Sidewalk food vendors - taking it to the next level

[500bbc]

Recently we had an issue with a street vendor in Torrance. There was a legit Mexican food restaurant that was for take out and they had a business license and all the requirements. Well the street vendor literally set up on the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot in front of his business and basically was giving him a big. That is when it became an issue. The vendor got several tickets for unsanitary food conditions. You had to feel bad for the business owner who was running a legitimate business.

There's another RACIST comment.
You should be ashamed!

 

[TPC]

Tacos 805 in Simi yesterday. A casual storefront.
Chips, 1 corona, 4 mini taquitos = $35.
Thats crazy.

It’s back to the street vendors.
My family’s lived here since before the Civil War. In all that time we noticed the Mexicans never left.

 

[boatnam2]

I work in Carson, Wilmington area and they are everywhere. One thing you will notice is besides container truck drivers, most the people who are standing there are Mexican and probably can't afford an $75 dollar family McDonalds run. Is it right, not sure! Do they serve a purpose, probably.

 

[500bbc]

I get both sides of the argument. But at the end of the day, most of these guys are here illegally but they’re human and they have a family to feed and rent and bills to pay. They’re not going to be able to operate a restaurant legally. They’re not going to have the money to start a restaurant. They’re just trying to get by.

If you want to blame someone, blame the politicians and our open border. Blame our immigration policies.

If any of us lived in a shit hole country and we were able to come here to provide a better life for our wife and kids, we would do the same, at least I would.

In the meanwhile, enjoy a taco or two and hope your don’t shit yourself the next day.

Now do, they're just shoplifting because they're hungry....

 

[Gelcoater]

How much you want to bet he had a license?

Perhaps? Eventually?

What is certain is many here complain about licenses.
Be it for fishing, hunting, cutting hair, painting people’s fingernails, etc etc etc
They say
A license is nothing more than your rights stolen and sold back to you.

At the end of the day I’d rather see these folks out doing their hustle rather than standing in the same place with a sign begging. Or out robbing and scamming people .


A few guys at the shop hit a cart over at the truck wash next door.
Fast and cheaper than getting in the car, going to Carl’s or Jack in the hole.

They only get a half hour. By the time they drive up there (and it’s less than a mile) wait in line, place their order and wait for their food, they have 4 minutes to drive back to the shop and eat their $13 cheese burger combo because, the fuck stick behind the counter(now making $20/hr) gave them a cheese burger rather than the chicken sandwich they ordered.
And on top of that? The food sucked.

Or they can walk next door, scoop up a couple $2-$3 tacos made right in front of them that were kick ass food.

The way I see it?
These vendors are Capitolists, they see and are filling a niche created by fast food companies poor customer service and wonky prices.

 

[FreeBird236]

Perhaps? Eventually?

What is certain is many here complain about licenses.
Be it for fishing, hunting, cutting hair, painting people’s fingernails, etc etc etc
They say
A license is nothing more than your rights stolen and sold back to you.

At the end of the day I’d rather see these folks out doing their hustle rather than standing in the same place with a sign begging. Or out robbing and scamming people .


A few guys at the shop hit a cart over at the truck wash next door.
Fast and cheaper than getting in the car, going to Carl’s or Jack in the hole.

They only get a half hour. By the time they drive up there (and it’s less than a mile) wait in line, place their order and wait for their food, they have 4 minutes to drive back to the shop and eat their $13 cheese burger combo because, the fuck stick behind the counter(now making $20/hr) gave them a cheese burger rather than the chicken sandwich they ordered.
And on top of that? The food sucked.

Or they can walk next door, scoop up a couple $2-$3 tacos made right in front of them that were kick ass food.

The way I see it?
These vendors are Capitolists, they see and are filling a niche created by fast food companies poor customer service and wonky prices.

You know in some ways, you and I have had similar experiences. The new to America pipeline and construction workers I worked with, for the most part, were legal and or had work visas or green cards and didn't want the country to be overrun with illegal immigrants that would take their jobs or lower their wages. You're right I don't want them robbing and begging either, but we can't allow this complete chaos. I don't know what the answer is, I think it's too far gone, but I can't condone it.

