Casa Vega, a Mexican restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, is commemorating its 70th anniversary by rolling back prices on one of its signature meals to its original 1956 cost. On Thursday, customers can purchase the "Uno #1 House" combo for $2.15, a significant reduction from its usual $27 price. This meal typically includes two choices of enchiladas, tacos, or tamales, served with Spanish rice and refried beans.
Owner Christy Vega expressed gratitude for the restaurant's longevity, stating that the family does not take their role in Los Angeles for granted. "To have a restaurant last 70 years is pretty incredible, so my family and I, we take none of it for granted. We’re humbled, we’re honored to be such a big part of Los Angeles. This is where our roots are, and this is where our love lies, is in this city," she told KTLA.
The restaurant's history in Los Angeles began earlier than its 1956 opening. Vega's grandparents, who immigrated from Mexico, opened their first restaurant, Cafe Caliente, in 1936. Two decades later, her father established Casa Vega.
In recognition of the family's deep ties to the city, the intersection outside the restaurant was renamed "Vega Square" on Cinco de Mayo in May, honoring founder Rafael “Ray” Vega and his descendants. "It’s incredible, when you know, Casa Vega was immigrant-founded. So when a little Mexican restaurant and a little family all of a sudden gets an intersection named after them in L.A., it’s pretty special," Christy Vega remarked.
More recently, the family honored Ray Vega by opening the "Ray Vega Patio" in March. This new outdoor dining area, which includes a bar and seating for over 100 guests, was a long-held dream of Christy Vega's father.
The 70th-anniversary promotion is valid for dine-in customers only, with a limit of one discounted plate per person. The offer is available from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Reservations for the day are reportedly fully booked, but walk-ins will be accommodated.