Sidewalk food vendors - taking it to the next level

[bk2drvr]

I want a good street taco and if a vendor sells one I’m buying.

As for fast food f that these days 10-12 bucks for a basic crappy meal no thanks I’ll spend a couple bucks more for a good carne burrito or some tacos whether it’s a shop or street vendor.

When I work my time is tight so if I can get my food quick I’m all in.

If Im taking away from the combo meal business at any number of fast food chains then I will do it all day long. The combo meals at the fast food restaraunts are an insult. I feel like im literally being robbed. With the exception of in n out. I went to Five Guys the other night with my 85yo father who doesn't eat out much and he about walked out of the place and I don't blame him. I had been to Five Guys in the past but its been several years. I figured we would change it up from In N out and went there and my god I couldn't believe the prices. We spent $30 on two burgers and one fry. Come on!? Will never go back. Their "little burger" alone is $10.50. Insane.

 

[77charger]

If Im taking away from the combo meal business at any number of fast food chains then I will do it all day long. The combo meals at the fast food restaraunts are an insult. I feel like im literally being robbed. With the exception of in n out. I went to Five Guys the other night with my 85yo father who doesn't eat out much and he about walked out of the place and I don't blame him. I had been to Five Guys in the past but its been several years. I figured we would change it up from In N out and went there and my god I couldn't believe the prices. We spent $30 on two burgers and one fry. Come on!? Will never go back. Their "little burger" alone is $10.50. Insane.

In n out is only fast food I will do. Still get out for about 10 bucks maybe 11 now it’s been 2 months.

Heck today I got a bowl of chili and an ipa for 11 bucks here in az.

 

[500bbc]

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 on a corner taco guy.

Sorry, just couldn't help myself...

 

[hallett21]

Sorry, just couldn't help myself...

What kind of place is this?!

 

[500bbc]

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

I keep hearing this but I've been eating Taco Bell since they were founded witout a hint of a problem.

 

[500bbc]

If Im taking away from the combo meal business at any number of fast food chains then I will do it all day long. The combo meals at the fast food restaraunts are an insult. I feel like im literally being robbed. With the exception of in n out. I went to Five Guys the other night with my 85yo father who doesn't eat out much and he about walked out of the place and I don't blame him. I had been to Five Guys in the past but its been several years. I figured we would change it up from In N out and went there and my god I couldn't believe the prices. We spent $30 on two burgers and one fry. Come on!? Will never go back. Their "little burger" alone is $10.50. Insane.

Think why...

 

[500bbc]

Who will be held liable when an unlicensed uninsured drunk "motorist" jumps the curb and wipes out everyone in line along with the "vendors"?

 

[rivrrts429]

I keep hearing this but I've been eating Taco Bell since they were founded witout a hint of a problem.

Every time I’ve been there it’s …

 

[Badchoices03]

I have eaten at quite a few corner taco shops here and in Mexico....the only places I have got sick were at Tommys Burgers, Subway, and Yellow Basket...

 

[hallett21]

Forgot to add Chubway to my “oh god not again” list.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

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..

Aren’t you about to park a lit up sign truck on public property for profit?

 

[NicPaus]

I have eaten at quite a few corner taco shops here and in Mexico....the only places I have got sick were at Tommys Burgers, Subway, and Yellow Basket...

Which yellow basket? My Greek buddy owns a few. His family owns the rest.

I got food poisoning at Diana's few months ago. First time in 25 years there. No more green beef Chile plate. But I keep going back for the Abolgdis soup.

Never had a problem from the taco cart. But it's fresh and cooked in front of me. I do often wonder if a car jumps the curb so I stand behind the pole while waiting.

 

[500bbc]

Every time I’ve been there it’s …

View attachment 1325988

Stop licking the door knobs...

 

[rivrrts429]

Stop licking the door knobs...

No door knobs… handrails at Disneyland is where its at lol

 

[NicPaus]

Threw a free post on FB to support my brick and mortar friends. Thanks to this thread.

 

[hallett21]

Threw a free post on FB to support my brick and mortar friends. Thanks to this thread. View attachment 1325993 View attachment 1325994

If more spots did this they wouldn’t need to worry about the taco guy.

There’s a Persian place by us called Shirin. When my wife and I call its $20-30 a plate. When my buddy and his wife call and speak in Farsi it’s almost half off lol. Guess who orders for the four of us.

 

[500bbc]

No door knobs… handrails at Disneyland is where its at lol

Or stripper poles...

 

[rivrrts429]

If more spots did this they wouldn’t need to worry about the taco guy.

There’s a Persian place by us called Shirin. When me and my wife call is $20-30 a plate. When my buddy and his wife call and speak in Farsi it’s almost half off lol. Guess who orders for the four of us.