 

[old rigger]

That's Puerto Rico. Puch cart vendors selling beer.

No, that's New Orleans.

 

[playdeep]

some pretty racist comments in this thread, if you don't like it don't eat there, go to a Taco Bell if that makes you feel high and mighty

Everything's racist these days.
I'm full Hispanic...not offended. S'plain it to me Lucy?

 

[old rigger]

Saw last week Long Beach is going to crack down on the street vendors by making them get business license, insurance and health permit. But in typical fucking Long Beach fashion, they don't have timeline when these rules will be put in place.

 

[Badchoices03]

Nothing wrong with working hard to provide for your family. However, if a restaurant has to abide by the rules of the law. So should the street vendors...

Like Shin said, you have to blame the politicians, all the illegals are going to be here regardless if they have a taco stand or not, would you rather them rob, steal, beg for money to support their family or have a taco stand that you dont have to eat at?? Its not like knocking down the taco stands are going to stop people from coming here.

 

[JL95]

That is a pretty valid point i have never thought about, you rarely see homeless mexicans. I don't eat at these places but my wife always wants too. Wildomar has several of these going during the evening. The fruit stands too.

 

[Tank]

We deal with it in Ventura county.

The pros - cheap ass food (usually).

The cons - they take business away from legit businesses. Dude I work with is friends with. Guy that owns a brick and mortar Mexican restaurant for probably 15 years. Over past year tents set up a block away. He says he looses a grand a night every time they set up.

They are 100% not regulated by food and beverage control and health and safety. Ventura county health and safety goes out and shuts them down and finds everytime besides no licenses, permits or any regulation their food is not stored properly, cooked at correct termps etc. not to mention no regulation on what they’re service in the slightest.

The majority of vendors in ventura county are out of Los Angeles and rumored to be associated to cartels. When they get shut down and all their shit gets taken, they show up the next night with all new stuff, selling again. You think it’s “hard working folks” trying to make a living? No, not usually. Usually it’s typical exploitation, some criminal element making the money and paying dirt to those actually out there working.

And finally, it’s ghetto AF! Looks like shit. 3rd world bullshit. Keep that shit in your shithole country. I suppose can is turning into a shithold 3rd world country though, so it fits I guess.

FYI. There’s PLENTY of vagrant Mexicans. lol

And for what it’s worth. We have a buddy that has a taco cart. Does catering. Maried kids. Great family. 1st or second generation to US. His cousin owns a fantastic Mexican restaurant / meat market in Oxnard. He’s in the process of building a food truck. All
Legit. Doing it right. He struggles to make it work. But he wants to do it right.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

We deal with it in Ventura county.

The pros - cheap ass food (usually).

The cons - they take business away from legit businesses. Dude I work with is friends with. Guy that owns a brick and mortar Mexican restaurant for probably 15 years. Over past year tents set up a block away. He says he looses a grand a night every time they set up.

They are 100% not regulated by food and beverage control and health and safety. Ventura county health and safety goes out and shuts them down and finds everytime besides no licenses, permits or any regulation their food is not stored properly, cooked at correct termps etc. not to mention no regulation on what they’re service in the slightest.

The majority of vendors in ventura county are out of Los Angeles and rumored to be associated to cartels. When they get shut down and all their shit gets taken, they show up the next night with all new stuff, selling again. You think it’s “hard working folks” trying to make a living? No, not usually. Usually it’s typical exploitation, some criminal element making the money and paying dirt to those actually out there working.

And finally, it’s ghetto AF! Looks like shit. 3rd world bullshit. Keep that shit in your shithole country. I suppose can is turning into a shithold 3rd world country though, so it fits I guess.

FYI. There’s PLENTY of vagrant Mexicans. lol

Well said.

 

[hallett21]

I can only speak for myself but the taco guy down the street is not taking my money away from local restaurants.

We don’t have a local restaurant that makes good tasting “street/mini tacos” imo.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a margarita or 3 with a carne asada plate lol. That I can get locally. But sometimes I just want a bag of tacos and a quesadilla to eat at home.

I just hope everyone has a licensed/business license carrying gardener, mobile detail guy, pool guy, electrician, HVAC tech etc. Not a side work guy taking money from legitimate businesses.

