Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for January 2024
In January, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found mold in an ice machine, rodent droppings, roaches and other health violations.
Out of more than 190 businesses inspected, 26 scored below a 90 and 30 received perfect scores. In January, Noodles & Dumplings on Everhart Road scored the worst with a 60.
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.
Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were given during January 2024.
Casa Vieja Jalisco
9929 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 5 and received an 89. Inspectors found food containers being stacked upon each other without lids, food not dated, a dirty microwave and employees not wearing hairnets.
Casa Vieja Jalisco was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 87.
China Bear Restaurant
10514 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 30 and received an 87. Inspectors found dirty ice machines, using bait cubes for pests, a broken hand washing station and knives stored between equipment.
China Bear was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 82.
Church's Fried Chicken
2901 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 17 and received an 88. Inspectors found fried chicken not being held at the proper temperature, an employee not washing hands after putting on hairnet and beard guard, employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards and food not labeled.
Church's was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 89.
El Canelo Mexicano Restaurant
1805 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 2 and received an 86. Inspectors found raw meat stored above cooked food, employees not washing hands in-between tasks, toxic chemicals stored improperly and food not dated.
El Canelo was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 86.
El Gallo de Jalisco
10329 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 4 and received an 88. Inspectors found food not dated, roaches, a dirty microwave and air vents with dust buildup.
El Gallo de Jalisco was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 89.
El Mariachi
2110 Laredo St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 29 and received an 87. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, rodent droppings, baskets stacked on top of chips and broken ceiling tiles.
El Mariachi was last inspected in May 2023 and scored a 95.
El Olvido Hacienda
14617 Northwest Blvd.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 18 and received an 88. Inspectors found eggs not being held at the proper temperature, food not being covered in refrigerator, a dirty ice machine and food not dated.
El Olvido Hacienda was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 96.
Golden Crown Inn
2739 S. Staples St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 9 and received an 86. Inspectors found raw meat stored above cooked food, a dirty ice machine, rodent droppings and employees not wearing hairnets.
Golden Crown Inn was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 83.
Guerra's Restaurant
3787 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 11 and received an 89. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, roaches, utensils not stored handle up and thermometers not in all refrigerators.
Guerra's was last inspected in August 2022 and scored a 97.
La Carreta
2754 S. Port Ave.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 11 and received a 76. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, dishwasher not sanitizing properly, employees not washing their hands and toxic chemicals stored improperly. The health district also found employees not wearing beard guards, knives stored behind equipment and chorizo being thawed improperly.
La Carreta was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 89.
La Palatera #1
5021 Kostoryz Road
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 23 and received an 88. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near cups, an expired health permit, no soap at the hand washing sink and employees not wearing hairnets.
La Palatera was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 86.
Los Tres Potrillos
1945 Horne Road
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 31 and received a 77. Inspectors found raw meat stored above cooked food, no manager on duty and employees there did not know all the rules, employees not washing hands when changing gloves and employees without food handlers permits.
Los Tres Potrillos was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 82.
Noodles & Dumplings
6505 Everhart Road
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 2 and received a 60, and then got inspected two days later and scored a 90. On its first inspection, inspectors found meat not being held at the proper temperature, employees not washing hands after covering their mouth with their hands while coughing, toxic chemicals stored improperly, no certified food manager, employees without food handlers permits, dirty tables, gnats, roaches, food not being thawed properly and dirty vents.
On its second inspection, inspectors found a dirty ice machine, a dirty microwave, roaches and gnats.
Noodles & Dumplings was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 83.
Norma'z Fruits Delights
4737 Kostoryz Road
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 22 and received an 87. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, an expired health permit, gnats and rodent droppings.
Norma'z was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 90.
Ojos Locos
5133 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 4 and received a 78. Inspectors found dirty nozzles in the bar area, a dirty ice machine, no hot water and employees not wearing beard guards.
Ojos Locos was last inspected in September 2023 and scored an 88.
