Skip to Content
L.A. TACO home
L.A. TACO logo
Log In
We need your help to keep L.A. TACO going
Crime

Whittier’s ‘Tacos Y Que’ Seeks Help After Tens of Thousands of Dollars In Gear Is Stolen

2:23 PM PST on March 3, 2022

    photo: Memo Torres

    Whittier's Tacos y Que, the pop-up taquería owned and operated by a duo of music industry pros, Bryant Siono and Fabian Chavez, has experienced an unfortunate theft that has left the outfit without its van and estimated tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment; essentially everything they use to make appearances and feed Los Angeles with the asada, tinga, steak picado, and Sonoran-style flour tortillas this city adores.

    In a statement, the partners write:

    Hello friends, we have some unfortunate news to share. TYQ’s entire mobile food operation was stolen recently (Including the van which stored all of our equipment that we had accumulated over these past two years). This act of crime against us has subsequently severed our ability to pop up and serve our food.

    Our pop up operation and private catering services have played a huge part in helping fund our first ever restaurant in Whittier, CA which is set to open late April 2022. This has been a dream of ours and we have worked very hard to make it a reality. Now with all of our equipment having been stolen during a crucial part of the building process, we have no way of popping up, let alone the finances to buy a new van and equipment.

    Currently, all of our money is tied up in building the restaurant. That includes budgets needed for contractor, crew, materials, labor, permits, blueprints, utility services, cleaning, electricity, plumbing work, all aesthetic work (tables, chairs, tile, lighting, paint, signage, POS systems etc...), not to mention all of the appliances and equipment needed to do the actual cooking.

    We believe that we have the most amazing followers and supporters since day 1, and it’s been such a fulfilling honor that we get to serve you. Today, we are are reaching out to you to help us get back up on our feet to continue serving TYQ’s one of a kind food experience. Our first and most important goal is to make back the money needed to replace all of the items that were stolen while additional donations will go straight into the restaurant to help alleviate some of the financial stresses of a completely new restaurant buildout. You can personally help us by making a contribution through our GoFundMe link found in our bio.Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and we appreciate your support.

    God Bless,TYQ

    The GoFundMe is here, again, for anyone feeling generous towards getting this business, which has been focused on building a brick-and-mortar restaurant that plans to open in April, back on its flat-topped feet.

    This is far from the first time a taqueria, pop-up, or previous TACO MADNESS nominee/winner has faced such a devastating loss to theft. Almost 13 months ago to the day, L.A. TACO reported that Victor Villa of TACO MADNESS champion Villa's Tacos had his truck stolen while wrapping up service.

    While the business is currently, understandably not able to plan any pop-ups at the moment, here's hoping it's only a temporary setback, that Tacos y Que gets all the support it needs and is back soon, while achieving its dreams of a bigger business in 2022.

    Hadley Tomicki

    One of L.A. TACO's co-founders, Hadley Tomicki is a critic and journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and many other places.

    Stay in touch

    Sign up for our free newsletter

    More from L.A. TACO

    Taco Members Only

    Juárez-Style Burritos Have Arrived in Southern California, And They are Already Selling Out In Less than An Hour

    The month-old strip mall taquería in Anaheim make all their flour tortillas from scratch using both lard and butter, resulting in an extremely tender vehicle for their juicy guisados like carne en su jugo, carne deshebrada, chile colorado, chile relleno, and chicharrón. Every tortilla is cooked to order, too.

    April 23, 2024
    Community

    Urgent: L.A. TACO Falling Short of Fundraising Goals and Needs Your Support

    Emergency. This is not a test. This is not a ruse. This is not a marketing scheme. We need your support if we're going to make it and every single membership counts.

    April 23, 2024
    Taco Members Only

    The 11 Best Backyard Restaurants in Los Angeles

    Despite many requests to publish this guide, L.A. TACO has been somewhat protective of these gems to not "burn out the spots." However, we wanted to share it with our small, loyal pool of paid members, as we appreciate your support (and know you to be okay, non-NARCs). Please enjoy responsibly and keep these 'hood secrets...secrets.

    April 18, 2024
    Site News

    Here’s What an L.A. TACO Membership Gets You and Why You Should Support Local Journalism

    With more than 30 members-only perks at the best L.A. restaurants, breweries, and dispensaries waiting to be unlocked, the L.A. TACO membership pays for itself!

    April 17, 2024
    See all posts