MIAMI (WSVN) - Former President Barack Obama made a surprise stop at a taco shop in Miami.
Cellphone video captured Obama, joined by gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., at Coyo Taco in Wynwood, Friday afternoon.
This is it chief! @OfficialJoelF @BarackObama @coyotacowynwood pic.twitter.com/W2EWJgQ8dq
— 𝕠𝕜𝕒𝕪𝕞𝕖𝕖𝕔𝕙 (@okaymeech) November 2, 2018
Supporters who happened to be at the right place at the right time could be heard screaming as Obama walked into the restaurant, Friday afternoon.
“I’d seen a whole bunch of cops, Secret Service surrounding Coyo Taco,” said Coswayne Palmer, who works in the area, “and then I’d seen a guy hop out the car, and I didn’t see it clearly, and then when I looked closer, it was Obama. My mind was blown.”
“Chaos! People across the street going crazy,” he added. “People here trying to get the best shots.”
Palmer wasn’t the only one awestruck from Obama’s surprise appearance.
“I tried to say hi,” said student Leandro Besil. “They told me I couldn’t. It was actually pretty exciting.”
Once inside the restaurant, Obama did his best to greet employees while others tried to get the perfect presidential selfie.
“I’m blown away. Like one of the biggest moments of my life for sure,” said manager Kali Hughes.
Hughes took Obama’s order at the restaurant and accidentally misspelled his name on the receipt.
“I was flipping out. I didn’t know what to name the order, but I guess I didn’t spell it right.” he said. “I put ‘Barrack, I guess. I’m sorry, Barack! I’m sorry about that.”
He said he did his best to give Obama the right recommendations despite having been warned of the visit by Secret Service only 45 minutes before.
“He said he wanted some tacos. He asked me what I suggested,” Hughes said. “I told him the cochinitas, the classic Mexican preparation slow-roasted pork.”
Many people were in disbelief they happened to be at the right place at the right time.
“I wasn’t even expecting to see him in my lifetime,” said Palmer. “Honestly, to see him next to my job was pretty intense.”
Obama ordered the special. He ate one of Evan Schlecker’s tortilla chips while he waited pic.twitter.com/xyS1MCFutK
— David Smiley (@NewsbySmiley) November 2, 2018
The visit came just hours after the former president rallied for Gillum and Nelson at Ice Palace Studios.
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