A man from Swabia is looking forward to tacos in a New York restaurant – and is suing the shop. The judge can’t resist a swipe.
March 16, 2026, 4:00 p.mMarch 16, 2026, 4:00 p.m
Leon Pollok / t-online
A German tourist sued a taco restaurant for damages in a US court – and lost. The man’s lawsuit was dismissed, according to a document published by the US justice system and reported by several media outlets. The verdict was made on February 15th.
Tacos in a restaurant in New York: A German tourist said he was in “shock” after eating them.Image: US District Court for the Southern District of NY
The man from the Biberach district in Swabia had eaten three tacos with hot sauce in the famous Times Square in the summer of 2024 and charged the restaurant a total of around 100,000 US dollars Compensation – because in his opinion the sauce was too spicy. The German said he put “way too much sauce” in the taco, according to CBS News. “My mouth and tongue burned immediately.”
He suffered from nausea and vomiting. “For someone like me, who practically never eats spicy food in Germany, it was a big shock, both physically and mentally,” said the Swabian. He justified his lawsuit by saying that the restaurant should have provided better information about the level of spiciness, for example with warning stickers.
Hot sauce: Judge gives clear verdict
But the presiding judge saw it differently, as reported by People magazine, among others. So far, no one at the restaurant has ever complained about the spiciness of the sauces, he said. A quick Google search “probably would have revealed that salsa can be pretty spicy,” he said.
And he followed up: “In fact, when it comes to salsa, the spiciness is often the most important thing.” The restaurant cannot therefore be blamed. The Swabian comes away empty-handed. He told the Gothamist portal that he did not want to lodge any further appeals against the verdict.