MAGWest 2025 | The Bravo Bus

Nestled away in the heart of Campbell is a little place called Taco Bravo. From the outside and during the daytime, it looks like a generic taco shack no different from the many around the Bay Area. But when the sun goes down and the people of the night come out, it becomes an unforgettable experience that involves cheap tacos. If your evening in Campbell begins with “hold my beer,” it will likely conclude with a stop at Taco Bravo.

One person eager to share this experience with MAGWest 2025 guests is Robbie “Gwobs” Benson. He went so far as to organize a party bus on Saturday to take attendees from the San Jose DoubleTree directly to Taco Bravo in Campbell. I had the opportunity to ride the Bravo Bus, not just for a late-night meal, but to relive something I hadn’t experienced in over a decade.

Before the Bravo Bus

I first heard about the Bravo Bus from a friend who’s also a regular at MAGWest. He described it as a magical experience unlike any other, not just for the food, but for everything that happens there. It was something I knew all too well, having once been a regular myself. I still remember the good times I had there, along with countless over-the-top stories worth sharing. Stories that can only happen at Taco Bravo after midnight. But after too many nights of bar hopping and watching friends get busted for DUIs, I had to say farewell to that magic spot. I needed to make better life choices and find more responsible friends. So the idea of returning came with hesitation; I had buried that part of me a long time ago. Yet it had been far too long, and now I have a better circle of friends who don’t make reckless choices—like getting behind the wheel after one too many drinks. That is why I made the choice to get a ticket to ride the Bravo Bus for the first time at MAGWest, while returning to one of my favorite hangout spots.

I signed up for the midnight trip, which was perfect as it let me enjoy MAGWest 2025 before heading out for dinner. After a lively first half of the day, I returned to my hotel room to freshen up and get ready for the night ahead. Preparation included mixing half a flask of Gentleman Jack into a personal bottle of Coke, just enough to keep a buzz going. In the hours before the Bravo Bus, I caught a few live shows and then hosted my own panel, “Convention Stories”. With that wrapped up, I made my way to the meetup spot.

The Bravo Bus pulled up just as I stepped outside, where other guests were gathering for the experience. I spotted my friend, and together we joined the line, ready and eager for this experience.

On the Bravo Bus

We boarded the Bravo Bus and quickly grabbed seats near the center, right where the action would be. Around 15 to 23 people, based on my guesstimation, had signed up for the ride, leaving just enough room to breathe. The crowd was a mixed bunch: those of us who had been to Taco Bravo, folks who had an idea of what to expect thanks to late-night haunts at other 24/7 eateries, and the truly uninitiated who had no idea what they were walking into. But this was not going to be an ordinary trip to Taco Bravo; Gwobs had ensured it would be a night to remember. For someone who used to come here regularly, every visit to Taco Bravo is memorable—and I’m not even talking about the wicked hangover or crushing low self-worth that greets you the next morning. No, he has made this trip to Taco Bravo a festive event for all.

So what made this trip unforgettable, no matter how much alcohol anyone consumed? For starters, we were on a party bus headed to Taco Bravo. Not just any party bus, but one with live music and cold cans of beer making their way down the aisle. Perfect for me as I needed a break from the Jack and Coke I’d been nursing. But the real magic, the thing that makes any Taco Bravo story memorable, was front and center on that bus: the people you share it with. Every one of my Taco Bravo memories involves friends, the kind who help you make the stories and serve as witnesses to the wild things that happen there.

Returning to Taco Bravo

When the Bravo Bus arrived, I was out the door and in line, staring at Taco Bravo for the first time in ages. Time may have passed and the world around it has grown, but very little about this small taco shack on the edge of Campbell has changed. Not just in appearance, as the food itself remains the same in size and quality, and I mean that in the best way. This was evident with the two tacos and one beef burrito I ordered. In recent years, too many restaurants have fallen victim to shitflation, where portions get smaller and quality drops while prices climb. Most of the food served in restaurants at the Pruneyard and Downtown Campbell can be described as such. But not at Taco Bravo. Sure, the price has gone up, but that taco and burrito are the same size and quality I remember from back in the day. I would have also grabbed the Super Nacho, the only good nacho in the Bay Area, but I no longer have the stomach I once did to gorge on that much food.

Like any trip to Taco Bravo, it wasn’t about the meal but the stories made and the people met. Tonight was no different; we weren’t there to refuel after a long night, the night was just getting started. As the music played, some of us spilled onto the dance floor, moving to the live tunes. I’m not much of a dancer, but even I couldn’t resist joining in. Maybe it was the Jack and Coke, or maybe it was simply the joy of being surrounded by friends and strangers alike, but I had to get out there. It might have been one of the more unusual Taco Bravo nights I’ve ever had, yet somehow it was exactly the kind of chaos you’d expect from such a place.

One thing that stood out that night was how unusual we looked, even by the standards of the Taco Bravo regulars. All kinds of folks wandered in for their usual order, only to be greeted by a live band and a full-on festive crowd. But at least they walked away with some tasty tacos and another Taco Bravo story.

Back to MAGWest

It was 2 a.m. when we boarded the Bravo Bus back to MAGWest. You’d think we’d be burned out and sluggish by then, but no, the festivities rolled on during the ride to the DoubleTree. While the alcohol supply had been voluntarily cut off, the energy stayed high as the band played on. We swapped Taco Bravo stories with new friends or simply sang along to the music. By the time we arrived, most of us either drifted into a jam session or hit the arcades one last time.

Thus concluding the second night of MAGWest and my return to Taco Bravo.

Did you get a chance to check out the Bravo Bus at MAGWest 2025? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: MAGWest provided me with a panelist badge as I also hosted an event for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Stan Rezaee is the founder and Editor of 8Bit/Digi. He is a journalist and gamer from the Bay Area who has been writing about the medium for over five years.