FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — The sizzling staple of Mexican street cuisine may soon become fully legal at taco stands across Fresno County – after local leaders announced they are exploring ways to permit the use of trompos formally.

Those are the big stacks of meat you normally see at those taco stands.

That has brought several customers to Armando Arias’ business, Tacos El Cabezon, in Fresno.

“The Trompo is being cut. So that’s all a show, right? We wanted to be able to get the community to experience that,” said Arias.

Not only does the sight make your mouth water, it helps serve a high volume of customers fast.

But ever since the health department took down the trompo because of code violations, Arias says his whole operation changed.

“It’s dragged us where if you had to wait 20 minutes for your food, now you have to wait up to like 35 minutes for your food, 40 minutes. Why? Because everything has to be done through the actual food trailer. And you know, so that made our whole line, right? Our whole line process is even more or less effective,” said Arias.

A slowdown he didn’t expect just one month into opening.

“They saw some things that we were operating outside of our scope. I thought, I assumed that they were okay, but ultimately, they weren’t okay,” said Arias.

Under existing regulations, concerns over proper heating, cross-contamination, and temperature control have made it difficult for vendors to use trompos.

“The only way we’re going to be able to provide the full experience is if they actually enjoy the full experience. And when you go to Mexico to these humo tacos as well as these taquillitas, you get to see everything being cooked through your eyes. You’re not going to find closed doors. You don’t know what’s going on. You don’t know how they’re preparing your food,” said Arias.

Chavez says the county is reviewing models across the state where the use of trompos has the green light, like Los Angeles.

“I pulled some data from other public health departments across the state that have actually done similar work. And we’re essentially going to update all of that language. So I’m sending all of that to our legal department, our county council that’s going to be working on that. And then we’re going to codify it with our public health department,” said Chavez.

Chavez is taking it one step further to help hard-working entrepreneurs like Arias.

“I love his story ’cause I think his is a great example of somebody who works hard, but maybe is having trouble navigating the bureaucracy of what the health department does or what the business licensing department does. So the goal to do this will be essentially a one-stop shop. Where all small businesses, entrepreneurs can come in and get their City of Fresno business licensing permits, their tax license, and then more importantly, their public health certifications,” said Chavez.

“Also, not only for us us right, but for all other businesses as well, that all of the entrepreneurs who want to be able to get in the food industry, they’re not going to have to worry about going through 20 different locations to get one thing done,” said Arias.

By early next year, Chavez says taco stands could be able to use their trompos with the county’s full blessing.

“It’s humbling for me because I never thought any of this would be possible. And it’s all the heavens above. It’s all god who’s making everything happen behind the scenes. And I instead of worrying about things, I prayed about things,” said Arias.

Before anything is finalized, Chavez says the county will hold a town hall for food vendors to come give input.