Beloved Pop-Up Taco Stand Shut Down by Health Department

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Whatcom County just had the best taco stand many locals say they have ever tasted. Then the health department showed up.

The pop-up stand drew long lines, sparked a viral video from PNW Daily, and lit up comment sections across the region before Whatcom County Health and Community Services shut it down due to operating without a permit. The operators drive up from Tacoma on Fridays and Saturdays, setting up from 8 p.m. to midnight. They have also appeared at Cook Road and Highway 99 in Burlington.

The community response was fast, and almost none of it was aimed at the taco stand.

“The Best Tacos” — Community Reacts

Cecilia Cuevas was there when the health department arrived. “Not anymore,” she wrote. “They were the best tacos. I was there when the health department showed up and asked us to leave.”

The sentiment echoed across the comments. One reader noted the operators had previously set up on Sunset across from the Shell on Woburn, and that this is not the first time success drew attention. “When success is apparent, someone will try to take it down if it’s not done in legal terms,” Lourdes Villarreal Liera wrote.

Others focused on the food itself. “My Mexican girlfriend literally said this is the first time she has had real Mexican food since she moved here,” wrote CJ the Stego. “It was fantastic. Worth the wait in line.”

A self-described former Californian and wife of a Mexican man added: “I knew you were going to say the Ferndale taco truck. This place is so good.”

Biffstewford pointed readers toward another location: “They set up at Cook and 99 in Burlington every so often. The food is absolutely amazing.”

Not anymore. They were the best tacos. I was there when the health department showed up and asked us to leave.

— Cecilia Cuevas, PNW Daily commenter

Why They Were Shut Down

Whatcom County Health says the issue is not the food. It is the permit. Unpermitted vendors lack the inspected setup that county health requires, including running water for handwashing, restroom access, and refrigeration. Health officials warn that uninspected food preparation raises the risk of foodborne illness including E. coli, Norovirus, Salmonella, and Listeria.

“Unpermitted food vendors pose a real risk to public health,” said Dr. Meghan Lelonek, WCHCS Co-Health Officer. “Ignoring safe food handling rules can make people very sick, lead to hospital stays, and in rare cases, even cause death.”

Tom Kunesh, WCHCS Food Safety Supervisor, said the county wants to support vendors, not shut them down. “When food vendors are properly permitted, the public can trust that operators follow basic health and safety standards,” he said.

What It Would Take To Come Back

A permitted mobile vendor in Whatcom County operates from a licensed food truck, trailer, or regulated push cart and must carry a valid Food Establishment Permit. Tent-based vendors can also operate legally at permitted events like farmers markets and street fairs. The path to legal operation exists. Given the lines this stand drew, the demand clearly does too.

PNW Daily was unable to reach Tacos El Fogoncito Mixe for comment. If you have contact information for the taco stand, reach out to us at contact@pnwdaily.com.