{"id":579162,"date":"2026-02-10T05:54:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/579162\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T05:54:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:54:12","slug":"l-a-taqueria-basks-in-the-afterglow-of-its-super-bowl-halftime-show-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/579162\/","title":{"rendered":"L.A. taquer\u00eda basks in the afterglow of its Super Bowl halftime show appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By the time Victor Villa arrived at his restaurant Villa\u2019s Tacos in Highland Park on Monday afternoon, a mob of press surrounded him, a line of customers had stretched down the block since daybreak, and cars and TV-news satellite trucks circled the parking lot, double parked in front of red curbs. <\/p>\n

Villa, just returning from his appearance during the historic Super Bowl halftime<\/a> show with Bad Bunny, did what he frequently does with patrons lined up outside Villa\u2019s \u2014 be their hype man. He made his way to the line of fans and led them in a call-and-response cheer: \u201cWHEN I SAY VILLA\u2019S, YOU SAY TACOS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVillas!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTacos!\u201d<\/p>\n

Later, he\u2019d fist-bump them one by one as each entered the small storefront.<\/p>\n

The afterglow of seconds of interaction with a global superstar representing Latin culture, Villa said, is \u201can honor at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring a time where immigrants are frowned upon, we were there to reinforce that we\u2019re just about love,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One fan stood in line as early as 7 a.m. so he could say he was the first customer post-Super Bowl. The restaurant opens at noon. <\/p>\n

Some brought pets, others brought infants, and more than a few donned either Villa\u2019s or Bad Bunny merchandise, waiting for their taste of the tacos known for fresh, handmade blue-corn tortillas and piles of grilled meats, pickled onions and house-made salsas.<\/p>\n

Inside, Bad Bunny\u2019s \u201cTit\u00ed Me Pregunt\u00f3\u201d blasted from the speakers while clips from the halftime show played on repeat. In his moment in the international spotlight, the taquero stood behind a branded puesto and received a Puerto Rican piragua<\/a> from Bad Bunny as he passed by.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Fans wait in line at Villa\u2019s Tacos a day after the Super Bowl halftime show.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Villa said he received a call in December stating that Bad Bunny, the Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican rapper, wanted him to participate in the Super Bowl halftime show. Villa still isn\u2019t sure how Bad Bunny learned of Villa\u2019s Tacos. He said the musician could be a fan, or noticed the positivity shared through Villa\u2019s viral videos and social media accounts, which include more than 164,000 followers<\/a> on Instagram.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case, Villa said he saw it as a means of representing his family, Mexican culture and his hometown. The timing felt especially poignant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have so much to share,\u201d Villa said Monday. \u201cNot only our gastronomy, but if you\u2019re cold, I\u2019ll give you my sweater. If you\u2019re hungry, I will feed you. If you get thirsty, I will quench your thirst. I think sometimes we forget that we\u2019re just all people. We\u2019re all humans, and we all deserve to be loved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The halftime show involved three weeks of rehearsals, which were split between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, he said. Villa and his family had to keep the appearance under wraps. After the show, the internet exploded with memes, some of which featured Villa.<\/p>\n

The founder launched his taquer\u00eda as a sidewalk pop-up in 2018, first at his mother\u2019s home, then on York Boulevard. In 2023 he opened the Highland Park storefront<\/a>, and in 2024, launched a stall in Grand Central Market food hall<\/a>. Last year he opened another Highland Park storefront, this time inspired by Baja-style tacos and mariscos. His food has made multiple appearances in the L.A. Times 101 List of best restaurants, as well as the Michelin Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On Monday afternoon some guests in line said they had never tasted the tacos before. Others said they come multiple times a month and have patronized the stand since Villa popped up on Highland Park sidewalks.<\/p>\n

His parents, who help run the local taco chain, stood in customized Villa\u2019s jerseys and marveled at the commotion Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they didn\u2019t know about Villa\u2019s Tacos, now they know,\u201d said Victor \u201cPoppoh\u201d Villa Sr.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Marilu Villa and Victor \u201cPoppoh\u201d Villa Sr., the parents of Villa\u2019s Tacos founder Victor Villa, stand outside the taqueria after Villa appeared in Bad Bunny\u2019s halftime show.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The 60th Super Bowl felt symbolic to Villa\u2019s parents; it was also the 60th birthday of the chef-owner\u2019s mother, Marilu Villa. On Sunday they celebrated it all together \u2014 moms, t\u00edas, cousins and other loved ones \u2014 and watched the game. When they saw Victor on screen, the room erupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the family were just going crazy,\u201d Marilu Villa said. \u201cJumping up and down, crying \u2014 so many different emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n

They see echoes of their son in Bad Bunny\u2019s music and the message that blasted across a large screen<\/a> at the end of the performance: \u201cThe only thing more powerful than hate is love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a total representation of what Victor is all about, which is transmitted through his food, through his community,\u201d Marilu Villa added.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s not just Victor\u2019s\u2019<\/p>\n

Villa\u2019s parents said it\u2019s also especially meaningful, given the immigration raids<\/a>. Last summer ICE raids caused protests and uncertainty throughout the city, with street vendors and other workers fearing deportation. Villa Sr. came to the U.S. at the age of 18 and says he experienced that same fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how they feel,\u201d he said. \u201cThey feel scared, they feel unwelcome. But Bad Bunny put a lot of vendors [in his performance], and that sent a big message that vendors are not criminals. We came here to work and we don\u2019t ask for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alyssa Rush and her wife, Christin, were visiting L.A. for their anniversary. Being from San Francisco, they said, they love tacos of all varieties \u2014 and after the Super Bowl, they wanted to try Villa\u2019s. They brought their infant son.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw the cart on Bad Bunny\u2019s halftime show so we were like, \u2018Oh, let\u2019s check out some tacos!\u2019\u201d Rush said, then motioned to their son. \u201cHe can\u2019t have any yet, but at least he\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lifelong Highland Park resident Sergio \u201cBig Serge\u201d Juarez visits Villa\u2019s Tacos two to three times a month, but wanted to stop by on Monday after seeing Villa on TV. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if one day, with the right people in the White House, he\u2019ll be in the White House catering,\u201d Juarez said.<\/p>\n

His family has lived in the neighborhood since the 1970s, and has seen Highland Park change in affordability and demographically. He said he hopes that the Super Bowl appearance shines a spotlight on Villa\u2019s Tacos as well as others in the neighborhood, and that it encourages more exploration of the area\u2019s mom-and-pop businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s highlighting the beauty of the community and the type of food that we have here,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s not just Victor\u2019s; there\u2019s a lot of other community members that also sell good food. I think people should support him as well as other people within the community, but don\u2019t just come \u2014 be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n