A Bump in the Road—But We're Still Rolling

At Dead Center Cantina, we’ve always believed in showing up for our community—with great food, warm smiles, and a whole lot of heart. That’s why we want to be open with you about a recent challenge we’ve encountered.

We recently had an unexpected interaction with Madera County officials that brought to light a regulation we were previously unaware of: mobile food vendors are only permitted to operate in one location for a maximum of one hour at a time. While we’ve always strived to follow all local guidelines, this clarification has required us to take a step back, reevaluate our operations, and make some important adjustments.

Is it a curveball? Absolutely. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned as a mobile kitchen, it’s how to pivot with purpose. We’re actively exploring new ways to stay compliant while continuing to serve the community we love—whether that means shorter pop-ups, more frequent stops, or expanding our catering and event services to stay connected with you.

We’re grateful for your continued support, patience, and encouragement as we navigate this shift. Our commitment to fresh, from-scratch food and community connection hasn’t changed—it’s only grown stronger. We’ll keep you updated on our schedule and new service options, and we can’t wait to keep feeding you wherever and however we can.

Thank you for being the heart of Dead Center Cantina. We’re in this together—and we’re not going anywhere (well, except maybe after an hour 😉).