Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for June 2023

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·8 min read

Plan on eating out tonight?

Think twice before dining at your favorite restaurant if you're unsure of how they scored with the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District.

In June, the inspectors with the health district found rodent droppings, chemicals stored near food, gasoline containers stored inside and more health violations.

The health district describes a food establishment as a place that sells or serves food to the public, which can include bars, hotels, apartments, schools and food trucks. These establishments must get an annual permit and be inspected by the health district.

Inspections are based on a demerit system, in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Inspection Report checks against 47 different violations, each scoring from 3 to 1.

Out of more than 250 businesses inspected, 24 scored below a 90 and 43 received perfect scores.

Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were graded from June 2023.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, looks inside of a refrigerator during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, looks inside of a refrigerator during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

8TE

1220 Airline Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 29 and received an 87. Inspectors found food items without dated labels, chemicals not stored in the proper area, no certified food manager present and dirty air vents.

8TE was last inspected in November 2022 and scored a 95.

Barrio's

5717 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on June 7 and received an 89. Inspectors found dirty soda nozzles, a dirty ice machine, a dirty microwave and gnats.

This was the first inspection for Barrio's.

Boathouse Bar & Grill

15241 Leeward Dr

The restaurant was inspected on June 7 and received an 81. Inspectors found mold in the ice machine, rat droppings in the kitchen, a cook not washing hands after taking out trash and a bad odor in the kitchen.

Boathouse was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 92.

Boat 'n Net

4808 Kostoryz Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 22 and received a 76. Inspectors found food not being stored at the proper temperature, no certified food manager present, employees without food handler's card and dirty containers.

Boat 'n Net was last inspected in August 2022 and scored an 83.

Cafe Italia

4117 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on June 20 and received an 88. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, some employees without food handler's cards and gnats present.

Cafe Italia was last inspected in September 2022 and scored a 92.

Casa Vieja Jalisco

6202 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on June 9 and received an 81. Inspectors found spoiled lemons, chemicals stored near food, employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards and a dirty ice machine.

Casa Vieja was last inspected in May 2023 and scored an 84.

Chapala Grill Mexican Restaurant

2330 Airline Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 20 and received an 86. Inspectors found employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards, chemicals stored near food and no hot water, soap or paper towels at hand washing sink.

Chapala Grill was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 92.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

5855 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on June 27 and received an 89. Inspectors found chemicals stored near food, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards.

Cheddar's was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 91.

Denny's

4918 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on June 5 and received an 84. Inspectors found no soap or paper towels at hand washing sink, dirty soda nozzles, gnats and milk and juice containers not closed.

Denny's was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 95.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, uses a thermometer to check the temperature of macaroni in warm holding during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, uses a thermometer to check the temperature of macaroni in warm holding during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

El Sol de Mexico #3

5250 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 26 and received an 85. Inspectors found chemicals stored near food, knives not stored properly, employees not wearing beard guards and dirty lid containers.

El Sol de Mexico was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 93.

Hunan Express #1

5502 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 13 and received an 84. Inspectors found food not being stored at the proper temperature, raw meat stored above vegetables, employees not washing their hands after wiping their apron and a dirty ice machine.

Hunan Express was last inspected in February 2023 and scored an 89.

Jack in the Box

1502 Airline Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 5 and received an 82. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, some employees without food handler's cards, employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards and no paper towels in the women's restroom.

Jack in the Box was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 96.

The Nest

6534 Yorktown Blvd.

The bar was inspected on June 23 and received an 82. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, chemicals not stored in the proper area, employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards and rodent droppings.

The Nest was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 92.

New China Cafe

4110 S. Port Ave.

The restaurant was inspected on June 13 and received an 86. Inspectors found food not stored at proper temperature, food not being thawed properly and employees not wearing hairnets. The health inspector recommended the restaurant contact pest control.

New China Cafe was last inspected in January 2023 and scored a 92.

Noodles & Dumplings

6505 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 22 and received an 80. Inspectors found a dirty microwave, chemicals not stored in the proper area, flies and an open back door.

Noodles & Dumplings was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 92.

Ojos Locos Sport Cantina

5133 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on June 20 and received an 89. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, gasoline containers stored inside and rodent droppings.

Ojos Locos was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 89.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers in a walk-in refrigerator during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers in a walk-in refrigerator during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

6203 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on June 26 and received an 81. Inspectors food not stored at proper temperatures, chemicals stored near food, employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards and flies.