That’s what Mexico taxis do to me. I’m a 6’2” 185lb white dude. I’m taller than most all the population. My Spanish speaking buddy gets the taxi and price. Just before they pull away from the curb I hop in.

If not it’s double the taxi cost

 

[2Driver]

Embrace the decline. And the salmonella.

Personally, if you are that mad about it, don’t buy their food. You are getting what you voted for.

Yep one step closer to 3rd world. How cool

 

[Ace in the Hole]

If more spots did this they wouldn’t need to worry about the taco guy.

There’s a Persian place by us called Shirin. When my wife and I call its $20-30 a plate. When my buddy and his wife call and speak in Farsi it’s almost half off lol. Guess who orders for the four of us.

Reminded me of this clip...

 

[hallett21]

Reminded me of this clip...

Lmfao

 

[SKIDMARC]

I don't live in LA, so it doesn't really bother me, I tend to not worry too much about stuff that doesn't effect me personally.

But I do go to LA for work, I was worried about the cleanliness about it (I don't eat out of food trucks either for the same reason) but one day I couldn't help it, I was getting gas and the taco cart out front smelled so good! So I tried 3 tacos, oh man it was awesome!! Not as cheap as you would think, $2.50 a taco, but man was it good!

Also, its better than begging on the corner or robbing people to get by.

It's all about filling a need. People are fed up with expensive shitty Mexican food that takes too long to get and the service might suck, god forbid you order a $15 drink that sucks also. So these people are filling a need. Good cheap Mexican food that is fast and they get it with a smile and a thank you. In a way, the restaurants that some are defending are the reasons these are popping up, there food and service suck and they are too high priced. Not saying all of them are like though.

Also, two things:

1. Saying that the restaurants pay all their taxes, hire legally and adhere to sanitation rules is a bunch of BS. Some yes, all hell no, especially hiring legally and paying all the taxes. Regardless of the food, it always Mexicans cooking it. Are they legally in the US, maybe at best!

2. Saying these will get you sick, another bunch of BS, I can't tell you how many times I have gotten sick or felt like shit from eating at a restaurant.

 

[wzuber]

I don't live in LA, so it doesn't really bother me, I tend to not worry too much about stuff that doesn't effect me personally.

But I do go to LA for work, I was worried about the cleanliness about it (I don't eat out of food trucks either for the same reason) but one day I couldn't help it, I was getting gas and the taco cart out front smelled so good! So I tried 3 tacos, oh man it was awesome!! Not as cheap as you would think, $2.50 a taco, but man was it good!

Also, its better than begging on the corner or robbing people to get by.

It's all about filling a need. People are fed up with expensive shitty Mexican food that takes too long to get and the service might suck, god forbid you order a $15 drink that sucks also. So these people are filling a need. Good cheap Mexican food that is fast and they get it with a smile and a thank you. In a way, the restaurants that some are defending are the reasons these are popping up, there food and service suck and they are too high priced. Not saying all of them are like though.

Also, two things:

1. Saying that the restaurants pay all their taxes, hire legally and adhere to sanitation rules is a bunch of BS. Some yes, all hell no, especially hiring legally and paying all the taxes. Regardless of the food, it always Mexicans cooking it. Are they legally in the US, maybe at best!

2. Saying these will get you sick, another bunch of BS, I can't tell you how many times I have gotten sick or felt like shit from eating at a restaurant.

"To high priced"
Just curious....do you think if they were not paying all the related OVERHEAD they might be able to sell $2.50 tacos and be "profitable" too? Many of these illegals are being heavily subsidised by OUR TAX DOLLARS.....i.e...gov't paid rent, food, health care, education, and $$ to "live" on. A recent figure I heard was $7k/per person per month. (Family of 4 =$28k...per month?)
I don't know the validity of the specific $# but if it's even half or a third, that's a shit ton of tax $$$. With the gov't subsidy and the $$$$ they're making on this "cash side hack" they're doing damn good for minimal effort and disrupting the legal people working their asses off to fund, open, build and run a ligit restaurant business and raise their families, employess etc. too.
We're stepping on our dix allowing and supporting this but some of them do make some great food and take reasonable care to provide a safe product. It's a crazy f'd up situation for sure and we're paying heavily for it until we the people change it.

 

[rivrrts429]

"To high priced"
Just curious....do you think if they were not paying all the related OVERHEAD they might be able to sell $2.50 tacos and be "profitable" too? Many of these illegals are being heavily subsidised by OUR TAX DOLLARS.....i.e...gov't paid rent, food, health care, education, and $$ to "live" on. A recent figure I heard was $7k/per person per month. (Family of 4 =$28k...per month?)
I don't know the validity of the specific $# but if it's even half or a third, that's a shit ton of tax $$$. With the gov't subsidy and the $$$$ they're making on this "cash side hack" they're doing damn good for minimal effort and disrupting the legal people working their asses off to fund, open, build and run a ligit restaurant business and raise their families, employess etc. too.
We're stepping on our dix allowing and supporting this but some of them do make some great food and take reasonable care to provide a safe product. It's a crazy f'd up situation for sure and we're paying heavily for it until we the people change it.

