BTS 2026 California concert: After V casually said it was “really so good,” this local pizza place was instantly flooded by ARMY
The owner joked that it was their busiest Monday ever
Key highlights
- BTS held concerts at Stanford Stadium from May 16 to 19, 2026, drawing a total of 150,000 attendees.
- One offhand onstage compliment about pizza from V sent fans racing to identify Vesta, a pizzeria in Redwood City, California.
- A huge number of ARMY fans flocked there, making it the local spot’s busiest Monday since opening.
- The remarkable effect drew coverage from four major U.S. outlets, including People.
An unexpected and amusing moment took place during the recent BTS world tour concerts in California. Known for interacting with fans, BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) casually shared his experience with local food onstage. That small gesture unexpectedly sent orders pouring into a once-quiet local spot and even landed it in major U.S. media coverage.
- Related reading: An unexpected collaboration: OREO x BTS launches purple cookies in a Korean hotteok flavor
BTS’s V raves about local California food at a concert
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At the end of the first concert at Stanford Stadium in mid-May, V naturally began chatting with fans about his visit to California. Smiling, he said it was his first time there and praised the local pizza as incredibly delicious, even calling it the best pizza he’d ever had. He also joked that he’d heard Stanford University was famous and asked whether he could study there too, drawing nonstop laughter from the crowd of 150,000 fans.
Resourceful ARMY fans identify California pizzeria Vesta
Although V didn’t name the pizza place at the time, the clue was no match for the resourceful ARMY. Fans quickly discovered that the BTS members had visited Vesta, a local pizzeria in Redwood City.
Once the news spread, the small restaurant, which had mainly served local customers, suddenly saw the most extraordinary lines in its history. In an interview with local media, Vesta’s owner sounded both surprised and delighted. He shared that the team’s busiest Monday ever was fueled by fans’ enthusiastic visits, and said he was deeply grateful that the BTS members enjoyed their food.
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This striking “V effect” sparked lively discussion on social media and drew the attention of mainstream U.S. media. People, the San Francisco Chronicle, NBC, CBS, and other prominent outlets followed the story, examining how a single comment from a Korean idol suddenly made a small local American restaurant famous.
Throughout the tour, V has made a real effort to experience each city’s local culture. This pizza recommendation was more than a food recommendation; it felt like a warm way to connect with the area and bring him closer to fans. An idol’s influence really can’t be underestimated. The next time you visit California, Vesta is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
Beyond this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out:
- ARMYs, are your hearts racing? The lip oil Jungkook used on livestream is this one, and it makes his bedtime routine feel complete
- Fans’ hearts skipped a beat: NewJeans drops 2026 summer visuals, confirming Minji’s return as they restart as a four-member group
- BTS appears at the 2026 World Cup halftime show, sending the crowd wild with “Dynamite”
