Tacos triumph!
The proprietor of a restaurant that began as a simple roadside taco stand was met with loud cheers and a significant crowd for his acclaimed tacos, just hours after an unexpected appearance at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
Victor Villa received an enthusiastic welcome outside his restaurant, Villa Tacos, in Highland Park on Monday. He embraced his parents and shared anecdotes about mingling with Latin music greats.
“He’s a really nice guy,” Villa mentioned while talking about Bad Bunny.
How one of the biggest music stars worldwide found out about the Los Angeles taco shop remains a bit of a mystery. Neither Villa nor his parents recall seeing him at the restaurant, which is rather curious.
“Maybe he visits in his Sprinter van all the time, or perhaps he had someone grab tacos for him,” Villa speculated. “That’s what I think.”
Bad Bunny’s team visited Villa three weeks prior to tell him he would perform at the event, but the news had to stay secret. This proved to be quite a challenge for him.
“So, you were left hanging for three weeks, wondering where everyone was. It was pretty tough.”
Villa played a role in the stage design for Bad Bunny’s performance, which received mixed feedback.
For two weeks, Bad Bunny rehearsed in Los Angeles before moving to San Francisco for the final preparations, and Villa was part of that journey all along.
The Super Bowl performance was certainly a highlight for Villa, but he was eager to return to his restaurant for the noon opening on Monday. Hungry fans began lining up as early as 8 a.m. for a taste of his signature Villa Trio, a three-layer taco packed with chorizo and guacamole.
Richard, the first customer in line and a Rams fan, said he decided to wait because of the halftime show. “I ordered ten tacos. They were fantastic. I’ve already eaten four and plan to save the other six.”
As Villa went to the kitchen, he became emotional. Grabbing a towel, he insisted on cleaning the counter. “We need to tidy up; everyone has to do their part,” he shouted.
He also mentioned plans to open another location soon.
Watching from outside the restaurant, Villa’s parents celebrated, shooting off confetti cannons and reminiscing about seeing their son on that big stage.
“It hit me right away, and we were jumping and crying,” his father shared.
