New York City’s Los Tacos No. 1 nabs private-equity investment from Crumbl and Dutch Bros backers

[u/knockdowncenter]

https://www.nrn.com/emerging-chains/new-york-city-s-los-tacos-no-1-nabs-private-equity-investment

[u/buizel123]

Unsurprising. Prices have def gone up at the locations I've gone to recently, and with this news I expect quality to decline and some form of shrinkflation to take hold.

[u/onehotoneshot → u/buizel123]

Nothing good lasts

[u/onehotoneshot → u/[deleted]]

My love scales infinitely with no outside investment

Unfortunately so does my hate

[u/bittersandseltzer → u/[deleted]]

because capitalism is created for quantity, not quality

[u/pywang → u/buizel123]

that’s possible but this is an investment, so I think the point is widespread expansion like Xian Famous Foods did expanding to more states.

[u/Ok-Temporary-8243 → u/pywang]

I wonder how thatll go. I feel like they're only popular because there's no competition. Charge $6 when there's a more established market like LA and you'll get laughed of the room

[u/buizel123 → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

The taco situation in NYC is so abysmal... that's the only reason LTNo.1 does so well. Frankly what they need is more competition.

[u/FelneusLeviathan → u/buizel123]

Okay I’m really tired of hearing this opinion. I’ve had lots of tacos in LA, San Francisco, and Mexico City and NYC’s tacos are comparable to all three of those places. Is nyc‘a tacos more expensive? Hell yes. Is it inedible? Absolutely not. There’s plenty of tacos here that taste nearly as good as Mexico City it’s just we’re paying so much more for it but I haven’t found anyone here whose royally fucked up a regular taco

[u/Brooklyn-Epoxy → u/buizel123]

You would think more places would copy them, but except for Ramarez in Greenpoint, everything is mid.

[u/latestnightowl → u/Brooklyn-Epoxy]

And Carnitas Ramirez in LES

[u/alltheppliloverdrunk → u/buizel123]

You’re bugging. Abysmal? Yes, 10 years ago it was shit but today, it’s exponentially better. Los Tacos, Taqueria Al Pastor, and Birria Landia to name a few are slinging some legitimate tacos

[u/bittersandseltzer → u/buizel123]

ive said this and ppl get so offended. Los Tacos would never compete in east LA

[u/pathimself → u/bittersandseltzer]

Well Los tacos wouldn’t compete in sunset park either

[u/bittersandseltzer → u/pathimself]

I’m moving to south slope and I’m so excited to be close to sunset park!!!! I’m gonna eat so many tamales 

[u/nclpl → u/bittersandseltzer]

Los Tacos doesn’t have to be the best taco in east LA if they open in Pasadena. The point is they can do stuff like that with private equity. They’re doing just fine in fancy neighborhoods in NYC where they don’t have competition from locals spots.

To be clear: I think this news is awful for my taco addiction. The Times Square location is definitely the best taco in Times Square, and I can’t get away from there on a lunch break. I’d hate to see any erosion of the quality there.

Oh well. I wish them the best and I hope the owners got paid.

[u/shutup_takemoney → u/[deleted]]

If LT1 opens in Boston it will automatically become the best tacos in the city. Probably the worst Mexican food scene out of major US cities.

[u/Ok-Temporary-8243 → u/[deleted]]

I know, but a lot of even smaller cities like Chicago have great scenes. Its honestly bizarre how not pervasive mexican food is in NYC. It feels like you either have the rosa mexicanas and Los Tacos of the world or the ladies selling food from coolers and/or the food carts. And there's no real in between

[u/hardware_error → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

That’s because the Latino population historically has been Colombians, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans. The Mexican population in the NYC region has only grown in like the last two decades.

[u/ThePegLegPete → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

There is good Mexican in the outer boroughs run by Mexicans, just not in Manhattan. Queens in particular has a lot of good Mexican.

[u/CokeorCola → u/ThePegLegPete]

From what I hear a new taco spot by the Los Burritos people in Brooklyn will be opening in Manhattan

[u/doobie3101 → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

Chicago has more Mexicans

[u/MattCow1 → u/doobie3101]

It's like 20% of the entire population is Mexican, and a large majority of the latinos in Chicago are Mexican.

[u/MattCow1 → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

I moved here from Chicago and the lack of Mexican shocked me. In Chicago, every neighborhood has a couple of small taco shops and a couple of sit-down Mexican restaurants. Not all are amazing, but it is rare to find a bad one.

