Wondering what local flavor BTS enjoyed while in El Paso? Ramen was definitely on the table.
Five of the seven-member BTS group stopped into Kaedama Thursday, April 30, for dinner, enjoying the restaurant’s popular ramen bowls. The international group performed at the full Sun Bowl Stadium for two nights, May 2-3.
Manager Kaitlyn Payne said it was a crazy experience to meet and serve them, then be at their concert on Saturday, May 2.
“It was crazy. I kept thinking about how I’m probably the only person in that whole stadium that got to see them as close as I did, that got to talk to them. Yeah, I don’t know, it felt very fake to me. Not a lot of people get to be that close to them or like or talk to them, especially in El Paso,” she said.
Payne said she has been a fan of the Korean pop group since she was 14, so she recognized who came out and who stayed back at the hotel.
“The two guys that didn’t show up were Jin and Suga. But Kim Nam-joon, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and J-Hope – they were all here,” she said.
Payne said a representative for the group had come in earlier to make a reservation and they don’t regularly take reservations. But when they realized who it was for, they set a table for 10 and offered to close the restaurant. The representative said it was fine to leave patio seating and the to-go orders open.
“They were eating and talking amongst themselves. They were hanging out and making jokes. And we were playing some house music and they were dancing a little bit and singing too,” she said.
The group ordered quite a few appetizers and some dishes, mainly the Thicc boi, a pork broth with braised pork belly and blackened garlic oil. They also ordered a Tonkotsu, which has wood ear mushrooms, uzamaki (fishcake), and the braised pork belly.
Payne said they have had only one other celebrity stop at the restaurant: Chef Guy Fieri. He featured them on “Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” in 2020.
So, this visit is pretty special.
“I think we were all pretty starstruck. But we were able to get it done. They came in, ate and then they left. I don’t think anybody really realized that they were there. We kept it pretty nonchalant.”
Payne said she went to the concert on Saturday with one of the other servers, Grace Ruiz, who worked that night. And one of the other servers who waited on them, Makenzie Melendez, became a fan for sure after meeting them and was able to go with the free tickets she got from a customer on Sunday.
BTS in Mexico, stops at Palacio Nacional
After performing in El Paso, BTS headed to Mexico City for performances on Thursday, May 7, and Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10.
The group made a special stop on Wednesday, May 6, at the Palacio Nacional, where they were welcomed by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The Palacio Nacional is the seat of the Executive branch of the Mexican Federal Government and is also the residence of the president.
About 50,000 fans filled the outdoor area while BTS waved and greeted them from a balcony, with the president among them.
“Hola Mexico. We are BTS,” stated Kim Nam-joon as fans went crazy. “Muchas gracias por having us. And we can’t wait for tomorrow’s concert stage. Let’s have fun tomorrow. Te amo, te quiero, muchas gracias!”
Earlier in the day, Claudia Sheinbaum announced their special visit at a press conference, saying the group sings about love and peace, values that unite Koreans and Mexicans.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok. If BTS was at your restaurant, let us know to be included.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: BTS visits El Paso ramen spot during Sun Bowl concerts
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
