Pepe's in Naperville basking in afterglow of Kanye West visit

Last week, Kanye West met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

This week, the rapper was having tacos in Naperville.

Both were surreal moments that unfolded with Ye wearing his red, custom "Make America Great Again" hat.

But on Thursday afternoon, at Pepe's Mexican restaurant in a Naperville strip mall, West wasn't the polarizing figure who delivered a 10-minute monologue at the White House.

He was just a guy who wanted tacos. Stuffed chicken tacos.

"He was a total regular guy, humble, great customer," co-owner Sandy Rocush said Friday. "We loved having him. He was great with the staff. He was great with the customers."

The surprise visit began about 2:30 p.m. with West showing up accompanied by about eight bodyguards. But he didn't act like he had an entourage.

Dining with three other people, he ordered three stuffed chicken tacos and then asked to move to the barside of Pepe's, known as "The Can," to enjoy his meal and play pool. Can we say, "Welcome to the Good Life"?

"I think people thought he would be more outspoken, but he was just like I said, a great customer," Rocush said.

Needless to say, we have a lot of questions about the Kanye West Naperville Taco Stop of 2018.

Is he a good pool player? Rocush said West was definitely playing, but he had to take a phone call that interrupted his game.

Did he leave a hefty tip? Rocush said her server didn't want to reveal the exact figure. "But yes, I do know he left a good tip."

Did he bring up his forthcoming album, "Yandhi"? Nope, Rocush said, West wasn't self-promoting his music.

How will Pepe's memorialize the visit? Rocush said she and her husband, Matt, who also owns the restaurant with their business partner, have been discussing naming a menu item in honor of West. "I know my husband really wants to do that," she said.

But here's the most important question of them all: What in the name of Yeezus was he doing in Naperville?

Rocush acknowledged there's a lot of speculation swirling around. Social media posts abound with rumors that West, who last month said he was moving back to Chicago, could be house-hunting.

But the answer might just have to do with a regular guy craving tacos. A relative who was with West told Rocush he loves Pepe's, a national chain.

Before he left about two hours later, West gladly let people take pictures and shook hands with patrons.

The fashion designer also complimented Rocush on her sneakers. She was wearing New Balance, not a pair from West's YEEZY line. See, humility.

Rocush also asked him about his meal and the service.

"He's like, 'Everything's great. I love Pepe's.'"

So much so that the West group took some Pepe's to go.