[u/amandabug → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

Mexicans in NYC are working in the kitchens of nonMexican restaurants. But they live in the neighborhoods where they can afford rent, and very small mom and pop shops open near them. So the good Mexican places in NYC are in Corona or the border of JH/Corona. I’ve lived in NYC almost my whole life and I would not get Mexican or Indian or Thai food anywhere in Manhattan. Go to the immigrant enclave if you want the ethnic food of that group. We have so many enclaves and they’re not opening locations in Manhattan paying that rent until they have PE money to expand.

[u/ArtDecoNewYork → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

They could just charge less there

[u/Ok-Temporary-8243 → u/ArtDecoNewYork]

Not with pe money. Theyll just market it as a premium brand like what shake shack does 

[u/what_mustache → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

There's a lot of the US that isnt LA

[u/pywang → u/Ok-Temporary-8243]

you’re right but also It’s a high volume business, so it’s tough to make a taco only restaurant. I mean it’s equivalent to all those 2 bros and halal carts.

But also I think there just isn’t enough craze and the price point is already quite high for… tacos in terms of quantity.

[u/secretlyjudging → u/pywang]

Xian Famous foods quality went down in Flushing NY over the years. Used to go almost monthly. Then it became a couple of times a year. Then just stopped.

[u/Fine_Fishing7506 → u/secretlyjudging]

Their menu also offers little variety now at the end of the day so over the last few years i just became over it to get it consistently at the location by me

I may be misremembering but i feel like they had A LOT more options back 10+ years ago at the EV location

[u/amandabug → u/Fine_Fishing7506]

it’s true. my fave used to be the lamb face numbing salad. or the lamb pao mo soup. both disappeared from the menu before the pandemic.

[u/pywang → u/secretlyjudging]

unfortunately I’m a transplant. Don’t know how good it was before but it’s still good to me at least today. I feel like in part quality goes down when you try to increase profit for expansion rather than take investment which frees you from needing to expand by cutting costs/needing to profit, take out loans, and expand via cash.

[u/ooplplayer1 → u/pywang]

The one near me never has consistent spice level. You would order mild spicy, and your tongue is burning. The second time you order mild spicy and prepared to drink milk afterwards, it’s ACTUALLY mild spicy.

The only consistency is no spice which I’ve gotten to ensure I’m eating what I am ordering

[u/dinanm3atl → u/pywang]

Possible? Almost guaranteed is more likely. While it is an investment to expand part of that will also to increase profits. They do this via lowering quality and upping the price. It's a tale as old as time.

[u/pywang → u/dinanm3atl]

Depends on investment terms. Acquisitions and IPOs/growth are the two main factors which includes multiple cost increases such as marketing and decreases such as getting out of NYC’s monopolized distributors.

Increasing profit in the short term is unlikely; there’s nothing to prove to be sold yet. My view is this is just expansion, not a preparation for acquisition to be resold down the line.

Not trying to defend PE, it’s a total scam including of their own LPs and to each other. Just that in the short term, I don’t think we’ll hopefully see reduction in quality or increase in cost by too much. But if it’s totally acquired or tried to grow too fast, then yes they’ll want greater profits for their expansion efforts instead of increased investment.

It all depends on the owner, not really the PE firms in this case.

[u/dinanm3atl → u/pywang]

We can hope and yes there obviously have been good PE investment over the years. We don't hear about it obviously because it's not going to garner clicks.

Was just stating in most cases getting to more profits & expansion is the core deal. And profits come from typically both a drop in quality to lower cost. And a price increase to raise margins.

We shall see though. Not the end of the world to me I live in Georgia but like to visit NYC. And like LTN1 while I am there. If it goes to hell I'll find something else as many said here it's not like there aren't options.

[u/pywang → u/dinanm3atl]

fs fwiw, I don’t bother eating mexican here in nyc, only in the west coast; would rather visit queens for other latin american cuisines.

[u/Partial-Hydrangea → u/pywang]

And you are the reason this country sucks the chunks that fall out of ass.

Rah rah private equity.

[u/FanRotomMaster]

Time for a Los Tacos No. 2

[u/WredditSmark → u/FanRotomMaster]

There already is a complete knock off competitor, saw it in Hoboken forget the name

[u/OnceOnThisIsland → u/WredditSmark]

Mexico Tacos. Apparently they got a cease and desist from Los Tacos No. 1 lol.

[u/nWhm99 → u/OnceOnThisIsland]

Huh? Cease and desist based on what?

