For many fans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began long before the movies, video games, or modern animated reboots.
While the franchise originated as a dark comic book series from Mirage Studios, it was the 1987 cartoon that transformed Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael into household names. The brightly colored series fueled the “Turtle-mania” craze of the late 1980s and early 1990s, turning the “heroes in a half shell” into one of the biggest entertainment brands on the planet. Now, that retro era has made a comeback in a rather unexpected way.
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1987's TMNT Cartoon Returns in an Unexpected Way
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the first-ever official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria has opened in Santa Monica, California, bringing the world of the classic cartoon into the real world.
The restaurant was created by restaurateur Andy Nguyen, who spent more than a decade pursuing the project before finally securing approval from Paramount. The pizzeria officially opened on June 20 on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.
But it isn't just a generic TMNT restaurant. The venue embraces the colorful, pizza-loving aesthetic of the 1987 animated series, with Nguyen describing it as a tribute to what he calls the “Millennial Turtles.” Speaking to the outlet, he explained that the original cartoon's visual style creates an instant sense of fun and nostalgia.
Nguyen celebrated the launch with a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“New York pizza. LA energy. And we’ve been pouring everything into this. The first-ever official TMNT Pizzeria opens in Santa Monica on June 20th at 11AM — We’ve put our best into every slice detail of this experience. The first 100 supporters through the door get a special gift”
New York pizza. LA energy. And we’ve been pouring everything into this.
The first-ever official TMNT Pizzeria opens in Santa Monica on June 20th at 11AM — We’ve put our best into every slice detail of this experience. The first 100 supporters through the door get a special gift pic.twitter.com/xlnmLOEXmQ
— Andy Nguyen (@AndyTheNguyen) June 11, 2026
The opening is part of a broader Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles expansion strategy at Paramount, which also includes new film projects, merchandise partnerships, and additional themed pizzerias planned for Monterrey, Mexico, and São Paulo.
Nearly four decades after the original cartoon first aired, the 1987 Turtles continue to shape the franchise's identity. And now, fans can celebrate that legacy the way the heroes themselves would probably want: with a giant slice of New York-style pizza.
Are you a fan of the original TMNT cartoon? Let us know in the comments!
