Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants entered the Nashville market in 2025 with two openings: Aba in Wedgewood-Houston and Sushi-san in 12 South. Both have performed well enough that the nearly 56-year-old, family-owned restaurant group is returning with a third concept, and more could follow.
"They're both exceeding our expectations for where we thought we'd be at this time," said RJ Melman, president and CEO of Lettuce Entertain You. "We fully expect to be doing more there. But they have to be the right opportunities."
Next up is Tacos El Terry, a Mexico City-style taqueria opening Oct. 22 at 111 Fourth Ave. S., just off Broadway in the former Losers Bar and Grille building.
in Nashville
Tacos El Terry was developed in partnership with a family from Northern Mexico whose favorite taco stand gave the restaurant its name.
"Tacos El Terry is inspired by their weekly visits to a taco stand to enjoy what they still consider to be the best tacos they've ever had, made by a man nicknamed El Terry," said Ben Goodnick, chef-partner at Lettuce Entertain You.
The menu is straightforward: tacos and quesadillas with pollo asado, al pastor, carne asada and grilled avocado, all served on housemade tortillas. Tacos come street-style, with chopped onions and cilantro. Customers can also order them "Terry's Way," on a red corn tortilla griddled crisp with melted cheese.
Sides include chips and guac, esquites and chiles toreados, or blistered chilies tossed with grilled onions and spices. To drink: frozen margaritas, palomas, Mexican beers and aguas frescas.
With Broadway, Bridgestone Arena and the Ryman Auditorium nearby, the restaurant is designed for quick lunches, dinners and late-night eats.
"What do we crave when we're down there?" Melman said. "Where can you go get a bite to eat that's fun and inexpensive and near a lot of the action?"
A second Lettuce Entertain You concept, a live music venue called Sing Bar, is planned for the upstairs space and will open after the taco restaurant gets up and running.
More coming to Nashville from Lettuce Entertain You
Lettuce Entertain You's relationship with Nashville predates its first local restaurants by about 15 years.
The company developed Windy City Smokeout, a Chicago country music and barbecue festival, with partner Ed Warm, who has served as chairman of the Academy of Country Music.
Those connections helped establish ties with Nashville's music and hospitality industries long before the company found suitable restaurant locations. Melman also pointed to the movement of residents and visitors between Chicago and Nashville, including customers already familiar with the company's restaurants.
Still, Melman couldn't name any one factor to explain why the restaurants have caught on so quickly locally.
"Sometimes you get lightning in a bottle and you don't know what happened," Melman said. "But both have seemed to strike a chord with the neighborhoods that they're in."
Although the company is considering additional Nashville projects, Melman said there's no predetermined number of restaurants planned.
"There is not some chart somewhere that says we need to have 15 restaurants here by 2032," he said. "That is not how we think. We think about it one restaurant at a time."
Tacos El Terry will open Oct. 22 at 111 Fourth Ave. S. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Carryout, delivery and catering will be available.
Reach senior dining reporter Mackensy Lunsford at mlunsford@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tacos El Terry opens in Nashville as restaurant group eyes expansion