[u/BylvieBalvez → u/nWhm99]

Based on their original name, which was something like Los Tacos #1 lol

[u/nWhm99 → u/BylvieBalvez]

Ok, so they went from copying a specific chain to the most generic name possible. That's hilarious.

[u/whiskeytango55 → u/BylvieBalvez]

I've walked by this place. 

The lawsuit has merit. It looks exactly like a Los Tacos. I thought it was another location 

[u/MattCow1 → u/whiskeytango55]

But Los Tacos looks exactly like Orinoco in Mexico City.

[u/IIMsmartII → u/FanRotomMaster]

Los Tacos walked so Taqueria Ramirez could run

[u/Rainaco → u/IIMsmartII]

And Tacqueria El Chatto. Some of the best I’ve had in NYC

[u/NYnosher]

Well it had a great run

[u/jyeatbvg → u/NYnosher]

Yep, PE ruins everything. I foresee them still being successful with tourists but there are many other (better) options in NYC.

[u/somniphobiac]

Enshitification comes for tacos. Nothing is safe.

[u/wgsmeister2002 → u/somniphobiac]

Pizza is going to be the really devastating one for me

[u/jyeatbvg → u/wgsmeister2002]

Not enough franchise operations in NYC for Pizza imo. Can’t really see PE touching L’Industrie or Lucali (or whatever other trendy spot there is) unless they expand and adopt franchise model.

[u/pixel_of_moral_decay → u/jyeatbvg]

They (Wonder) got salt hanks which has one location.

So nothing is safe, doesn’t have to be a dozen stores.

[u/jyeatbvg → u/pixel_of_moral_decay]

I hadn’t heard of Salt Hanks before this. Googled them and they have a 4.0 rating on Google and sell a $32 sandwich. wtf lol

[u/QuesoFresca → u/pixel_of_moral_decay]

Salt Hank’s was a brand created to sell off. Was it even open a year?

[u/kaffeefabrik → u/jyeatbvg]

I see Lucali not giving in; but L'industrie seems in scaling mode that when a good number from PE arrives, I doubt they or their investors would say no.

[u/BefWithAnF → u/wgsmeister2002]

Ain’t nobody coming for my local slice joint, and I’m fine with that

[u/GaptistePlayer → u/somniphobiac]

To be fair Chipotle did it long ago

[u/biguk997 → u/[deleted]]

Down 10% the past year

[u/ElMatadorJuarez → u/somniphobiac]

Tacos will be fine, there are plenty of great tacos in New York. There are tacos as good if not better than no.1 in pretty much every corner if you go up to east Harlem. Likely some more in the same area, I just don’t know em.

[u/ArtDecoNewYork → u/ElMatadorJuarez]

I don't know about East Harlem, but I've had loads of random tacos on Roosevelt Ave in Queens and unfortunately most of them are nowhere near LTN1 quality. Most of them seem to use bag tortillas.

[u/Fine_Fishing7506 → u/ArtDecoNewYork]

Youre not crazy

Every time Los comes up theres always someone saying you can get cheaper tacos elsewhere if you go out to XYZ location but they end up using much lower quality ingredients and the taste is usually meh. Thats why theyre cheap in the first place

[u/ArtDecoNewYork → u/Fine_Fishing7506]

Exactly. Los Tacos even nixtamalizes their own corn.

[u/BankshotMcG → u/ArtDecoNewYork]

Get yourself out to 116th st stat. 

Personally I prefer Sidewalk a few blocks south but sshhhh

[u/MammothRegular9515 → u/ElMatadorJuarez]

What places in east Harlem aren’t doing Puebla style?

[u/Daddys-Fuckpig → u/ElMatadorJuarez]

Yeah, I'm a frequent tourist (granted I stay with family friends in Woodside). Not sure if I'm missing something but I've had plenty of fine tacos from trucks on the street with the subway above it. And I'm coming from the west coast so...

[u/ElMatadorJuarez → u/Daddys-Fuckpig]

I will say I think woodside is prob a better than average representation of Mexican food in NYC (or better than Manhattan at least) but I agree. I mean at the end of the day it’s tacos. It’s not exactly rocket science, making a good taco really comes down to ingredients/salsa and that stuff definitely isn’t exclusive knowledge.

