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

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
Updated ·7 min read

In September, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found roaches in an oven, food being prepared in an unapproved kitchen, dishes stored on the floor 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 170 businesses inspected, 17 scored below a 90 and 42 received perfect scores.

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

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

Agave Jalisco

5922 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 21 and received a 74. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, roaches, a dirty ice machine and no soap in the employee's restroom.

Agave Jalisco was last inspected in May 2023 and scored a 79.

Casa Vieja Jalisco

6202 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 6 and received an 81. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, dented cans, stacking food containers on top of each other without lids and employees not wearing gloves when handling food.

Casa Vieja was last inspected in June 2023 and scored an 81.

Castaway's Seafood & Grill

337 N. Alister St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 8 and received an 82. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, a dirty ice machine, flies and roaches in the oven.

This was the first inspection for Castaway's.

El Sol de Mexico #3

5250 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 8 and received an 87. Inspectors found employees not wearing gloves when handling food, gnats, employees not wearing hairnets and food not being dated.

El Sol de Mexico was last inspected in June 2023 and scored an 85.

Estrella de Jalisco

1322 Leopard St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 29 and received an 88. Inspectors found moldy vegetables, an expired certified food manager card, employees not wearing beard guards and a broken back door.

Estrella de Jalisco was last inspected in May 2023 and scored a 97.

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.

Jack in the Box

1502 Airline Road

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 19 and received an 87. Inspectors found toxic chemicals being stored improperly, employees without food handler's permits, a dirty fryer and a dirty restroom.

Jack in the Box was last inspected in August 2023 and scored an 86.

Las Braza's Cocina, Bar & Grill

4425 S. Alameda St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 7 and received an 80. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, a dirty ice machine, no certified food manager present and food not dated.

Las Braza's was last inspected in May 2023 and scored a 92.

Neil's Urban Oven/The Nest

6534 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant and bar were inspected on Sept. 26 and received an 87. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near cups, knives being stored improperly, dirty soda nozzles and soufflé cups being used to hold dry goods.

The restaurant and bar were last inspected in June 2023 and scored an 82.

Noodles & Dumplings

6505 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 12 and received an 86. Inspectors found food not covered, toxic chemicals not being stored properly, flies and employees not wearing hairnets.

Noodles & Dumplings was last inspected in June 2023 and scored an 80.

Ojos Locos

5133 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 7 and received an 88. Inspectors found toxic chemicals not being stored properly, gnats, no soap at the hand washing sink and a water leak in the kitchen ceiling.

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

Produce Goods

415 Peoples St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 8 and received an 86. Inspectors found food not being prepared in an approved kitchen, no certified food manager present, food not labeled or dated and employees without food handler's permits.

Produce was last inspected in May 2023 and scored a 96.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks soda fountain nozzles for mold and other contaminants during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks soda fountain nozzles for mold and other contaminants during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

San Miguel Restaurant

200 N. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 5 and received an 80. Inspectors found a leak in the walk in dripping on vegetables, a dirty ice machine, employees without food handler's permits and dishes being stored on the floor.

This was the first inspection for San Miguel.

Santa Rosa Restaurant

2722 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 6 and received an 88. Inspectors found a dirty soda machine, utensils being washed in the hand washing sink, no thermometers in the fridge and personal drinks in the fridge.

Santa Rosa was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 95.

Taqueria Acapulco #1

1133 Airline Road

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 28 and received an 85. Inspectors found food containers stored on top of chips, a dirty ice machine, cooks not washing their hands and a dirty reach-in cooler.

Taqueria Acapulco was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 90.

Taqueria Jalisco #4

5322 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 8 and received an 86. Inspectors found food containers stacked on top of each other without lids, employees not wearing gloves when handling food, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets and beard guards.

Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in June 2023 and scored a 91.

Taqueria Jalisco #10

2433 Cimarron Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 7 and received an 80. Inspectors found mold in the ice machine, employees not wearing gloves when handling food, toxic chemicals not being stored properly and gnats.

Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in June 2023 and scored an 80.

Texas Flame Steakhouse

4535 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on Sept. 7 and received an 84. Inspectors found a dirty soda machine, employees not wearing beard guards, a ceiling tile on the women's restroom floor and toxic chemicals not being stored properly.

Texas Flame was last inspected in January 2023 and scored a 94.

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 (100)

  • Barefoot Beans: 345 N. Alister St.

  • Belleeah's Apples & Treats: 4916 Everhart Road

  • Bottom Line Deli: 6300 Ocean Drive

  • Celsita's: 15401 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Chick-fil-A: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Chick-fil-A: 4946 S. Staples St.

  • Coffee Beanery: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Cookies by Design: 4709 S. Alameda St.

  • Dave & Buster's: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Domino's: 11217 Leopard St.

  • The Donut Palace: 14602 Compass St.

  • Driftwood Coffee Company: 4703 S. Alameda St.

  • Drunkn' NoodleZ: 4214 S. Alameda St.

  • Dulces: 9922 Leopard St.

  • Flock: 1813 Ennis Joslin Road

  • Fresh Donuts: 10241 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Galaxy Froyo: 9450 S. Padre Island Drive

  • The Ice Cream Bar: 2138 Waldron Road

  • J. Boys Restaurant: 5628 Williams Drive

  • Jerky Plug: 4701 Ayers St.

  • Lazy Beach Brewing and Cafe: 7522 Bichon Drive

  • Let Them Eat Cake & Eatery: 4915 Everhart Road

  • McDonald's: 4730 S. Alameda St.

  • Munchiez Burgers & More: 10117 Leopard St.

  • O'Brien's Westwood Lounge: 9741 Leopard St.

  • Olive Garden: 5258 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Panda Express: 6300 Ocean Drive

  • Port A Poke: 345 N. Alister St.

  • St. Andrews by the Sea: 14238 Encantada Ave.

  • Seaside Cafe: 169 Seaside Drive

  • Sonic: 4801 S. Staples St.

  • Starbucks: 6300 Ocean Drive

  • Starbucks: 3738 S. Staples St.

  • Starbucks: 14002 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Stingers Coffee: 1304 Airline Road

  • Subway: 11101 Leopard St.

  • Subway: 6300 Ocean Drive

  • Tea by the Sea Cafe: 1002 Waldron Road

  • Whataburger: 1521 Airline Road

  • Whataburger: 4545 Violet Road

  • Whataburger: 3220 Gollihar Road

  • 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: Moldy vegetables, flies: Which eateries had low health district scores