Actually, there are a lot of unlicensed, non-permitted businesses in the US. Including food vendors. The fact that it’s illegal doesn’t stop it.
In some cities, there’s a whole network of food smugglers, who deliver home-made food from unlicensed kitchens, for a price. Sometimes one of them will use the money they make to eventually get a licensed food truck and go legit, but a lot of them just focus on staying under the radar and try not to get caught.
Don’t eat the tamales.
Lots of fix-it guys and handymen are the same.