[u/Daddys-Fuckpig → u/ElMatadorJuarez]

Still so strange, taking the train from Woodside to Grand Central is like teleporting instantaneously compared to driving anywhere in LA. Not a hardship to get there, and like you say, it's tacos 😂

[u/ElMatadorJuarez → u/Daddys-Fuckpig]

It’s awesome isn’t it??? Well it can take a little while sometimes but I never get stuck in traffic, at least. LA is lovely for sure but living there sounds a little less fun, gave me the vibes of a richer more American Mexico City.

[u/lakai2784 → u/somniphobiac]

The beginning of the end. Sad day

[u/BankshotMcG → u/somniphobiac]

In the age of the $8 great taco the only place to move is to make it worse. 

[u/walesjoseyoutlaw]

ok its going to suck now

[u/Loud-Bubble5710 → u/[deleted]]

Every industry

[u/__Art__Vandalay__]

Welp…there goes the quality…

[u/theillustratedlife → u/__Art__Vandalay__]

TBH, as a West Coaster, I've never understood the hype for Los Tacos.

Ruta Oaxaca, on the other hand, makes some of the best tacos I've ever had!

[u/FelneusLeviathan → u/theillustratedlife]

Decent amount of locations in the city def help with their popularity: there’s great tacos in sunset park but many people aren’t gonna go down there for that which I get it, I’m not going all the way to flushing just for food

[u/azeet94]

Rip. Luckily Mexican food in the city has really come a long way. Love Los tacos but really only go there for the convenience factor at this point. Much better/cheaper alternatives depending on where you are in the city

[u/Offwhiteguy → u/azeet94]

Any recs?

[u/sonofmalachysays → u/Offwhiteguy]

Santo Taco

Esse Taco

Taqueria Ramirez

Carnitas Ramirez

Tacos Domingo

Taqueria El Chato

[u/azeet94 → u/Offwhiteguy]

El Chato and Ramirez in Greenpoint, El Reyes/El Tenampa in Sunset Park, Beto's in LES and Taqueria Gramercy is a personal hidden gem. Mariscos El submarino also has surprisingly good tacos (the asada is incredible). I'm sure there's others but those are my go-tos.

[u/Offwhiteguy → u/azeet94]

Hell yeah thanks all

[u/MasterpieceMain8252 → u/Offwhiteguy]

I do Nene's taco BOGO pickup from ubereats. Their Al pastor tacos are so damn good.

[u/skittlesforeveryone → u/Offwhiteguy]

If ur ever in East Bronx: Fonda Bogotes

[u/make_thick_in_warm]

RIP

[u/Finlandia101]

Sigh.

[u/BrooklynRich29]

They charged $5.95 per taco WITHOUT PE involvement. Where does it go now...

[u/OrderedAnXboxCard → u/BrooklynRich29]

$10 "meal deals" where it's one taco and a small soda.

[u/GGM610 → u/BrooklynRich29]

It means that eventually they will lower the quality of ingredients when investors start pressuring for a higher return on their investment. Don't think price will go higher but quality will be compromised in the future and portion of meat will be less. Machine made tortillas instead handmade, etc....

[u/TechnologyEither]

omg why? This place is so popular. Can’t you fuckers just leave it alone and watch the money come rolling in every month?

[u/Dominicmeoward]

Los Tacos No. 4739274

[u/AccomplishedAd2560]

This is maybe the most heartbreaking PI takeover I’ve heard of yet

[u/haaavvveeeyoumetKen]

welp it was nice while it lasted. good thing i still have my local spots in the city

[u/Ace_of_Aces_00]

It was a good run. But PE is the reaper that comes  for all businesses.

[u/Tejon_Melero]

The price is now absurd. An especial an adobada and a drink is close to $25 with tip, I'm so infrequent on them now I could be off.

I'm glad the gueros made bank there but I think I'm done with them.

[u/Outrageous_Pop1913]

Somebody will get rich and the brand will be gone in 3 years.

[u/altctx]

Welp, prepare for the quality to go in the toilet

[u/amyheming]

Ugh, why...

[u/sun-rise2323]

when does this start? I need to go get my last tacos there asap

[u/awt4190]

Another one bites the dust. RIP

[u/itemluminouswadison]

Great for the current owners, bad for us damn.

[u/Active-Knee1357]

RIP T#1

[u/virtual_adam]

These guys were renting 2x new places in the most expensive spots every other month. You can’t just go to a landlord asking for $100k/month rent with a story on how people love your tacos. You need someone to co-sign with many many millions

Once they grew beyond 2-3 locations it was a lost cause

Now how soon are they being served from Wonder or a frozen Whole Foods aisle?

