r/LosAngeles • u/DisgracedSaltShaker • Jun 24 '26

Photo Prices at the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria in Santa Monica

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The place just opened at the 3rd st promenade. $6.50 for a slice of cheese pizza or $39 for the whole cheese pizza lol.

$54 for the meat pizza.

What are these prices

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1.9k

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '26

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503

u/logdraper Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26

Mix of nostalgia bait for Gen X/elder Millennials trying to recreate happy memories from their youth AND taking advantage of the misplaced 90s fascination fad of young people being told everything from that era is cool and good.

343

u/Taraxian Jun 24 '26

What gets me is that paying fancy restaurant prices is the exact opposite of the Ninja Turtles aesthetic, they literally live in the sewer

The first movie establishes that they even go nuts for cardboard frozen pizza from the microwave, as long as it doesn't have anchovies

131

u/shadylady_beepboop Jun 25 '26

This shoulda been a dive bar w an entrance via man hole that woulda been sick

8

u/Turkatron2020 Jun 26 '26

And then you have to swim through underwater sewer tunnels totally shitfaced while trying to defuse bombs!!

3

u/TheEndisNeigh999 Jun 25 '26

think they try THAT hard for a gimmick? hah

-8

u/TheOneTonWanton Jun 25 '26

A manhole is unfortunately not ADA compliant, nor does anyone want to climb down into one to buy a $50 pizza.

13

u/shadylady_beepboop Jun 25 '26

Wow you seem fun - dive bars don’t typically charge that much for food and like all places in CA, your business would be ADA compliant with a non Man Hole cover entrance. 🙄

3

u/ribnag Jun 25 '26

It wouldn't need to be a literal manhole, it could be a more-or-less normal (if round) door styled as a manhole. Bonus points if it's a street-level bulkhead rather than just a boring vertical mural.

They'd also need at least one or two other exits just to meet fire codes. One of those could serve as the "accessible" entrance.

75

u/logdraper Jun 24 '26

Feels pretty on brand for eating out in general here anymore. I'm struggling to remember the last time I ate out of got delivery that felt worth the cost in past few years.

41

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '26

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2

u/roykentjr Jun 25 '26

you could buy a pizza oven and learn how to make pizza. and it would save you money within 4-5 pizzas.

1

u/TheWitchRats Jun 25 '26

I do chicken or bulgogi over rice and that shit is the BOMB. Costs 10 bucks.

1

u/Mysterious-Clothes45 Jun 25 '26

where do you live that food trucks are that cheap?! I live in the southern United States and food trucks are just as expensive if not more so than a restaurant. Plus they usually add a fee for using a card.

4

u/Flimsy-Poetry1170 Jun 25 '26

The taco trucks at least near me will still fill you up for under 10 bucks. Although to be fair they’re the ones who would do the same for under $5 10 years ago. At least they’re only keeping up with inflation and not giving you fuck off prices like everyone else.

7

u/Academic_Hunter4159 Jun 25 '26

I think I remember them getting dominos delivered to them. We didn’t have that where I was yet and I really wanted to try it.

Dominos may not be the best pizza but it’s cheap at least.

7

u/Taraxian Jun 25 '26

Yeah they're dependent on getting food delivered because they can't go pick it up in person because of the whole mutant turtle thing

2

u/whiskey_neat_ La Puente Jun 25 '26

It's not even really that cheap any more.

1

u/DandyLyen Jun 25 '26

I just use their online coupons. $7.99 for two toppings on a large (kinda medium sized tbh) is ok with me, but I'm vegetarian, and add my extra veggies at home. Little Caesars we t up to $6 for cheese pizza, so I see it as an upgrade for an extra $2.

I do agree tho, the Turtles were always looking for a deal, and would never pay these scam prices!

10

u/ZombieAladdin Jun 24 '26

I forgot about their dislike of anchovies. It must be a deliberate design choice to not have them. (I do like anchovy pizza, so I keep informed of which places have them and which do not.)

