Chando’s Tacos owner appears in court for felony battery, domestic violence case
Lisandro “Chando” Madrigal, owner of now-shuttered taqueria chain Chando’s Tacos, appeared in court Thursday pleading not guilty to two violent felony charges.
Madrigal, dressed in a motorcycle jacket, Balenciaga sneakers and blue jeans, maintained his innocence before Sacramento Superior Court judge Peter Williams just two days after his popular taco restaurants temporarily shut down. During the plea hearing, Madrigal requested a trial in connection with domestic violence and battery charges that were filed in March 2024. He entered a not guilty plea during an arraignment on Sept. 19.
Thursday’s plea hearing was brief after Madrigal’s attorney, Yuba City-based lawyer Sarbdeep Atwal, and a prosecutor had a sidebar conversation with Williams. During the hearing, Williams said he was rescinding a bench warrant filed after Madrigal failed to appear in court for a June hearing.
According to the criminal complaint, Madrigal is alleged to have “willfully and unlawfully inflict(ed) corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” and used “force and violence ... resulting in the infliction of serious bodily injury” upon an unnamed woman whom he reportedly dated.
The filing says both charges are considered “serious” felonies, which may come with sentence enhancements if Madrigal is found guilty at trial.
Atwal said in an emailed statement that the pending court case is unrelated to Chando’s Tacos’ closure and Madrigal’s other businesses.
On Tuesday, Madrigal said his Sacramento-area taco restaurants were closed “for now.” The company later cited “economic factors” as a reason for closing in a social media announcement. A new restaurant venture, Chando’s Cantina, is planned for the former site of Solomon’s in downtown Sacramento, at 730 K St.
As of Thursday, there were no updates on the eatery’s status on social media or its website.
His trial is set for Nov. 17.
This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
.jpg)