 

[Badchoices03]

"Fk the government overreach"....RDP Members
"How dare they not have a license by the government"....also RDP Members...

 

[Luvnlife]

Cant do it. When I dont see any refrigeration or sinks, Im out. Thats basic food handling safety.

Most of them rock igloo coolers to keep things cool. One thing I notice. They always have masks on!

There are two that I see setting up all the time. All their shit is in an old Ryder van and the other an old U-Haul van. No refrigeration, nothing sanitary and I can see the pastor already on the spit just ratchet strapped to the side and containers on the floor with no covers just plastic.

 

[TPC]

Judge things by their merits.

Street food vendors are everywhere all over the world.
Thailand it's essential. Good cheap food everywhere.
In the USA pretty much just NYC.

In London they took it to the next level. The relegation rule is always in play.
The permit fee is a few farthings and a committee in every area samples the food and if it sux the vendor gets shut down.

The Brits are serious about that and follow through.

This thread posters reminds me:

A 10 year old RiverDave took a lap around the block on his 1 HP, 4 MPH mini bike and the police showed up to his house. The neighborhood hags all showed up and formed a vigilante' circle across the street. Dressed in thick, floor length quilted house robes, slippers and their hair in curlers.

The hand-on-cheek malicious gossip amongst the hags went: "We aways knew that little Davy Johnson was shady." "He deserves reform school for riding around the block like that." "Behavior that always leads to thinking with their dick when they grow up."

Cop in Carlsbad wish all they had to deal with now was a 10 year old kid on a mini bike.

The $5 Taco Bell Box is inedible, the only good Del Taco is in Barstow and the owner is death sucking on a lifesaver one step away from the grave, Senior Gomez closed his restaurant here because of regulations, fees, permits, license hassles and brutal over head.

Judge it all by it merits.

 

[Luvnlife]

One thing that takes up a big part of my Sunday is meal prep for the week. Hamburger patties, boiled eggs, scrambled rags mixed with meat, small steaks, grilled chicken, yogurt with granola are the usual menu. Places are expensive and it’s healthier.

 

[Dunerking]

I can only speak for myself but the taco guy down the street is not taking my money away from local restaurants.

We don’t have a local restaurant that makes good tasting “street/mini tacos” imo.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a margarita or 3 with a carne asada plate lol. That I can get locally. But sometimes I just want a bag of tacos and a quesadilla to eat at home.

I just hope everyone has a licensed/business license carrying gardener, mobile detail guy, pool guy, electrician, HVAC tech etc. Not a side work guy taking money from legitimate businesses.

No undocumented landscape technicians,pool service,electrical etc…at our place. Wife and I handle all of our own business.

 

[rivermobster]

I didn't read all the bickering past page one....

But I've been wanting to go check out this place!

Smorgasburg Los Angeles

la.smorgasburg.com

 

[snowhammer]

No more bake sales at school? What about the senorita who brings in tamales to work by the dozen?

Should FB marketplace sellers be licensed and inspected?

 

[brianwhiteboy]

It’s just one taco stand. It’s just one tent on the sidewalk. It’s just one bum on a bus bench. It’s just on RV dweller parked on the street. It’s just one person shooting up at the park.

Then it’s ten taco stands, ten tents, ten RVs, ten junkies at the park. Get my drift.

It’s too far gone. Might as well get used to it unfortunately.

 

[Yldboyz]

This one is one of my favorites…

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I've heard about this place, they had a pop up in Anaheim. I remember when the city shut them down one time and the next couple of days they were back in business.
One of my techs swears they're one of the best.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Some of Y'all haven't spent much time in Hawaii obviously... Corner pop up plate lunch and huli huli chicken sale's are common place for fundraisers, extra money for families, funeral cost deals etc. Especially in the more rural areas.. One of the best plate lunch's you will ever get is on naniloa loop in Laie, that gets done semi frequently by my buddy nainoa's family. It's almost always a fundraiser for something.

May not be common on the mainland but it for sure is back home.

I'm betting some of these places have dank food...its not like they are frying up meth laced rat meat.

