A beloved taco truck in South Los Angeles has been forced to shut down after a reported mob attack involving around 30 men - and the whole thing was livestreamed on TikTok.
Tacos Los Poblanos, a popular food truck known for its handmade tortillas and Tijuana-style tacos, said they were ambushed just after midnight in the early hours of Sunday 4 August.
The truck, stationed near Avalon Boulevard and Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles, was closing up for the night when a large group showed up armed with baseball bats and metal poles.
According to staff and witnesses, the group violently smashed windows, damaged equipment, and physically attacked members of the team.
One worker was taken to hospital with multiple injuries including lacerations and abrasions. In total, 13 workers were assaulted, they said.
What’s even more disturbing is that parts of the attack were filmed and broadcast live on TikTok, with videos showing the chaos unfold in real time.
Clips shared online show several men swinging bats at the truck, with others shouting and filming the destruction as it happened.
Despite the scale of the attack, the gang didn’t appear to steal anything - leaving many to believe this was about causing chaos, not robbery.
“This was a planned attack,” said the team behind Tacos Los Poblanos in a statement on Instagram. “We don't know why. Our team works extremely hard. We have never had problems with anyone.”
The truck has been serving the community for over 15 years, offering tacos, mulitas and plates loaded with carne asada and al pastor.
Regular customers are devastated, with some describing the truck as a “cornerstone” of their neighbourhood.
In the aftermath, the truck’s owners say they’re heartbroken and are asking for the community’s help. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help with the cost of repairs - estimated to be more than $10,000 - and to support the injured staff.
The team also posted a warning urging people to be on alert: “Please be careful and keep an eye out for these people [...] They came to hurt, not to rob.”
Police are now investigating the incident and are asking for anyone with information or footage to come forward. As of now, no arrests have been made.
For now, Tacos Los Poblanos’ Slauson location remains closed. But supporters across L.A. are rallying behind them, proving that when you mess with people’s tacos - you mess with the whole city.
FOODBible has reached out to Tacos Los Poblanos for comment.
Featured Image Credit: @tacoslospoblanosestilotijuana/InstagramTopics: US Food
Lara Owen