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

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
Updated ·5 min read
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In December, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found rodents, gnats, dirty soda nozzles and other 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 120 businesses inspected, 13 scored below a 90 and 29 received perfect scores. In December, Prescott Meat Market on Prescott Street scored the worst with a 73.

Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were given during December 2023.

The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health District building on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health District building on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Bottoms Up

5945 Williams Drive

The club was inspected on Dec. 8 and received an 89. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, employees without food handler's permits, no thermometers inside walk-in and dirty vents inside walk-in.

Bottoms Up was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 98.

El Caporal Mexican Restaurant

4450 Greenwood Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 4 and received an 85. Inspectors found products in walk-in cooler not being held at the proper temperature, raw meat stored above bread, toxic chemicals stored near pans and rodent droppings.

El Caporal was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 96.

Gorditas San Panchos

2833 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 22 and received an 87. Inspectors found beans not held at the proper temperature, a dirty microwave, toxic chemicals stored above prep area and employees not wearing hairnets and beard guards.

Gorditas San Panchos was last inspected in September 2023 and scored a 96.

London Bar & Grill

1290 FM 43

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 4 and received an 85. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored improperly, employees not wearing beard guards, a dirty reach-in cooler and salt and sugar stored on the ground.

London Bar & Grill was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 98.

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.

New China Cafe

4110 S. Port Ave.

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 19 and received an 84. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, raw chicken stored above vegetables, a dirty ice machine and rodent droppings.

New China Cafe was last inspected in September 2023 and scored a 90.

Ninja Mochi Donut

6181 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 5 and received an 87. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near food, no certified food manager present, dirty vents and an ice scooper not being stored properly.

Ninja Mochi Donut was last inspected in September 2023 and scored a 98.

Popeyes

5009 Greenwood Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 18 and received an 87. Inspectors found food stored with no lids, food debris buildup in microwave, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets.

Popeyes was last inspected in August 2023 and scored an 89.

Prescott Meat Market

4414 Prescott St.

The butcher shop was inspected on Dec. 4 and received a 73. Inspectors found rodent droppings, flies, a freezer not holding products at the proper temperature and a dirty ice machine. The health district also found dented cans, outdated food for sale, employees not washing their hands and employees not wearing hairnets and beard guards.

Prescott Meat Market was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 79.

San Luis on the Go

4726 Ayers St.

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 5 and received an 86. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, raw meat stored above tortilla dough, employees not wearing gloves and rodent droppings.

San Luis was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 94.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the expiration date on bread during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the expiration date on bread during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Staples Street Meat Market

4718 S. Staples St.

The butcher shop was inspected on Dec. 13 and received an 88. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near food, no certified food manager present, no soap at the handwashing sink and food stored on the ground in the walk-in freezer.

This was the first inspection for the new location of Staples Street Meat Market.

Subway

4444 Kostoryz Road

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 4 and received an 88. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, toxic chemicals stored improperly, no management present and employees wearing jewelry.

Subway was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 93.

Taco Palenque

5617 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 11 and received an 83. Inspectors found a cook touching their hair and then not washing their hands, toxic chemicals stored improperly, flies and the back door wide open.

Taco Palenque was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 85.

Taco Rico

4102 Greenwood Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Dec. 5 and received an 87. Inspectors found employees not washing hands before changing gloves, toxic chemicals stored near creamer container, gnats and food not labeled.

Taco Rico was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 91.

Driftwood Coffee Company is a local coffee shop located at 4703 South Alameda Street.
Driftwood Coffee Company is a local coffee shop located at 4703 South Alameda Street.

Perfect scores (100)

  • Barefoot Beans: 345 N. Alister St.

  • Bluff's Landing Marina & Lodge: 4242 Laguna Shores Road

  • Century Theaters: 6685 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Domino's: 11217 Leopard St.

  • Driftwood Coffee Co.: 4703 S. Alameda St.

  • Fresh Donuts: 1216 Waldron Road

  • Hemispheres Cafe: 2101 Airline Road

  • The Ice Cream Bar: 2138 Waldron Road

  • Jerky Plug: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive

  • La Nueva Onda: 3209 Foley Drive

  • McDonald's: 1229 Waldron Road

  • McDonald's: 11202 Leopard St.

  • Nauti T's Creations: 14225 S. Padre Island Drive

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

  • Olive Bleu Charcuterie Chic: 4703 S. Alameda St.

  • Pretzel World: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Produce Goods: 415 Peoples St.

  • S&T Candies: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Saltwater Gypsies: 403 N. Alister St.

  • Siren's Call Winery: 14225 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Starbucks: 14002 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Stingers Coffee: 1304 Airline Road

  • Stingers Coffee: 7042 S. Staples St.

  • Subway: 10529 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Subway: 3701 Leopard St.

  • Tea by the Sea: 1002 Waldron Road

  • Third Coast Nutrition: 14225 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Whataburger: 9402 Leopard St.

  • Whataburger: 4545 Violet Road

RELATED COVERAGE

More: Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for November 2023

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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: Rodents, gnats: Which eateries had low health district scores