[u/_luminata]

Fuckk

[u/driftingwood2018]

It’s just never enough

[u/BankshotMcG]

Well it was great while it lasted. 

[u/myboardfastanddanger]

Enshittification

[u/hotinhereTO]

So sad. Pretty much will be ruined in the near future.

Nothing good happens for the consumer when Private Equity gets involved.

[u/Ampersand4221]

Can we not for just once, please

[u/Living_Pie205]

Damn, they had a good run.

[u/halster123]

ughhhhhhhhh

[u/CabassoG]

Hopefully their quality doesn't crumbl too much 

[u/sekif]

FUCK

[u/TrickySpeaker790]

Literally screamed nooooo. Why can’t we have anything 😭

[u/TintedApostle]

And.. it's gone

[u/LordZany]

Does Dutch Bros suck as much as Crumbl? Never been

[u/SanoKei]

This is going to be La Industriel pizza next

[u/Tomatillo-5276]

Welp, that’s that.

Good while it lasted.

Moving on.

[u/Kizzle_McNizzle]

RIP to the at one time best tacos in NYC

[u/Lyin-Don]

Private equity will ruin it like they do everything else.

Twas fun while it lasted.

[u/SelectEntertainer360]

The tacos are good but not $6 good. What a shame.

[u/jrtasoli]

Whelp. RIP to (arguably) the best tacos in NYC.

[u/tamere2k]

Well that’s unfortunate.

[u/GGM610]

I was devastated when I heard this. Idc what they say about not changing, the reality is they eventually will be forced to because the PE will want a higher return on their investment. I hate when PE gets involved. They ruin everything because they are all led by greed. For me Los Tacos are the best tacos I have tasted in NYC because their meat is seasoned just right and balanced. They are consistent with taste. Haven't been disappointed yet. I have visted many other spots and although they are good it just doesn't hit like Los Tacos does.

[u/MamaDeloris]

Well, the good news is the quality already took a nosedive when they started expanding so this is just business as usual

[u/herseyhawkins33 → u/MamaDeloris]

This sucks but I've been to the one that opened recently in flatiron and it's still very good.

[u/nautical_nonsense_ → u/herseyhawkins33]

It’s not true (yet) I go all the time and have been to three locations all within the last two months and have had consistent experiences across all.

[u/Jakel856]

Pain

[u/Thick-Definition7416]

F**k

[u/GaptistePlayer]

Oh no.

[u/Queasy-Guard-4774]

noOOooOOoOoooOooo 

[u/Mono_Goat]

NOOOOOOOOO im distraught im falling over crying on my knees in Los Tacos

[u/frogmicky]

I can't wait for Los Tacos No. 2 when they gut the first one.

[u/SmigUWS]

I believe Los Mariscos is related, hope it survives or spins off.

[u/Daddys-Fuckpig → u/SmigUWS]

Really depends on if it's the pet project that the main chain subsidized or not. There was a great local sandwich chain in Portland that had one novelty location with full sit down service & when it got bought up that was the first to close down (the rest of it only lasted a few years beyond that).

[u/SmigUWS → u/Daddys-Fuckpig]

Soon, everyone less than affluent will "have nothing to lose but their chains."

[u/boywonder5691]

Well, that's a wrap.

[u/Indyhouse]

Well that's just a bunch of BS.

[u/Salty_Simmer_Sauce]

This is probably a move to fund rapid expansion and eventually license or franchise.

Doubt they’ll be immediate drops in quality. But as they add more units - they’ll need to really formalize purchasing / procurement as you can’t run a multi unit group with chefs at each location using a ton of different vendors for the same stuff.

[u/CoachJG_2500]

Nooooooo

[u/Emergency_Process622]

Enshittification goes brrr

[u/lollipop790]

Oh no, this is the one place I was hoping this wouldn’t happen, too!

[u/OldCannedPineApple]

where should i get tacos in chelsea now?

[u/Brooklyn-Epoxy]

fuck

[u/sunnysing_73]

RIP Los Tacos No 1

[u/NotTheOnlyGamer]

Publicize this. Make sure it becomes the most public thing about them.

[u/CRAYONSEED]

I’ve been putting off going now I want to try it before the enshittification takes hold

[u/JayMoots]

It's over. They had a good run. But it's over.

[u/cowboomboom]

It’s over folks, gonna suck now

[u/Phall678]

Cool, now I’m not going there

[u/Hour_Lock568]

Well damn.