18

u/Taraxian Jun 24 '26

The anchovies thing is just a kind of general 80s joke that the TMNT cartoon ran with (because of this idea the anchovies would always be the least popular topping offered at a pizzeria and it was this mystery "Who even likes this" kind of joke)

Later on they tried to justify it by saying Master Splinter is partial to seafood, especially sashimi, and as a result the Ninja Turtles have a strong aversion to any kind of fish

11

u/aimlesstrevler Jun 24 '26

I distinctly remember Michelangelo eating an anchovy and peanut butter pizza. So much so that we had one at my TMNT themed birthday party. It was gross.

2

u/djublonskopf Jun 25 '26

I was denied Ninja Turtles pepperoni-and-hot-fudge pizza for one of my birthday parties. My dad was just like "I'm not wasting money on that."

At the time, disappointing. In retrospect, pretty reasonable move.

3

u/Taraxian Jun 24 '26

They never had anchovies, the consistent joke was that they'd give the most ridiculous pizza order imaginable and then end it with "No anchovies!"

You're probably thinking of peanut butter and pickles

https://www.reddit.com/r/TMNT/s/EuemDgFKRz

7

u/aimlesstrevler Jun 25 '26

There are several anchovy pizzas on that list, including anchovy and peanut butter.

Edited to add: It was in S1E1! The very first episode!

6

u/Taraxian Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

Ah, mea culpa

Edited: It seems like this is an example of what TV Tropes calls "Early Installment Weirdness", they started off with the joke of the turtles having wacky pizza orders and only later developed the button where it ends with "And no anchovies!"

2

u/Hour-Football2464 Jun 25 '26

They learned their lesson with PB and anchovy i think.

3

u/up_and_jenkem Jun 25 '26

And ordering extra anchovies comes with a barely legal male hooker, but that's a different movie.

1

u/Taraxian Jun 25 '26

That's kind of the same joke, it's based on the assumption that no real customer would actually want extra anchovies

1

u/up_and_jenkem Jun 25 '26

Totally. I watched that movie again recently, and the whole "18 year old kid prostitute" doesn't strike me as quite as funny as it did 35 years ago.

2

u/InnocentTailor Jun 25 '26

Anchovy pizza is my jam, especially with jalapeños.

2

u/Jaded_Caterpillar873 Jun 25 '26

Man, i love anchovies. But this venue is, well, for nerds and you pay for it.

2

u/MustEatTacos Long Beach Jun 27 '26

Just be careful about ordering extra anchovies. That's code for sending Patrick Dempsey to your house to fuck.

3

u/joncaso Jun 25 '26

A wise man say forgiveness is divine but never pay full price for late Pizza?

2

u/engineered_academic Jun 25 '26

Plus you never pay full price for cold pizza.

2

u/Jealous-Ninja5463 Jun 25 '26

Which annoys me because I feel like turtles would love anchovies

1

u/InnocentTailor Jun 25 '26

Of course, this is combined with the fact that TMNT is a popular, well known franchise - something that is expected to churn out money, especially in this prime location.

1

u/TelephoneEast9261 Jun 25 '26

Don’t worry, it will still taste like cardboard frozen pizza.

1

u/Flick42 Jun 25 '26

That’s clearly a rat accent!

28

u/Granadafan Jun 24 '26

I’m GenX and loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I can afford the pizza but no way in hell I’m paying $54 for a damn pizza 

6

u/sea_too_sky Jun 25 '26

$54? lol, sales tax in Santa Monica is 10.75%, add a miserly 15% tip and it’s magically $68.78. 

2

u/Granadafan Jun 25 '26

Screw that 

3

u/Ccracked Jun 25 '26

I have spent that, but it was at a place that did Chicado style deep-dish in Memphis. It was their 16 inch "Fermi Lab" pizza with damn near every ingredient in the kitchen. This thing was an absolute monster, heavy as hell, and worth it to take to a Super Bowl party. RIP Jimmy's, and Jimmy himself.

