Los Angeles officials honored the family behind the landmark Casa Vega restaurant Tuesday by renaming an intersection in Sherman Oaks as “Vega Square” during a Cinco de Mayo ceremony.
The event at Ventura Boulevard and Fulton Avenue recognized the Vega family’s decades-long contributions to the city’s restaurant and cultural scene.
Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez were among those on hand for the celebration, along with Casa Vega owner and CEO Christy Vega, daughter of founder Ray Vega.
“What makes this even more meaningful is what this represents beyond us,” Christy Vega told the crowd. “This is about Latino families, small businesses and the people who have built L.A. quietly day by day into the city it has become.”
Casa Vega, a longtime fixture in the San Fernando Valley, has operated for roughly 70 years and is widely regarded as one of the area’s most recognizable Mexican restaurants.
Founded in 1956, the restaurant has become a popular gathering place known for its traditional cuisine and has been featured in films and television productions over the years.
“We celebrate the contributions of every hard-working Angeleno that is creating jobs and creating space for families to come together and celebrate those precious moments or just hang out with friends,” Rodriguez said.
The Vega family’s presence in Los Angeles dates back to 1936, when Rafael and Maria “Mary” Vega opened Cafe Caliente on Olvera Street, helping establish Mexican-owned restaurants in the city at a time when they were less common, according to LA Weekly.
The recognition came as the Vega family marks a period of expansion and reflection. In March, the restaurant unveiled the Ray Vega Patio, a 3,000-square-foot outdoor dining space.
The patio, built on two former parking lots, includes about 100 seats, an 18-seat bar and a central fountain, nearly doubling the restaurant’s footprint, officials said.
“Casa Vega has always been more than a restaurant,” Vega said in March. “It’s where Los Angeles comes to feel something — where Chicano culture, Old Hollywood, and a Mexican family’s dream intersect.”
The restaurant has long attracted Hollywood figures and gained renewed attention after appearing in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
City officials said the renaming of the intersection reflects the family’s longstanding presence in Sherman Oaks and broader influence on Los Angeles’ dining culture.