it matters
The editorial take
Paramount's strategy of turning its IP into real-world dining experiences mirrors what Disney and Nintendo have done with themed attractions, but a pizza shop specifically is a direct line to the franchise's DNA—turtles eat pizza. The Santa Monica location is the test case for a planned international rollout, making Nguyen's track record with the One Piece cafe a meaningful signal about execution quality. If this one works, expect more Paramount properties to get the restaurant treatment.
paramount is clearly testing the 'turn your IP into a restaurant' playbook and TMNT is the perfect pilot—turtles eating pizza is baked into the culture. Andy Nguyen already proved the concept works with the One Piece cafe in little tokyo so there's actual credibility here. if the santa monica trial pops off, this is just the first location of many.