In a city where food is as much a love language as it is a lifeline, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is adding another chapter to his bond with Los Angeles.
Pepsi and the Los Angeles Rams are closing out the Puka’s Picks series with a free community lunch on Nov. 18 at East Los Tacos, the family-owned, fan-favorite eatery now operating out of the iconic Original Pantry Café space in East L.A.
The event runs from 1–2 p.m., offering fans a chance to grab a meal, meet Nacua in person, and celebrate a Rams season that feels like it’s in the middle of something special. Like a long drumbeat of energy pulsing through the city.
Nacua will be joined by culinary creator Owen Han, the Mariachi Rams, and team mascot Rampage as they spotlight a restaurant that has become a local anchor in its own right.
This season, Puka’s Picks has taken Nacua and Han across Los Angeles to unearth the stories behind the kitchens that keep this city fed — places stitched into neighborhoods like threads of culture and memory. At each stop, Nacua picked a favorite dish, elevating it with the coveted Puka’s Picks label. Now, the series ends with a menu built for the community: Puka’s choice, the Asada Torta, and Owen’s choice, the Al Pastor Tacos, both served alongside an ice-cold Pepsi.
For Nacua, whose record-breaking rookie year made him one of the NFL’s most recognizable young stars and one of L.A. ‘s adopted sons, this series has been a chance to celebrate the people behind the plates. Many of these restaurants — like East Los Tacos — are family stories first, small businesses second, and cultural landmarks without asking to be.
Pepsi and the Rams have spent years elevating these neighborhood gems, part of an ongoing effort to keep local restaurants thriving and remind Angelenos that community isn’t just built in stadiums — it’s built at street-corner food trucks, storefront grills, and family counters where recipes are passed down like heirlooms.
On Monday, that mission takes center stage. A free meal, a meet-and-greet, and a moment for fans to taste what Nacua has been championing all season long. In a city defined by flavor and fueled by connection, Puka’s Picks closes out exactly where it began — with good food, shared stories, and a wide receiver who understands that showing up for your community matters as much as showing up on Sundays.
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Source: NBC Los Angeles
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