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 Stories

A Filthy Night of Hard-Rocking Sleaze From Your Favorite Jumbo’s Dancer

"The Night Scene" curated by Jumbo's Clown Room royalty Ashley Hayward features professional gogo dancer Trauma Boner and fellow Jumbo's performers.

July 17, 2026

These L.A. Comedy Stars Sprang From One of the First Ever YouTube Channels

In the L.A. comedy world, there’s improv, stand-up, and now . . . Smosh.

July 17, 2026

El Ruso Brings Sonoran Burritos and Tacos to a Studio City Brick-and-Mortar Next Week

There will be everything you've come to love from pioneering Sonoran taquero, Walter Soto, along with a few surprises.

July 17, 2026

Daily Memo: Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction in Adelanto ICE Processing Center Lawsuit

Plus, four ICE-related deaths in four states and ICE activity in Ojai, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and other regions as ICE attempts to meet a daily quote of 2000 arrests per day nationwide.

How Many Sexual Abusers Have We Cheered For During the World Cup?

My condemnation of FIFA isn’t an indictment of soccer—it’s an indictment of the wealthy men who set the professional standards of the game, the smug puppet masters who treat FIFA like their frat house.

L.A.’s First Handmade Colombian Pastas Are Topped with Octopus and Picanha in Long Beach

L.A. has never seen the kind of pasta that Jurado is doing two days a week at his “Fuego Lento” pop-up at his Long Beach restaurant, Selva.

July 16, 2026