 

[rivrrts429]

It’s just one taco stand. It’s just one tent on the sidewalk. It’s just one bum on a bus bench. It’s just on RV dweller parked on the street. It’s just one person shooting up at the park.

Then it’s ten taco stands, ten tents, ten RVs, ten junkies at the park. Get my drift.

It’s too far gone. Might as well get used to it unfortunately.

You’re comparing bananas to apples. You listed all people who are a drain on society and resources and comparing that to street vendors. The street vendors are actually working for their money and providing a service that will fail or thrive depending on the quality of the product.

I’m confused what a homeless bum on a bus bench and an RV dweller have to do with a street vendor?

 

[hallett21]

You’re comparing bananas to apples. You listed all people who are a drain on society and resources and comparing that to street vendors. The street vendors are actually working for their money and providing a service that will fail or thrive depending on the quality of the product.

I’m confused what a homeless bum on a bus bench and an RV dweller have to do with a street vendor?

I’ve gotten fucked up and I mean down for a day holding the toilet from Tommy Burger, Fast Food Mexican, McDonald’s and chipotle lol. I’ve never gone down from a corner taco guy.

 

[rivrrts429]

I've heard about this place, they had a pop up in Anaheim. I remember when the city shut them down one time and the next couple of days they were back in business.
One of my techs swears they're one of the best.

It’s pretty damn good and I’ve eaten at some of the proclaimed best spots in Mexico and this spot definitely holds their own. Service is good too and they have a well organized operation.

If anyone gets an opportunity to eat here you won’t be disappointed.

 

[rivrrts429]

I’ve gotten fucked up and I mean down for a day holding the toilet from Tommy Burger, Fast Food Mexican, McDonald’s and chipotle lol. I’ve never gone down from a corner taco guy.

Taco Bell will ruin your guts but it’s okay because they have a permit and pay taxes

 

[caribbean20]

The original post pictured and referenced an operation expropriating a public sidewalk on a busy intersection, for commercial reasons. I think that is to what many posters are reacting, at least me.

Forget all of the licensing, government oversight bickering. We are just going to allow someone to take over a public space for personal gain? Come on? There is always a matter of degrees, but that is way over the line.

 

[Englewood]

Beach/15th...After a long day at the baseball fields we stopped for Al Pastor Tacos...Best I've had. Haven't been able to catch them again...

 

[Yldboyz]

It’s pretty damn good and I’ve eaten at some of the proclaimed best spots in Mexico and this spot definitely holds their own. Service is good too and they have a well organized operation.

If anyone gets an opportunity to eat here you won’t be disappointed.

They will be in Anaheim tomorrow, now I'm gonna stop by there.

 

[was thatguy]

 

[JBZ]

Why is beyond me. Other than wanting us to become a 3rd world country. What’s next. 5 yr olds selling chiclets

Get on the subway In NYC
And they are all carrying the same blue boxes with the same candy and gum

 

[EmpirE231]

I just hope everyone has a licensed/business license carrying gardener, mobile detail guy, pool guy, electrician, HVAC tech etc. Not a side work guy taking money from legitimate businesses.

slight difference w/ all the above working on your own private property. Nobody cares if someone hires an "unlicensed" taco guy to serve tacos at their backyard party. The problem is them setting up shop on sidewalks, street corners etc.

should gardeners be able to just setup a yardsale on a random sidewalk selling all their old mowers and equipment? maybe even offer service and repairs.... shoot why not.

a kids soccer coach can't even offer Personal lessons to 3 kids in a public park without being shaken down for permit.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

slight difference w/ all the above working on your own private property. Nobody cares if someone hires an "unlicensed" taco guy to serve tacos at their backyard party. The problem is them setting up shop on sidewalks, street corners etc.

should gardeners be able to just setup a yardsale on a random sidewalk selling all their old mowers and equipment? maybe even offer service and repairs.... shoot why not.

Hell why not, we as a society allow the homeless to shit and piss everywhere, camp everywhere, do drugs on the sidewalk etc.... But the government has a problem with a huli huli chicken sale? What the fuck is wrong with this country at this point. I'd rather see a taco stand than tweaky mc tweakerson shooting up while projectile shitting on the side of a building downtown.