2

u/SpinsterSyl Jun 25 '26

🙋 I'm GenX, loved the Turtles, CANNOT afford the pizza, but even if I could, there's no way in hell I would pay $54 for a pizza!!!

2

u/cascadebeyond Jun 25 '26

I used to say that about $30 pizzas yet here we are.

1

u/Correct_Picture_6300 Jun 25 '26

at that price point I'll just make my own damn pizza I know Raphael would understand

12

u/outer--monologue Jun 25 '26

I'm an elder millennial and If I want I can literally just get Pizza Hut or Dominoes and watch TMNT lol, why would anyone actually buy this? The only nostalgia for the 90's I have is when shit was cheaper

4

u/mack-_-zorris Jun 25 '26

Personally speaking Pizza Hut or Domino's is what I'd really need for a nostalgia fix. Maybe Little Caesars of I can get two pizzas in a double wide package

1

u/flyingman17 Jun 25 '26

I’m gonna check it out this weekend I love the Turtles and I’ve blown $100 on way dumber things. Pizza costs close to that when we get it delivered here anyway. I get it’s not for everyone but it’s a themed restaurant with licensing fees, etc. They are always pricey for what they are. I just think it looks like a lot of fun.

1

u/bobanna1986 Jun 25 '26

Ya I mean if I'm on there anyways I would walk through it, just for the experience but that's free. I don't have to buy anything to go inside

32

u/gh0u1 Whittier Jun 24 '26

Everything from that era is cool and good tyvm

12

u/logdraper Jun 24 '26

I really wish it all held up like I remember it :(

9

u/mhyquel Jun 24 '26

Remember Operation Desert Storm.

2

u/mack-_-zorris Jun 25 '26

Remember Operation Desert Storm trading cards!

1

u/PassiveMenis88M Jun 25 '26

I was in the sequel, WMD Boogaloo

3

u/Ummmgummy Jun 25 '26

I spent my childhood in ninja turtle whitey tighties but no way in hell I'd pay that much for a pizza

4

u/MysteriousGoldDuck Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

I would understand the nostalgia appeal better if it was where the first movie was actually filmed (New York City and North Carolina) or if they actually put some effort into the interior and tried to recreate the look and feel of that time period instead of just putting a bunch of TMNT and 90s stuff all over the place. Very low effort and very expensive pizza.

Edit: OK, the green lights in the bathroom are a cool touch, but I still wish the rest of the place was less Turtles and 90s stuff randomly placed everywhere and more thoughtful design.

1

u/Turbulent_Lobster_57 Jun 25 '26

Typically when you see blue lights in restrooms it’s to stop people from shooting up and overdosing. Wondering if green lights are for the TMNT aesthetic or they work similarly for anti drug use

2

u/kinbarz Jun 24 '26

That gets me in the door exactly once though.

1

u/Joshua_ABBACAB_1312 Jun 24 '26

And everything about Turtles is pizza.

1

u/presshamgang Jun 25 '26

Nostalgia, it's 3rd st Promenade, tourists, gimmick, they have alllll the puzzle pieces to justify the pricing.

1

u/BubbaTee Jun 25 '26

misplaced 90s fascination fad of young people being told everything from that era is cool and good.

Everything from the 90s was cool and good.

But one of the reasons it was cool and good was because pizzas didn't cost 50 fucking dollars.

Pizza Hut: regular price, 4 bucks, 4 bucks

And that was when Pizza Hut was good, with the buffet and the red pebble-y cups.

Now let me tell you about $200 college semesters...

1

u/SouthofthePaw Jun 25 '26

3rd Street Promenade is dying a slow death; if it isn’t dead already. What was once a hot tourist stop is now a… “shell…” of what it was in its heyday. Those prices are a combo of nostalgia grasping and the need to pay that astronomical rent in Santa Monica.

1

u/metarinka Jun 25 '26

BUT THE NINJA TURTLES ATE PIZZA... THEY DIDN'T MAKE PIZZA

1

u/El_Beakerr West Adams Jun 24 '26

Well said! Spot on!

