Beloved La Burbuja Food Truck Burns

When flames engulfed Santa Clara’s beloved La Burbuja’s taco truck, students who usually savor the signature heat would have faced a blaze far too intense. 

Image Sourced La Burbuja Instagram

The taco truck’s official Instagram account reported that their truck had caught fire and been heavily damaged during the night on Apr. 25. The source of the fire is unknown, and according to Univision News, owners Constantino Lara and Vidalina Necochea weren’t aware of the fire until police and firefighters arrived on the scene and began putting the flames out. 

Since then, a GoFundMe has raised just under $5,000 so far to pay for damages–short of the $100,000 goal. The food truck is Lara and Necochea’s primary source of income to support their family and the damages are not covered by their insurance. 

For many Santa Clara students, for whom the truck is a nightly stop on the way home from campus or weekend festivities, La Burbuja’s absence was deeply felt. Lara and Necochea, however, rented a new truck fairly quickly and have since been working out of a green substitute–which lacks the flashing lights and colorful orange that many students love. 

News of the truck’s destruction reached students like sophomore Ananth Menon, who buys from La Burbuja on a nightly basis, via grassroots efforts to spread awareness and raise money on the GoFundMe.

“I rushed to the GoFundMe immediately, and watched the live news on the San Jose news station,” Menon said. “My friends and I were all affected by the absence of La Burbuja because the other local taco trucks do not meet the standard that La Burbuja provides.” 

The ordeal has especially impacted freshman Luis Yuchengo, who frequents the truck after playing basketball at Malley. 

“I was shocked,” Yuchengo said. “I felt bad because I have gotten to know and have a friendship with the ladies and the guy who works at La Burbuja, so I really felt bad for them. When I saw them again, it was really a good feeling that they were back. They have a new truck, but to me, the food is just as good as it always was.”