That’s essentially what Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc… did to the local brick & mortar organizations.

 

[Englewood]

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

It's worth a stop. It's as good as any taco I've had in Mexico.

I keep checking when in the area but keep missing them. Do you know what days they are typically setup?

 

[wzuber]

That’s essentially what Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc… did to the local brick & mortar organizations.

Partially true...but I don't think they did that while being heavily subsidised with out tax $$$. They did it thru legal means and heavily self funded.

 

[hallett21]

Partially true...but I don't think they did that while being heavily subsidised with out tax $$$. They did it thru legal means and heavily self funded.

Technically they operated at a loss for 2-3 years (because they have the cash reserves) then took over the entire market. After that they set the price and profit for the next few decades.

 

[SKIDMARC]

"To high priced"
Just curious....do you think if they were not paying all the related OVERHEAD they might be able to sell $2.50 tacos and be "profitable" too? Many of these illegals are being heavily subsidised by OUR TAX DOLLARS.....i.e...gov't paid rent, food, health care, education, and $$ to "live" on. A recent figure I heard was $7k/per person per month. (Family of 4 =$28k...per month?)
I don't know the validity of the specific $# but if it's even half or a third, that's a shit ton of tax $$$. With the gov't subsidy and the $$$$ they're making on this "cash side hack" they're doing damn good for minimal effort and disrupting the legal people working their asses off to fund, open, build and run a ligit restaurant business and raise their families, employess etc. too.
We're stepping on our dix allowing and supporting this but some of them do make some great food and take reasonable care to provide a safe product. It's a crazy f'd up situation for sure and we're paying heavily for it until we the people change it.

I have no idea about how financials of a restaurant work. All I know is people aren’t going to pay expensive prices for bad food.

If your figures are true about how much illegal immigrants make, shoot I’m going to give myself a new name and cash in!!!

 

[wzuber]

Technically they operated at a loss for 2-3 years (because they have the cash reserves) then took over the entire market. After that they set the price and profit for the next few decades.

Were they gov't subsidised with our tax $$$ while doing that? No
Did they change the way business was traditionally transacted?? Yes, but done legally and self funded by issueing stock or other traditional legal debt funding means. Pretty significant difference there...yes?

 

[hallett21]

Were they gov't subsidised with our tax $$$ while doing that? No
Did they change the way business was traditionally transacted?? Yes, but done legally and self funded by issueing stock or other traditional legal debt funding means. Pretty significant difference there...yes?

Well they can get tax incentives based upon their leases etc. Especially when they do a build.

 

[jet496]

Not long ago it was in the news how they were setting up next to restaurants in San Diego and taking business from them because the people in line would simply go to them instead of waiting. Problem is the restaurants have to pay a ton to stay in business & that's why they charge so much.

That being said, fuck paying the high price of eating out anymore. We eat at home mostly. I imagine restaurants will be failing pretty soon as people run out of money. Just sayin'.

 

[jet496]

"To high priced"
Just curious....do you think if they were not paying all the related OVERHEAD they might be able to sell $2.50 tacos and be "profitable" too? Many of these illegals are being heavily subsidised by OUR TAX DOLLARS.....i.e...gov't paid rent, food, health care, education, and $$ to "live" on. A recent figure I heard was $7k/per person per month. (Family of 4 =$28k...per month?)
I don't know the validity of the specific $# but if it's even half or a third, that's a shit ton of tax $$$. With the gov't subsidy and the $$$$ they're making on this "cash side hack" they're doing damn good for minimal effort and disrupting the legal people working their asses off to fund, open, build and run a ligit restaurant business and raise their families, employess etc. too.
We're stepping on our dix allowing and supporting this but some of them do make some great food and take reasonable care to provide a safe product. It's a crazy f'd up situation for sure and we're paying heavily for it until we the people change it.

Well said.

 

[rivrrts429]

Partially true...but I don't think they did that while being heavily subsidised with out tax $$$. They did it thru legal means and heavily self funded.

I don’t disagree but I think we would all be extremely surprised at how cities and states subsidize these large corporations when every receipt results in a percentage of tax dollars remaining in the zip code and county.

We hear about it every day where government is making a deal with a large corporation to bring their tax dollars to their zip code.

It’s definitely an interesting deep dive into how the games are played that only results in the local mom & pop being a thing of the past.

If you’re not growing you’re regressing.

