Skip to Content
Tacos

KO / Machete Taco Truck Review

The blackened shrimp taco is magic.

I thought I knew what a gourmet taco was. Then I tried Knockout tacos, a gourmet taco truck that launched this summer. Knockout taco truck is piloted by Chris Goossen, former head Chef at Bottega Louie and El Pearl Cantina. At El Pearl Cantina Goossen had a menu consisting of 42 different tacos!

The taco menu at Knockout Taco is paired down to 10 different types of tacos ranging from carne asada to tacos de papa and fish tacos; habanero albacore and Hawaiian Tuna Poke. I ordered the blackened shrimp taco, carne asada, habanero albacore, and bbq burnt ends taco.


The blackened shrimp taco is magic. Three plump shrimp on top of a single fresh corn tortilla. Underneath the shrimp is bacon cheese grits and a cajun salsa with strong chile taste (maybe habanero?) that brings both heat and flavor. As I’ve said before, I’m not really a food critic and at times I wonder if my palette is even sophisticated enough to pick up on things your dedicated foodie would recognize but this taco was setting off all kinds of happy things in my mouth. I don’t think you’ll find a more flavorful shrimp taco in LA.

Read the full review on Great Taco Hunt.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

L.A.’s Young Magicians Are Blowing Minds at Clubs, Pop Video Sets, and Taco Stands

Today's budding magicians are trading college and 9 to 5s to work with Chappell Roan, raise money for cancer patients, and perform at Magic Castle, marking a comeback for magic tricks in 2026.

January 7, 2026

DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol Returns On Dia De Los Reyes, Taking at Least Eight in Orange County and Injure Elderly Man

In another incident, a vendor in Fountain Valley was released after being questioned and detained, but not before CBP called for help from paramedics to use bolt cutters to remove the handcuffs used on the vendor.

January 6, 2026

DAILY MEMO: Masked and Unmasked Agents Kidnap at Least Eight Around Southern California In First Weekend of 2026

During the first weekend of the year, agents targeted areas nearby a Dollar Tree, PetCo, and more common errand hotspots—even a Wienerschnitzel.

January 6, 2026

Nine Places to Get to Know Venezuelan Food In L.A.

These are L.A.'s nine best places for getting to know Venezuelan cooking, from its beloved arepas, tequeños, and cachapas, to its national dish of pabellón criollo.

The Dark Origin of Rosca de Reyes, Plus the 10 Best In L.A.

Eating a rosca de reyes is a way to beat the post-holiday blues. Here are where to find the best ones in L.A. and plus, the macabre origin of the religious holiday that involves murdering infants.

January 6, 2026

Goodbye, Horses: Notorious Sunset Strip Restaurant Closes More Than Two Years Since Animal Abuse Controversy

At its peak, Horses was doing more than 375 covers a night. Reservations were nearly impossible to snag.

January 5, 2026
See all posts