Arepas El Cacao
Last inspected: Feb 4, 2026
47
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Arepas El Cacao stretching back to 2022. On Feb 4, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near nine violations per visit.
The pattern that stands out is “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, which has been cited four times.
Restaurants in Orlando average 79, so Arepas El Cacao trails the local norm. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
3
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 4, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Bottle of medicine next to microwave in back kitchen area operator moved **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-07-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of ice chute of soda machine in customer service self service area
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Metal scrub in handwash sink next to flat top
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Next to three compartment sink in front counter area
31B-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Next to three compartment sink in back kitchen area
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Throughout kitchen
36-34-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Opening Lid of reach in freezer broken
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer in back kitchen area next to office
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of flat top grill in front counter has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. All reach in coolers in establishments
22-16-4
47
Aug 15, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine plastic guard - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-15: **Time Extended**
22-20-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. 4/1/25 - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-15: **Time Extended**
50-09-4
90
Aug 13, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored next to microwave over floor reach in freezer **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands. Front line Manager addressed **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-17-4
High Priority - Employee washed hands with cold water. Front line Manager addressed **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-19-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam table on front line cooked sliced plantains (127F - Hot Holding) Less than four hours per employee Placed on flat top for temperature recovery **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Metal scrubber in hand sink on cooks line **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Used three comp sink on front line Manager adressed **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine plastic guard
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Used cups to scoop ice from ice machine Educated employee **Corrective Action Taken**
14-01-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. 4/1/25
50-09-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Walk in cooler **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Sugar ingredient bin across from walk in cooler **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink on cooks line .
29-20-5
33
Feb 10, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Hot time/temperature control for safety food received at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked arepas (117F - Hot Holding). Manager placed on steam table to recover 45 minutes later at 167F
03B-15-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Salsa Sauce (51F - Cold Holding, placed at counter at 8:30am moved to freezer 45 minutes later 37F); ) on counter next to soda machine. Less than 4 hours per. Advised manager to add to time plan. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. On garlic may sauce, less than 2 hours. Manager added time mark. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk in reach in cooler not dated marked, over 48hrs per operator. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board by kitchen office soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink at front counter
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Purse next to hand wash sink in kitchen.
40-06-5
Basic - Establishment increased seating without providing written approval from the local fire authority and wastewater provider.
51-15-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Oil stored on floor
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in cooler shelves soiled. Lower shelf of prep table by walk-in cooler soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Single service to go trays reused.
25-32-4
35
Sep 12, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with fried tostones in chest freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-31-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Garlic Mayo Sauce (61F - Cold Holding) on counter next to soda machine. Less than 4 hours per. Manager. Advised to use time plan. He will discard before 4 hours. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk in front prep table not date marked **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. To go bags and lids in sink **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. All employees less than 60 days
11-26-1
Basic - Clean utensils not stored inverted or in a protected manner next to three comp sinks. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Next to mop sink. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar not labeled at beverage area by soda machine.
02D-01-5
45
Jan 17, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In white floor freezer has tostones in to go bag **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam table on front counter black beans (122F - Hot Holding) Less than four hours per manager, laced on flat top for rapid reheat 15 minutes later was 201F **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice chute of self service soda machine soiled
22-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing purple toxic substance not labeled under hand sink on front counter **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Sandwich top reach in cooler on front counter
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on shelf next to single service gloves **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Floor large white freezer when entering back area, lid coming apart and handle broken **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
52
Oct 9, 2023
Routine - Food
6 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -ice chute soiled on self-service beverage station -white cutting board stained on top of reach-in cooler next to blender -inside of ice machine has a light accumulation of black, mold-like substance **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink or wiping cloths. -QUATERNARY AMMONIA
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. -men's restroom
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
05-08-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. -Cesar
53B-14-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. -degreaser and glass cleaner spray bottles stored below handwash sink in front prep area lacking label, operator labeled **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -plastic around and behind soda nozzles on self-service soda station have a light accumulation of debris
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. -two blue wet wiping cloths hung on ledge of triple sink
21-12-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. "Avantco" reach-in freezer not holding temperature, no foods present
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. -floor underneath fryer has a light accumulation of grease
36-73-4
43
May 3, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Shredded beef on hot line 127F Les than four hours Placed on flattop to rapid reheat 20 minutes later 177F **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Purple spray bottle and blue spray bottle under hand sink On front counter **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine at the plastic guard.
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Above hand sink across from mop sink in back area.
36-34-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Handle broken to white reach in freezer when entering back area from serving line.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Sugar ingredient bin in back area. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Case of to go lids and cups on the floor in back area.
25-05-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go containers on dry item shelf **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
58
Dec 12, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Operator was able to identify as windex. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Bags on shelf with single use items. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. In ice machine **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Water in steam well, 130F. Operator added more water to steam well. **Corrective Action Taken**
10-07-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Hanging from side of sink.
21-12-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Arepas El Cacao last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Arepas El Cacao on file is from Feb 4, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Arepas El Cacao?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Arepas El Cacao.
How does Arepas El Cacao compare to other restaurants in Orlando?
Arepas El Cacao most recently scored 47 out of 100, which is lower than the Orlando average of 79.
Has Arepas El Cacao's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Arepas El Cacao have averaged around nine violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Arepas El Cacao means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Arepas El Cacao inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Arepas El Cacao is inspected around three times per year on average.
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