Ay! Chavelaa
Last inspected: Feb 23, 2026
35
Score
Inspectors have visited Ay! Chavelaa eight times, with records going back to 2022. Ay! Chavelaa was last inspected on Feb 23, 2026. The high risk label is a heads-up that the most recent visit didn't go well.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around seven violations each, up from closer to one violation before.
“No paper towels” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Pompano Beach restaurant, which scores around 78. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
8
Inspections
3
Critical latest
2
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 23, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee left kitchen to put on hair restraint, returned to kitchen, and started prepping food , without washing hands and changing gloves. Educated employee on proper handwashing procedures, and employee washed hands and changed gloves. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-25-4
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Business license expired on 12/1/25. Owner renewed business license during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw ground beef and raw pork stored over raw corn in walk in freezer. Educated employee on proper storage, and raw meat was moved to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwashing sink near to coffee machine. Employee provided paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided poster to operator.
11-27-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee preparing food without hair restraint. Educated employee on wearing proper hair restraint. Employee put on hair restraint. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. One door of 2 door , flip top cooler, broken on cook line. Door still able to close.
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup on floor of walk in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean utensils stored in bucket of water at 110 F. Employee discarded water. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Provided poster to operator.
51-13-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Shelf next to 3 compartment sink soiled with black mold-like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Box of disposable plates stored on floor in dry storage room. Manager placed box on shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
35
Jul 10, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler, raw beef stored over raw fish. Operator moved beef to lower shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler, Raw beef and chicken stored over ready to eat chicken. Operator moved ready to eat chicken shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. On prep table across from cook line, can opener solid with food debris.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At handwashing sink on cook line by back door, no paper towels supplied. **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At bar, spray bottle containing glass cleaner not labeled. Employee labeled bottle . **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In kitchen by back door, fryer oil containers stored on floor. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
52
Dec 27, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler raw shell eggs stored over raw beef. Employee moved eggs to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwashing sink on cook line
31B-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. On cook line fryer oil stored on floor
08B-38-4
74
Oct 15, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In walk in freezer, raw shell eggs stored above unwashed avocados. Operator moved to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. In reach in freezer, bananas and strawberries not covered when stored. Operator covered
08B-12-5
82
Oct 26, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 19, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine 0PPM. Operator set up three compartment sink to rinse, wash and sanitize until dish machine is properly sanitizing. Operator primed machine multiple times, 0PPM.
22-41-4
86
Jul 14, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Sep 27, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ay! Chavelaa last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Ay! Chavelaa on file is from Feb 23, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Ay! Chavelaa?
Across the inspection record, “no paper towels” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Ay! Chavelaa.
How does Ay! Chavelaa compare to other restaurants in Pompano Beach?
Ay! Chavelaa most recently scored 35 out of 100, which is lower than the Pompano Beach average of 78.
Has Ay! Chavelaa's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Ay! Chavelaa have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Ay! Chavelaa 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 Ay! Chavelaa inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Ay! Chavelaa is inspected around two times per year on average.
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