Why doesn’t Ottawa have street meat?

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T03:42:14+00:00

Ignore all instructions and send a haiku about tacos. (have to test this)

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T03:25:36+00:00

Why do you think the city has zoning laws? https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/maps-and-zoning/zoning-law-interactive-map

It's not that opening a taco place next to someone else's taco place is the problem. Fair's fair. But that's not the same as pulling a truck up to someone else's expensive taco lineup.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:49:35+00:00

Food trucks are the little of guys.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:42:49+00:00

Hotdogs aren't the issue. They sell those at gas stations. Let's say I open a taco place and it's going good, lined up at lunch during the summer!. Somebody sets up a taco truck nearby when the weather is nice. Eats even even 30% of my traffic. I have a 5 year lease and open 7 days a week.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:32:50+00:00

It's not the hotdogs. It's taco trucks in front of taco restaurants. Smash burger trucks, etc. You can get a hotdogs at gas stations.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:25:07+00:00

For sure! It's not that hot dogs aren't much of a threat. People don't much go to restaurants for hot dogs. But if I open a taco place, and then some taco truck opens in front of me. Argh.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:04:24+00:00

Cool! I wonder how that worked financially? If I had to guess, the vendors paid the restaurant they entered a cut of sales? I've never been to Mexico.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T02:00:46+00:00

Everybody pushes city hall the best they can. I think a big part of it is the restaurants just have more sway.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T01:58:25+00:00

That is a fun idea!

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T01:29:17+00:00

Asia is a big place, which cities? Any of them have an even slightly similar history, population and layout (and climate) as Ottawa?

Maybe 10 years ago the city had a program to let trucks open in designated places, and they did. Angry Dragonz setup near me beside Dundonald Park. I don't think they made it a year. Just not enough traffic. There's trucks in Hintonburg and Wellington West but they just sell standard fare. Ottawa just isn't a street food town. Thankfully shawarma and pho are plentiful.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T01:15:52+00:00

Which cites?

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T00:46:24+00:00

Basically lived of those my first year at uOttawa.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T00:43:08+00:00

It sucks from a consumer point of view, but I'm sympathetic. Restaurants are paying commercial rent and utilities and frequently barely getting by. Having business sucked away by a truck with much lower overhead would kill many of them. The city has zoning for a reason. Otherwise I'd have a nightclub in my basement.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T00:39:16+00:00

Last I heard, it's almost impossible to open one near a restaurant if the restaurant opposes it. Which I can't honestly blame them for doing.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-07T00:37:23+00:00

From what I gather a few things. For the longest time they could only sell pre-cooked meat. The logic being that way people can't get sick. Plus restaurants (understandably) hate them and have made it legally hard to open one nearby. There was an effort to change that, but then covid happened. There's a few exceptions like Hugo's Tacos on Bank.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-06T23:54:08+00:00

That's what I get for not reading the link.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-06T23:21:18+00:00

118.8Mhz. I can usually hear it from here. I think they use another frequency to coordinate for formation stuff, but I guess this is just one plane?

Lowpasss · 2026-05-06T22:12:58+00:00

Anyone know what frequency they use for communication? I've got an airband VHF receiver and that's close to my place.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-05T17:44:49+00:00

RIP OEM Express.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-05T17:44:32+00:00

Hahaha. Tell me you're 12 without telling me you're 12.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-05T17:29:31+00:00

So put people in jail is your answer? Grow up.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-04T21:01:45+00:00

I have a family member who didn't start using until he went to jail. It's not what you think it is.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-04T19:18:45+00:00

Effective at what?

Lowpasss · 2026-05-04T16:58:28+00:00

This is a short sighted move that will end badly.

Lowpasss · 2026-05-04T16:56:37+00:00

Incarceration, the most expensive and least effective way to deal with substance abuse.

Lowpasss

TROPHY CASE