Buena Onda Cafe
Last inspected: Apr 9, 2026
45
Score
Buena Onda Cafe appears in inspection records eight times, starting in 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 9, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around five violations to closer to nine violations.
Across the inspection history, “equipment in poor repair” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded six times.
The city-wide average sits at 81, which Buena Onda Cafe's 45 doesn't quite reach. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.
8
Inspections
2
Critical latest
2
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 9, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In cooler overnight; Tofu 47F, mushroom rice 44F, cauliflower mix 44F, poke rice 44F, pooled eggs 48F **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler overnight; Tofu 47F, mushroom rice 44F, cauliflower mix 44F, poke rice 44F, pooled eggs 48F **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ One managers certificate is expired.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Establishment needs training for all employees.
53B-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone on top of dishwasher. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Both reach in freezers have ice buildup
14-69-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives/spatula stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Spatula under sandwich press. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Kitchen/dish washing floor is showing exposed concrete.
36-02-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar/rice need to be labeled. Person in charge labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Wet rags under cutting boards. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
45
Oct 7, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed Eczema cream stored on top of ice machine. Person in charge removed cream from food area. **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Observed tape used to repair cracked food containers, food is exposed to sticky side of tape. Person in charge removed containers from kitchen. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-86-1
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Pickled onions (51F - Cold Holding); kale and lentils (46F - Cold Holding) in flip-top cooler left open with torn gaskets. Person in charge placed in cooler with ice. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting boards on flip-top coolers stained with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed open coffee mug left on food prep table on cook line. Person in charge removed coffee mug from food area. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phone on food prep table on cook line. Person in charge removed cellphone from food area. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed reach in coolers and reach in freezer gaskets heavily torn. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Observed two 22qt plastic containers cracked. Person in charge removed containers from kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
14-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on reach in coolers and reach in freezer soiled with food debris and black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
45
Jan 29, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed ambient raw shell eggs (72F - Cold Holding); black bean dip (68F - Cold Holding) left on cook line counter for less than one hour per person in charge. Discussed time control and portion control to operator. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting board on flip-top cooler stained with food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Observed employees drinking from coffee mugs without covers in food prep area. Discussed with person in charge. Person in charge removed drinks from food area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-12-5
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Observed employee drinks on shelf above prep table. Person in charge removed employee drinks from food prep area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed reach in freezer gaskets torn Observed small reach in cooler on cook line and flip-top cooler gaskets torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup up in stand up reach in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed torn gaskets soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
61
Aug 28, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license expired 6/1/2024. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed black bean dip (61F - Cold Holding) on counter for two hours per person in charge. Person in charge placed on time control. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed chemical spray bottle filled with yellow liquid not labeled in kitchen. Person in charge added label. **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup up in standing reach in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on small reach in cooler and standing reach in freezer soiled with food debris.
23-03-4
61
Apr 18, 2024
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on white reach in freezer torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on white reach in freezer soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed wiping cloth sanitizer bucket at 0ppm quat. Employee filled it from triple sink which has no chemical hooked up. Person in charge directed employee to use sanit bucket tablets to remake bucket at 400ppm quat. **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
86
Nov 1, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed make line cutting boards stained with food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Observed open coffee cup on ice machine in prep area. Discussed with person in charge.
12B-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed plastic food containers stored and stacked on shelves in kitchen with visible moisture.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed multiple gaskets on reach in coolers on make line torn and cracked. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Observed 12qt plastic food container cracked and repaired with black duct tape. Discussed with person in charge.
14-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed multiple gaskets on make line reach in coolers soiled with food debris. Observed walk-in cooler shelves soiled with food debris. Observed Reach in freezer gaskets heavily soiled.
23-03-4
70
Mar 28, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Portable cutting board on prep table stained with food debris and black marks.
22-02-4
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 paper written procedures and discussed with person in charge. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. 1) gaskets torn on flip-top cooler 2) gaskets torn on reach in freezer 3) reach in freezer has rust on surface gaskets contact **Repeat Violation**
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. Flour scoop handle touching flour. Person in charge removed scoop. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1) gaskets on flip-top cooler and small reach in coolers soiled with food debris. 2) gasket on walk-in cooler soiled with black/green mold like substance. 3) gaskets on reach in freezer soiled with foot debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Exhaust fan in dish washing area soiled with grease and dust.
36-50-4
67
Aug 9, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand washing station sink at coffee bar missing towels. Employee added paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. 1) reach in cooler gaskets torn on make line. 2) reach in freezer gaskets torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Food container dried with a towel/cloth. Employee dried food containers right out of the Dish machine. Discussed with employee proper air drying methods. Employee stopped cloth drying and place container back through machine. **Corrected On-Site**
24-17-4
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Buena Onda Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Buena Onda Cafe on file is from Apr 9, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Buena Onda Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “equipment in poor repair” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Buena Onda Cafe.
How does Buena Onda Cafe compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Buena Onda Cafe most recently scored 45 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Buena Onda Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Buena Onda Cafe have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Buena Onda Cafe 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 Buena Onda Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Buena Onda Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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