Puesto Mexican Street Food, located in downtown La Jolla, is an upscale fast-casual eatery that serves real authentic Mexican food made from whole, wonderful ingredients. All meals are made to order at a walk-up griddle in front of the customer. Guests may choose from Chef Luisteen’s signature tacos, bowls and salads or create their own deliciousness.
Our Menu
The menu focuses on a variety of Guisados (grilled foods) that include fish, shrimp, chicken al pastor, carne asada and gourmet Mexican vegetarian items like zucchini flower, huitlacoche truffle and soy chorizo potatoes. Guisados can be mixed and matched and are served in tacos with homemade stone ground corn tortillas that are layered with crispy melted cheese, Bowls and Salads.
Diners choose from a variety of toppings, including fresh vegetables, five housemade signature salsas, Flor De Jamaica Spices, a secret blend of Hibiscus flowers with chipotle sauce, grilled pineapple and nopales asados, a.k.a grilled cactus.
Puesto makes its salsas from scratch. Signature flavors include: Asada Molcajete with jalapeno chiles and tomatoes; tomatillo verde with serrano chiles; tomatillo roja with chile de arbol; pistache, pistachios with jalapeno chiles; mango with tomato, habanero chiles and cilantro.
A variety of Mexican street sides, desserts and beverages round out your meal, including black beans de la olla, velvety Mexican jasmine or brown rice, sweet Mexican corn and a traditional fruit and veggie cup topped with fresh squeezed lime, chili and sea salt.
Our Commitment
Puesto is committed to serving:
- Homemade, all-natural stone ground corn tortillas
- Flavorful salsas made from scratch daily
- All-natural meats
- Sustainable seafood
- Seasonal organic local vegetables
Our Chef
Executive Chef Luisteen Gonzalez is a native of Mexico City. His passion for food comes from his grandmothers, who taught him to cook when he was just ten years old, and his father, a fisherman for over 25 years. At 14, Luis prepared his first dinner for a Quincinera party in his hometown. This experience influenced him to follow his passion for food and home cooking and turn it into a culinary catering career in San Diego, which he has called home for the last 20 years.
Design
Puesto’s colorful dining room is dynamic and modern. Its beautiful museum-like setting compliments the bold flavors of the authentic menu and creates a communal family experience with a large center table, a variety of bar seating options and two original floor to ceiling paintings created by world-renowned graffiti artist Chor Boogie.
Management
Puesto is family-owned and operated by Eric and Alan Adler and Isi Lombrozo, native San Diegans and La Jolla High School alumni. As first generation Americans, whose families descend from Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, they were influenced by the culinary flavors of authentic, home-cooked Mexican meals. Eric and Alan ventured to the northeast and attended Babson College in Boston and Bryant University in Rhode Island and studied entrepreneurship and management, respectively. Isi graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and spent the last few years working for E*Trade Corporate in Washington DC. While living in many other cities throughout the United States they were all captivated by how the local flavors and unique restaurants represented the people and culture. Puesto has become an extension of that inspiration and represents the authentic flavors of Mexico with the best ingredients of San Diego.