Update on August 5, 2025
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to L.A. TACO that on August 3, 2025, around 12:05 a.m., 15 "male Hispanic" suspects vandalized a truck and assaulted six individuals, with one victim hospitalized for abrasions and a laceration, while the other five reported pain. LAPD is currently investigating the incident.
L.A. TACO also confirmed with the owner of the food truck that multiple suspects involved in the attack were wearing Cruz Azul jerseys, including one person who was wearing a specialty shirt with “Cruz Azul Las Vegas 702” written on it. Earlier that day, Cruz Azul beat the L.A. Galaxy in a penalty shootout in a multi-league tournament currently taking place at their stadium in Carson.
In one of the most alarming attacks on a street vendor in recent memory, Tacos Los Poblanos, a beloved Tijuana-style taco truck located at 5821 South Avalon Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Central-Alameda neighborhood, was targeted in a violent robbery and assault around midnight on Sunday, August 3, 2025, according to a post on Instagram.
The attack, allegedly carried out by a group of an estimated 30 men, left 13 staff members of the food truck assaulted, with one team member requiring hospitalization due to the severity of their injuries.
The Tijuana-style asada specialist, a staple in the South Los Angeles community for nearly 15 years, has never experienced an incident of this magnitude.
According to a statement posted on their Instagram account (@tacoslospoblanosestilotijuana), the assailants not only robbed the business but also vandalized the truck, breaking its windows. The attack was broadcast live on TikTok, according to one of the taqueros who was there. Customers alerted the staff to the live stream, and the owners are urging anyone with footage from these streams to contact the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to aid in their investigation.
“This is absolutely devastating to us on so many levels,” the statement reads. “Our team works extremely hard. We have never had problems with anyone.”
The incident has forced Tacos Los Poblanos to close its Slauson/Avalon location until further notice, disrupting a business known for its mesquite-grilled carne asada, al pastor, and mulitas served with handmade tortillas and generous guacamole.
The robbery is part of the daily crimes targeting street vendors in Los Angeles, with similar incidents reported in recent years, including a 2023 spree where taco trucks in South L.A. were robbed at gunpoint. Community advocates have long highlighted the vulnerability of street vendors, who operate in open-air settings without the same sense of security as brick-and-mortar establishments.
Tacos Los Poblanos is calling for justice and increased protection for street vendors, urging the community to stay vigilant. The taco truck expressed gratitude for the support of their loyal customers and promised updates on their reopening.
“Please be careful and keep an eye out for these people,” pleads Tacos Los Poblanos.
L.A. TACO has reached out to LAPD for comment but has not yet heard back.
