What Happened to Ricardo Diaz’s Colonia Tacos Guisados in Whittier?

It’s been a strange few days for Colonia Tacos Guisados down in Whittier. The popular stewed meat Mexican restaurant no longer has a working phone line, and tipsters say the place may be done for good.

What’s more, Yelpers are starting to announce the closure of the place online, and a call by Eater to a next-door business confirmed that there has been lots of construction happening at the property over the past week or so. If Colonia Tacos Guisados truly is closed for good, it would mark a sad and quiet end for one of the more celebrated taco shops around greater Los Angeles. For what it’s worth, Eater has also reached out to the Colonia Group behind the restaurant, but they haven’t yet confirmed a closure.

Colonia Tacos Guisados was supposed to be a star feather in chef/owner Ricardo Diaz’s cap. The local restaurateur anchored the place right on Whittier Boulevard in 2015 after moving it from its original location in La Puente, where Jonathan Gold schlepped out to adore the handmade tortillas and then-LA Weekly critic Besha Rodell dropped a glowing three stars. Diaz also owns Bizarra Capital and Colonia Publica in Whittier, and as an original co-founder of local taco chain Guisados, Colonia Tacos Guisados was thought for years to be his hometown response for all things stewed meat.

Rumor has it there’s a new owner on site at the property, and signage for Colonia Tacos Guisados has already been removed. As for Diaz, he’s hard at work on a historic new food hall, standalone restaurant, and brewery in Whittier to open later this year.

• Whittier Sprouts a Historic New Brewery and Food Hall Soon [ELA]