If people want to be up in arms about something it shouldn't be the taco stand....but that's a turnip you can get blood out of I guess.

 

[EmpirE231]

Hell why not, we as a society allow the homeless to shit and piss everywhere, camp everywhere, do drugs on the sidewalk etc.... But the government has a problem with a huli huli chicken sale? What the fuck is wrong with this country at this point. I'd rather see a taco stand than tweaky mc tweakerson shooting up while projectile shitting on the side of a building downtown.

If people want to be up in arms about something it shouldn't be the taco stand....but that's a turnip you can get blood out of I guess.

I'd rather see neither of them on the streets and sidewalks is the point. So because we have problems, lets allow more problems to present themselves is the solution?

 

[Cole Trickle]

Some of you guys have never had a street dog in Tijuana or LA at 2 am when drunk and it shows. I think part of the reason Covid didn't effect me is I have that built in delicious dirty food Antibodies....lol

There are a couple good street food documentaries on netflix. Interesting watch and like shintoo said most are just hustling to do what they need to do. 3 generations in a 80 year old 2 bedroom house doing what needs to be done to survive. I would much rather have a family making money by feeding the community vs stealing or selling drugs to your kids.

 

[hallett21]

slight difference w/ all the above working on your own private property. Nobody cares if someone hires an "unlicensed" taco guy to serve tacos at their backyard party. The problem is them setting up shop on sidewalks, street corners etc.

should gardeners be able to just setup a yardsale on a random sidewalk selling all their old mowers and equipment? maybe even offer service and repairs.... shoot why not.

a kids soccer coach can't even offer Personal lessons to 3 kids in a public park without being shaken down for permit.

I’ll give you that. So it’s a use of public property issue more than licenses and permits issue.

I have seen some of these guys set up in the parking lot of strip malls, body shop parking lots etc. So technically they are on private property. Obviously their customers pour out onto the public sidewalk.

The other side of the coin is In n Out. All the T’s are crossed and I’s dotted. But they jam up public streets everyday at 12 lol.

 

[stephenkatsea]

It’s ok to be a street vendor.



If you’re a white guy.. View attachment 1325831

My parents grew up in Watts, pre WWII. They recalled, during the depression, Carl and his wife pushing a shopping cart through the neighborhood selling hot dogs made with day old bread. It did happen.

 

[EmpirE231]

I’ll give you that. So it’s a use of public property issue more than licenses and permits issue.

I have seen some of these guys set up in the parking lot of strip malls, body shop parking lots etc. So technically they are on private property. Obviously their customers pour out onto the public sidewalk.

The other side of the coin is In n Out. All the T’s are crossed and I’s dotted. But they jam up public streets everyday at 12 lol.

In N Out also has to pay for "traffic impact studies" when opening locations, and has to design their locations and drive thru's specifically to mitigate that impact. They don't just start flipping burgers on the corner of PCH and Main St. in HB because a lot of people walking around would sure love those burgers... and those workers have families to feed as well

I think it is all about a level playing field. Sucks for the family who leased a location, insured it, goes through inspections and has to pay taxes to have to deal w/ competition across the street setup with an EZ-UP and some coolers.

 

[hallett21]

In N Out also has to pay for "traffic impact studies" when opening locations, and has to design their locations and drive thru's specifically to mitigate that impact. They don't just start flipping burgers on the corner of PCH and Main St. in HB because a lot of people walking around would sure love those burgers... and those workers have families to feed as well

I think it is all about a level playing field. Sucks for the family who leased a location, insured it, goes through inspections and has to pay taxes to have to deal w/ competition across the street setup with an EZ-UP and some coolers.

They do now lol. How about the 40+ year old locations lol

But I agree with what you’re saying.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Judge things by their merits.

Street food vendors are everywhere all over the world.
Thailand it's essential. Good cheap food everywhere.
In the USA pretty much just NYC.

In London they took it to the next level. The relegation rule is always in play.
The permit fee is a few farthings and a committee in every area samples the food and if it sux the vendor gets shut down.

The Brits are serious about that and follow through.

This thread posters reminds me:

A 10 year old RiverDave took a lap around the block on his 1 HP, 4 MPH mini bike and the police showed up to his house. The neighborhood hags all showed up and formed a vigilante' circle across the street. Dressed in thick, floor length quilted house robes, slippers and their hair in curlers.