Popeyes was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 96.

Schlotzsky's

5630 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on June 13 and received an 88. Inspectors found food not stored at proper temperatures, flies, a dirty ice machine and no toilet paper in the women's restroom.

Schlotzsky's was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 95.

Taqueria Jalisco #3

10533 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on June 14 and received an 85. Inspectors found the walk-in fridge at an improper temperature, cooks not wearing gloves, dirty ceiling vents and a dirty microwave.

Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in January 2023 and scored a 94.

Taqueria Jalisco #10

2433 Cimarron Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on June 20 and received an 80. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, chemicals stored near food, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards.

Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 93.

Taqueria Jalisco #19

4001 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on June 13 and received an 89. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, some employees without food handler's cards, meat not being thawed properly and dirty restrooms.

Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 93.

Taqueria La Tapatia #5

5401 Kostoryz Road

The restaurant was inspected on June 8 and received an 86. Inspectors found beer stored in service ice, chemicals stored near food, no certified food manager present and employees not wearing beard guards.

Taqueria La Tapatia was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 96.

Taqueria Mi Casita

1821 Ayers St.

The restaurant was inspected on June 1 and received an 83. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, dirty coolers, dirty microwaves and employees not wearing beard guards.

Taqueria Mi Casita was last inspected in December 2022 and scored an 87.

The Point of Corpus Christi

601 N. Chaparral St.

The bar was inspected on June 15 and received an 86. Inspectors found chemicals stored near drinks, a dirty microwave, gnats and a broken cooler.

The Point was last inspected in August 2022 and scored an 87.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Perfect scores

  • Barefoot Beans: 345 N. Alister St., Port Aransas

  • Baskin-Robbins: 4701 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Bourbon Street Candy Co.: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Chick-fil-A: 4946 S. Staples St.

  • Coffee & More: 707 N. Shoreline Blvd.

  • The Coffee Spot: 1145 Waldron Road

  • Coffee Waves: 5738 S. Alameda St.

  • Coffee Waves: 1007 SH 361, Port Aransas

  • Domino's Pizza: 3719 Leopard St.

  • The Donut Palace: 14602 Compass St.

  • Dulces: 9922 Leopard St.

  • Dylan's Coal Oven Pizzeria: 128 Market St.

  • Fitrition Planet: 5230 Kostoryz Road

  • Fruit King: 4702 Ayers St.

  • Funtrackers Family Fun Center: 9605 S. Padre Island Drive

  • GiGi's Pizzeria: 4234 S. Alameda St.

  • Giovanni's Pizza & Pasta: 711 N. Carancahua St.

  • Granny's Hot Tamales: 9804 Leopard St.

  • Impact Nutrition: 7114 Saratoga Blvd.

  • Islander's Teriyaki: 6133 Ennis Joslin Road

  • Kentucky Fried Chicken: 5633 Saratoga Blvd.

  • Lucky Panda Chinese Restaurant: 5639 Carroll Lane

  • Mac's Barbecue: 4354 S. Alameda St.

  • New York Pizza To Go Padre Island: 14225 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Nolan's Restaurant: 4117 S. Staples St.

  • The Nutrition Haus: 5922 Yorktown Blvd.

  • Papa John's Pizza: 13434 Leopard St.

  • Papa Murphy's: 4020 Weber Road

  • Pizza Hut: 1216 Waldron Road

  • Port A Poke: 345 N. Alister St., Port Aransas

  • Roasted Coffee Shop: 5535 Bonner Drive

  • Silverado Smokehouse: 4522 Weber Road

  • Subway: 3701 Leopard St.

  • Surfside Lounge: 345 N. Alister St., Port Aransas

  • Topsy Krett BBQ: 4709 Kostoryz Road

  • Tropical Sno of Port Aransas: 501 S. Alister St., Port Aransas

  • Wendy's: 6438 S. Staples St.

  • Whataburger: 1521 Airline Road

  • Whataburger: 4444 E. Causeway Blvd.

  • Whataburger: 734 E. Port Ave.

  • Wienerschnitzel: 4221 S. Alameda St.

  • Wingstop: 4918 Ayers St.

  • Yummy Tummy Cheesecakes: 4820 Kostoryz Road

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Rodent droppings, dirty equipment: Which eateries scored bad with health district