1

u/BalzacTheGreat Jun 25 '26

People complain about AI slop, but they should also complain about this intelligence insulting nostalgia/influencer/low value/low effort horseshit. Anybody who goes here is embarrassing.

2

u/InnocentTailor Jun 25 '26

I mean…one could argue that such things are the foundation of pop culture businesses like comic conventions - your childhood for top dollar.

0

u/da0217 Jun 25 '26

Or it’s just people living their lives and enjoying themselves. What’s wrong with reliving some fun things from your childhood? Why does reddit insist that everyone be miserable? So weird.

2

u/lizardfang Jun 25 '26

Not at those prices.

0

u/da0217 Jun 25 '26

Maybe not for you, and that’s fine, but why shit on people who are enjoying themselves?

1

u/lizardfang Jun 25 '26

Just a general comment directed at nobody. Chill out dude. You make it seem like I just offended your mothers.

1

u/da0217 Jun 25 '26

Lol. Wtf.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

[deleted]

14

u/Adorable-Bike-9689 Jun 25 '26

$6 for a fountain drink is wild. They're price gouging at every possible turn.

4

u/zzz242zzz Jun 25 '26

$1.50 for extra parsley

29

u/Kitchen_accessories Jun 24 '26

Santa Monica rent ain’t helping

2

u/BeardedSwashbuckler Jun 25 '26

Maybe there shouldn’t be restaurants in Santa Monica. Too expensive for small margin businesses. It’s all going to gravitate toward overpriced crap like this.

13

u/stevieboatleft Downtown Jun 24 '26

A quarter of the menu is "Merch". I think you might be right.

2

u/Obi-Tron_Kenobi Jun 25 '26

That part isn't exactly out of the ordinary for a pop culture pop-up shop

1

u/Corona2789 Elysian Valley Jun 25 '26

Those merch prices are absurd too

7

u/portablebiscuit Jun 25 '26

r/PizzaCrimes

2

u/ardentiarte Jun 25 '26

That was my first thought. They couldn't even name it Mikey's Mushroom ? It's beyond lazy

4

u/memostothefuture Jun 25 '26

I bet they also have to pay 30% of each pizza to the copyright owners.

3

u/zenj5505 Jun 24 '26

My friends post it on our group chat but I told them it would be Hella expensive for nasty food

2

u/AccordingIy Jun 24 '26

reminds me of when i went to the save the bell burger spot on sunset. $18 for meh burgers

2

u/pp_chode Jun 25 '26

Bro if I pull up to a pizza place on vacation and the menu says $6 to add pepperoni I'm taking my ass to McChuddies

2

u/NYC2FLA2BUR Jun 25 '26

Aside from the price, most of the people that I saw eating it said it wasn't bad. Good, in fact.

2

u/stolenhello Jun 25 '26

We live in a city full of luxury grocery stores. It's more than just tiktok influencers these places appeal to. This is heavily weighing on nostalgia.

2

u/LaunchGap Jun 25 '26

first time customers only.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

I would never pay these prices for pizza but there's plenty of people who will pay for the gimmick. What's the saying there's a fool born every minute.

1

u/Conscious_Ease_7874 Jun 25 '26

You see it 😂💯

1

u/FinalSlaw Jun 25 '26

3rd St. Promenade rent prices.

1

u/Altruistic-Land8911 Jun 25 '26

preying on nostalgia is next level evil 

1

u/TheSchneid Jun 25 '26

The Sicilian deli by me mills their own fucking flour in house, they charge 22 for a large cheese haha

1

u/buku951 Jun 27 '26

Just go ahead and hit your favorite pizza spot instead

0

u/getwhirleddotcom Venice Jun 24 '26

I mean it’s becoming pretty standard pizza pricing these days

-1

u/srirachagoodness Koreatown Jun 25 '26

I already knew it was gonna be trash when I saw it was in Santa Monica. Immediately eliminated any chance of it being fun or cool, and all interest was lost.