The hand-on-cheek malicious gossip amongst the hags went: "We aways knew that little Davy Johnson was shady." "He deserves reform school for riding around the block like that." "Behavior that always leads to thinking with their dick when they grow up."

Cop in Carlsbad wish all they had to deal with now was a 10 year old kid on a mini bike.

The $5 Taco Bell Box is inedible, the only good Del Taco is in Barstow and the owner is death sucking on a lifesaver one step away from the grave, Senior Gomez closed his restaurant here because of regulations, fees, permits, license hassles and brutal over head.

Judge it all by it merits.

We lived in Carlsbad in the 80s, when Carlsbad Village Dr was still called Elm St. Just west of the freeway on the north side of Elm was 'Alberto's' (?)'. Well, it was one of those 'berto' places. It was a small brick & motar, licensed, regulated and inspected. They had excellent Mex food. Looks like it now be called Vallarta Mexican Express?

 

[RaceTec]

Beach/15th...After a long day at the baseball fields we stopped for Al Pastor Tacos...Best I've had. Haven't been able to catch them again...

They are there all of the time and have the longest lines of any of the others that are close. Never tried that one...

 

[Member: 71]

Weekly reminder..... we've hit the 3rd world status..

LA

Oakland

Phoenix

Live:

 

[EmpirE231]

They do now lol. How about the 40+ year old locations lol

But I agree with what you’re saying.

40 years ago there was no traffic

 

[RiverDave]

You would be incorrect lol

the system is broken use it to your advantage

I got an idea.. ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

It’s this what’s good for me attitude that is killing us as a whole..

 

[Your ad here]

What kind of America do guys want to see? Don't shitty country our America. Just like don't California my Arizona or any other great state. BTW Lake Havasu City is more California than Arizona with all the left turn arrows.

 

[wzuber]

They’re everywhere and I mean everywhere


I was delivering in a nice housing development last week, dude was standing out in front of his house holding a sign that said “TACOS” Inside the garage he had a full on grilddle setup and tables and chairs. can’t imagine what his neighbors thought

They're probably pissed at the landlord...haha
"Fuck....There goes the neighborhood" lol

 

[Your ad here]

Perhaps? Eventually?

What is certain is many here complain about licenses.
Be it for fishing, hunting, cutting hair, painting people’s fingernails, etc etc etc
They say
A license is nothing more than your rights stolen and sold back to you.

At the end of the day I’d rather see these folks out doing their hustle rather than standing in the same place with a sign begging. Or out robbing and scamming people .


A few guys at the shop hit a cart over at the truck wash next door.
Fast and cheaper than getting in the car, going to Carl’s or Jack in the hole.

They only get a half hour. By the time they drive up there (and it’s less than a mile) wait in line, place their order and wait for their food, they have 4 minutes to drive back to the shop and eat their $13 cheese burger combo because, the fuck stick behind the counter(now making $20/hr) gave them a cheese burger rather than the chicken sandwich they ordered.
And on top of that? The food sucked.

Or they can walk next door, scoop up a couple $2-$3 tacos made right in front of them that were kick ass food.

The way I see it?
These vendors are Capitolists, they see and are filling a niche created by fast food companies poor customer service and wonky prices.

There's other options than begging or robbing or scamming people. They can get a job. A license is a piece of paper and easy to get. Having a license protects you and your customers and gives you rights to fight for something to be corrected, if need be, on both sides.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

You’re comparing bananas to apples. You listed all people who are a drain on society and resources and comparing that to street vendors. The street vendors are actually working for their money and providing a service that will fail or thrive depending on the quality of the product.

I’m confused what a homeless bum on a bus bench and an RV dweller have to do with a street vendor?

Big picture, that’s all I’m saying. I’m not trying to compare street vendors to the homeless. Street vendors are certainly more of an asset than most everyone on the street scene.

Acceptance of one form eventually leads to acceptance across the board. It’s what we are seeing more and more of across all gamuts. Where and with who do you draw the line?

Bums can have their street corner biz as well, although most of us may not want to partake in what they’re selling!