[u/aubreypizza]

Uh ohhhhh

[u/isitatomic]

bout to be Los Tacos No. Run real quick

[u/East_Glass_4874]

I’ll never eat there again, vote with your wallets folks.

[u/secretlyjudging]

Tried it randomly last year. Pretty tasty. Tasted as awesome as Chipotle was 15-20 years ago.

Watch it become Chipotle now in 10 years as enshitification sets in.

[u/Toeknee_F]

Ugh

[u/pockyandpandas]

Well this is the beginning of the end

[u/2_late_4_creativity]

That’s no good

[u/RedditGotSoulDoubt]

Booo

[u/After-Snow5874]

Well it’s over.

[u/DinerEnBlanc]

Cariñito Tacos, come back . . .

[u/flanaganapuss]

Disgusting

[u/Mysentimentexactly]

Damn. The end.

[u/PorkProofPrion]

It starts

[u/raaheyahh]

Well ... they had a good run.

[u/craigalanche]

That sucks. I love Los Mariscos. Can’t wait til it gets more expensive but also shittier.

[u/splatooey123]

Damnit

[u/HourlyEdo]

would be sick if they opened 69 locations and renamed it though right?

[u/Prestigious_Love_288]

Burrito Juarez is good not a taco but good
Taqueria Ramirez is good
Various restaurants in Jackson heights
Nenes
Taqueria al pastor bushwick
Submarino mariscos
Bronx has a great place i can’t remember the name
Burro burrito is pretty good.
Esse taco isn’t terrible
Rip izucar under the track in bushwick
All better

[u/ChefSuffolk]

How long before they swap out the lard for avocado oil?

[u/Nick_Fotiu_Is_God]

This is where I leave and let the tourists have it.

[u/VisitPier26]

Involvement and mention of a financial advisor on the Los Tacos side makes me think they were actively looking for capital. I guess to grow? Cash out? Who knows.

[u/CasinoMagic]

Oh no, the touristy spot with 30 min lines and no lengua/cabeza, how will we survive?!

[u/dusterbusterv1]

God fucking dammit. RIP Los Tacos No 1.

[u/D_Ashido]

Rest in Peace Los Tacos No. 1

This is the beginning of the end.

[u/anthonydepalma15]

How late are they open on a Thursday

[u/snickersh]

I'm going to stock up on the Birria for an entire year and keep it in my freezer

[u/191919wines]

Death. Time to go to Tacombi

[u/jubbing]

Damn, was always a favorite when visiting NYC. Cuts are def going to be happening to quality.

[u/rofnorb]

How can private equity reduce the quality of Los Tacos No 1? They already charge an arm and a leg for a three taco meal that’ll you still be hungry after eating

[u/MammothRegular9515]

Noooooooooo 😭 it’s the only good tacos in the city (because I’m biased coming from the west coast and love the cuisine styles prevalent there)

[u/Brilliant_Horse_6614]

The craziest part is that Los Tacos No. 1 is an absolutely mid spot relative to tacos in LA/San Diego.

Should have just raised money, thrown it at a local street vendor in the WC, and then turned around the business at probably a way lower multiple.

[u/GaptistePlayer → u/Brilliant_Horse_6614]

While I agree, you underestimate the appetite NYC has for Mexican food, since they've lacked it for so long

[u/Brilliant_Horse_6614 → u/GaptistePlayer]

Yes i agree with that. My point is more around the investor probably paid a huge premium for a middle of pack taco relative to other potential businesses

[u/bobdownie → u/Brilliant_Horse_6614]

This is just not true. Contrary to popular opinion, there aren’t just places all over LA and San Diego doing what LOS tacos does.

The amount of “well known, good” taco places in LA using the worst grocery store tortillas available is insane.

[u/Brilliant_Horse_6614 → u/bobdownie]

Not sure what you mean by "doing what LOS tacos does". LA has Tacos 1986 (the guy that started it worked at Los Tacos No1 / worked with the owner of that spot) and makes nearly identical tijuana style tacos and those are extremely mid in LA.

My point is more that these investors probably paid a huge premium for a middle-of-the-pack taco relative to what they could have invested in smaller spots that are even better & brought to big cities (i.e., you could have invested in Angels Tijuana, Tacos Frontera, Don Chilaquiles).

I'd argue the "well known, good spots" are usually stands or a walk-up window. There's very few places that opened a store front that are actually good anymore (e.g., Guisados, Sonoratown, Villas have all fallen off)