 

[PlanB]

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.

Same in San Diego. Los Angeles cart vendors invade the city and have turf wars with the illegal cart guys down here. I have also been told that cartels are behind a lot of this chaos.

 

[Luvnlife]

Threw a free post on FB to support my brick and mortar friends. Thanks to this thread. View attachment 1325993 View attachment 1325994

$9 cash plus tax? That’s fishy So basically $10 cash

 

[NicPaus]

$9 cash plus tax? That’s fishy So basically $10 cash

I bought 3 it was $29 and change cash. They give a cash discount as the card fees are so high. It's the get customers to the new location price. Not offered at his other locations. He said $12 once they get established. Beats any fast food spot around.

 

[Luvnlife]

I bought 3 it was $29 and change cash. They give a cash discount as the card fees are so high. It's the get customers to the new location price. Not offered at his other locations. He said $12 once they get established. Beats any fast food spot around.

For sure it beats fast food prices Just funny they say cash price plus taxes because you know damn well they are not paying those taxes Chow on my friend

 

[lbhsbz]

Hahahaa!! You folks haven't been through L.A. recently...... Every weekend night, everywhere you look......people trying to make a buck.

They may not be illegal but I HIGHLY doubt any of the Mom and Pop places pay taxes, have a food service cert., an inspection rating from the County or a business license to sell in whatever city they are setting up in.

If you or I owned a business in the same area, where we sold food, we would have to pay all of those fees and abide by all of those requirements or risk being closed. These places typically do not and will not follow the same rules, and simply respond with "Habla Espanol?"

It sucks that brick and mortar businesses are required to follow all of those requirements, but these folks are not.

The part that pisses me off is that these street vendors are charging the same prices as the legit brick and mortar places. If they're not paying for permits, taxes, rent, etc....they don't get to do that. I don't support them. Why bother having rules if nobody needs to follow them? If I was a restaurant owner, I'd get together with every other restaurant owner in that city, close the doors, turns the lights out, stop paying any of the fees to city, and set up shop on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant for free. After a month, I bet the city would get off their ass and start enforcing the rules.

 

[RiverDave]

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

While that’s one way of saying it another would be “if we have to play by the rules shouldn’t everyone?”

 

[RiverDave]

Aren’t you about to park a lit up sign truck on public property for profit?

Is there something illegitimate about that?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Is there something illegitimate about that?

Seems to carry the same level of legitimacy that a street vendor does in California, does it not?

 

[Bobby V]

 

[Havasu blue label]

Aren’t you about to park a lit up sign truck on public property for profit?

Shit dude

 

[RiverDave]

Seems to carry the same level of legitimacy that a street vendor does in California, does it not?

Business license, insurance, taxes etc? So not really?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Business license, insurance, taxes etc? So not really?

Street vending is not a crime in CA. I’m not insinuating you are doing anything criminal.

You are using a public space to make money. So are they. So is the Ice Cream man.

You are subject to much less regulation cost and permitting than a standard billboard, are you not? So is the street vendor. So is the Ice Cream man.

 

[hallett21]

The part that pisses me off is that these street vendors are charging the same prices as the legit brick and mortar places. If they're not paying for permits, taxes, rent, etc....they don't get to do that. I don't support them. Why bother having rules if nobody needs to follow them? If I was a restaurant owner, I'd get together with every other restaurant owner in that city, close the doors, turns the lights out, stop paying any of the fees to city, and set up shop on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant for free. After a month, I bet the city would get off their ass and start enforcing the rules.

Agreed. However lol. At the end of the day the establishment needs to produce a good tasting meal. Do you think everyone could go the distance? I’m all for culling the herd but I think that’s a fair argument. Good tasting food is hard to come by these days.

 

[cofooter]

Why couldn't they designate a section of the area barrio where all these street vendors could set up so they would not be on public land or in front of other businesses? I'm all for them making a buck, but not taking over public places. Then again, I don't have to deal with it, never seen one where I live.........

 

[HTTP404]

County of Riverside does do regular bust on these people. I have literally seen code enforcement roll up and confiscate everything from the ones cooking outside with the ez ups. If they are cooking outside and not in a trailer or truck they bust them. Just saw it on 74 in Elsinore last weekend. I think they just buy new shit and come right back the next day though

There was one here in Menifee that was going for a few weeks and they got shut down.

 

[RiverDave]

Street vending is not a crime in CA. I’m not insinuating you are doing anything criminal.

You are using a public space to make money. So are they. So is the Ice Cream man.

You are subject to much less regulation cost and permitting than a standard billboard, are you not? So is the street vendor. So is the Ice Cream man.

I’m still not seeing the relation but whatever floats your boat

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I’m still not seeing the relation but whatever floats your boat

All good. We see it.