Dirty Brooklyn kitchen supplies illegal migrant food vendors

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A filthy Brooklyn eatery is the headquarters of an illicit food vending operation where dozens of migrant women prepare meals for street sales across New York City, an investigation has revealed.

The Post tracked several Ecuadorian migrants who’ve established profitable spots selling $10 chicken and rice plates throughout the city. These meals originate from Guisa’o Restaurant in Bushwick, where up to 50 unauthorized workers crowd into a cramped kitchen to prepare the food before it’s distributed by van to street vendors.

"… our Ecuadorian immigrants are the backbone of our community" @RepAOC
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A dingy Brooklyn restaurant with a laundry list of revolting health violations is at the center of an illegal vending scheme involving dozens of migrant women, who… pic.twitter.com/uCbOugAezR

— Crime In NYC (@CrimeInNYC) November 24, 2024

“People really need to know the story behind the food they’re eating when it comes to these illegal migrant vendors,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who sits on the health committee and learned of the scheme from The Post.

“These aren’t just kindly old ladies making meals in their home ovens. This is a mass operation with dozens of illegals crammed into a filthy, violation-riddled kitchen in Bushwick, churning out food by the caseload to sell on our streets.

“This is truly disgusting, and I think if more people knew that their quick ten-dollar lunch was actually from a jam-packed kitchen . . . strewn with vermin droppings and who knows what else, they might think twice before ordering off the guy on the corner.”

She continued: “And it’s cutting into local businesses, too, impacting the bottom line of shops trying to do the right thing and sell food the right way.”

Surveillance revealed a sophisticated operation: vans delivering coolers packed with pre-made meals to vendors on the Upper East Side, who then sell them primarily to construction workers. One vendor acknowledged their undocumented status and lack of permits.

The operation’s supply chain includes stops at Restaurant Depot in Queens before returning to Guisa’o, where staff confirmed the kitchen’s use by migrants. Health inspectors recently discovered numerous violations there, including rodent and insect evidence, resulting in the lowest possible grade.

The restaurant’s ownership structure remains murky, with conflicting statements from various parties. A manager admitted to hosting “50 immigrants” regularly in their kitchen, while the alleged owner, who identified herself only as Maria, confirmed the operation but declined further comment.

A Brooklyn #restaurant known as #Guisa’o Restaurant in Bushwick has been identified as the center of an illegal #food vending operation involving #migrant women. It’s described as having numerous health code violations, including evidence of #rats and #insects.

More at AIN News… pic.twitter.com/OVY0fQ5Ai3

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Local business owners express frustration over the situation. Jose Leon, who runs Italian Village Pizza & Restaurant, reports a 30% profit decline since the vendors appeared. Despite numerous complaints to authorities, enforcement remains challenging.

While city officials have increased vendor enforcement overall, with the NYPD and Sanitation Department issuing over 9,000 summonses this year, the impact on migrant-operated food vending remains unclear. The situation continues to raise concerns about food safety and fair competition in New York’s street food scene.