Ole Cafe
4602 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 10 and received an 87. Inspectors found employees not wearing gloves when handling ready-to-eat food, no certified food manager present, employees without food handlers permits and employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards.
Ole Cafe was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 93.
Popeye's
1115 S. Port Ave.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 31 and received an 83. Inspectors found wet flour, dirty flour bins, a dirty biscuit warmer and a dirty oven. Inspectors also found employees without food handlers permits and employees not wearing beard guards.
Popeye's was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 87.
San Miguel Restaurant
200 N. Staples St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 18 and received an 87. Inspectors found food not labeled, no food establishment permit, employees eating in the kitchen and thermometers not in all refrigeration.
San Miguel was last inspected in September 2023 and scored an 80.
Taco Palenque
5617 Saratoga Blvd.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 23 and received an 82. Inspectors found employees without food handlers permits, an expired health permit, a dirty can opener and dirty coolers.
Taco Palenque was last inspected in December 2023 and scored an 83.
Taiwan Restaurant
5425 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 4 and received an 86. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, no certified food manager present, food not dated and dirty prep stations.
Taiwan Restaurant was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 90.
Taqueria Jalisco #3
10533 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 10 and received an 86. Inspectors found food not covered, mold in the ice machine, food not dated and no paper towels at the handwashing sink.
Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 84.
Taqueria La Tapatia #1
4503 Kostoryz Road
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 9 and received an 88. Inspectors found raw meat store above vegetables, food not dated, rodent droppings, dirty refrigerator racks.
Taqueria La Tapatia was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 82.
Taqueria La Tapatia #3
4521 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 3 and received an 83. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, dishwasher not sanitizing properly, rodent droppings and employees not wearing beard guards.
Taqueria La Tapatia was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 78.
Taqueria Mi Casita
1821 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 24 and received a 78. Inspectors found a dishwasher not sanitizing properly, a dirty ice machine, employees not washing their hands and no certified food manager present. Inspectors also found an expired health permit.
Taqueria Mi Casita was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 81.
Taqueria Nayarit
9744 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected on Jan. 3 and received an 88. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, food not dated, employees eating in kitchen and food not covered.
Taqueria Nayarit was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 91.
Vernon's
1030 3rd St.
The bar was inspected on Jan. 30 and received an 84. Inspectors found dirty soda nozzles, a dirty ice machine, toxic chemicals stored improperly and no valid health permit.
Taqueria Nayarit was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 100.
Perfect scores (100)
Barton Street Pub: 10618 S. Padre Island Drive
Black Marlin Bar & Grill: 258 Snapdragon St.
Burger King: 5288 Old Brownsville Road
Champs South Texas Meat Market: 15602 Northwest Blvd.
Chick-fil-A: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive
Clubhouse 7: 10506 S. Padre Island Drive
Elizabeth's at the Art Museum: 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Fisherman's Bait & Seafood Market: 1101 Laguna Shores Drive
Fiiz Drinks: 5940 S. Padre Island Drive
Flock: 1813 Ennis Joslin Road
H.J. Smoothies Creamery: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive
Jason's Deli: 5325 Saratoga Blvd.
Joseph's Lunchbox: 4231 S. Alameda St.
Little Caesars: 10529 S. Padre Island Drive
Lone Star Taste: 1023 TX-361
Matcha Konomi: 109 Tarlton St.
Nothing Bundt Cakes: 5425 S. Padre Island Drive
Pizza Hut: 1216 Waldron Road
The Protein Studio: 4117 S. Staples St.
Red's: 258 Snapdragon St.
Salty Dog & Cigar Bar: 203 N. Alister St.
Subway: 4256 S. Alameda St.
Subway: 526 S. Enterprise Parkway
Taco Bell: 14601 Northwest Blvd.
Tower of Pizza: 14902 Trinity River Drive
Villa Pasta: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive
Whataburger: 1121 Waldron Road
Whataburger: 4126 S. Staples St.
Whataburger: 4510 Leopard St.
Winton's Island Candy: 601 N. Alister St.
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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: Dirty ice machines: Which eateries had low health district scores
