BTS Star Spotted at Local Restaurant

During a bustling dinner rush at her family’s eatery, Kumako Ramen, 17-year-old Audrey Cruz caught a glimpse of her K-pop idol.

“I locked eyes with him and had a moment of clarity,” Cruz recalled. “Upon closer inspection, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, are you RM?’ He simply nodded.”

Unannounced Visit from RM

On May 14, RM, the leader of BTS, dined at the modest ramen restaurant in San Jose’s Japantown with friends, just days before the group performed at a series of sold-out concerts at Stanford Stadium. Cruz shared that none of the staff anticipated his arrival, but she and her mother, who have been fans since she was in fifth grade, felt it was the perfect place for him to eat.

“RM has been my bias since I started following BTS,” she added, using the term favored in K-pop fandom to denote one’s favorite member. “… I was quite flustered, obviously because he’s extremely handsome.”

A Memorable Experience

Despite her nerves, Cruz treated RM like any other customer, only inquiring about his meal and if he needed drink refills. Interestingly, none of the other patrons recognized him. He ordered shio ramen and gyoza, and appeared to genuinely enjoy the food. Even when she accidentally brought one of his companions the wrong dish, they all happily shared the extra meal. “He was very kind,” Cruz commented.

Gratitude and Upcoming Concerts

At the conclusion of the meal, she left RM a note thanking him and expressing her excitement about attending the concerts that weekend, where she went to all three shows at Stanford.

BTS’s Pizza Spot

During their visit to the Bay Area for concerts on May 16, 17, and 19, BTS also dined three times at Vesta, a pizza restaurant in Redwood City. Co-owner Courtney Borrone remarked that during their first visit on May 11, the group savored a variety of dishes, from pizzas to desserts. “When I received the text that said ‘BTS just left,’ I was in disbelief,” she stated.

According to Borrone, the band was respectful and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their time. “In Redwood City, we don’t usually see big celebrity figures, so this was a first for us,” she added. They later refrained from sharing the news on social media, hoping for a potential return from the band.

Pizza Returns

On stage, V even mentioned that Stanford had the best pizza, possibly hinting at Vesta. Sure enough, V and j-hope returned for another meal that Monday, and after their last Stanford show, the group enjoyed Vesta’s pizza in a livestream.

Honored Experience

Borrone expressed her gratitude, stating, “We are a small family-run business, so it’s incredibly humbling that they found us, dined with us, and came back.” Some of the band’s favorite dishes included the sausage and honey pizza, pepperoni pizza, and desserts like cheesecake and bread pudding. The unexpected recognition encouraged Borrone and her family to buy last-minute tickets to the concert.

“This was a memorable and uplifting experience for all of us,” she reflected. “… It’s a moment that will last forever.”

Note: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Audrey Cruz’s name.