Cabalen Eatery
Last inspected: Mar 19, 2026
78
Score
Inspectors have visited Cabalen Eatery 12 times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 19, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near two violations each time.
When inspectors have written things up, “employee with no hair restraint while engaging” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Restaurants in Jacksonville average 74, so Cabalen Eatery is doing better than most peers. The record reflects steady performance over time.
12
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 19, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
78
Nov 24, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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/ Observed food manager JAY M expired 4-27-2025. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-17: Observed still the same at callback. **Time Extended**
53A-03-7
90
Sep 15, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
90
Mar 4, 2025
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
78
Nov 20, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 17, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw shell eggs stored over unwashed produce in stand alone cooler. Manager removed and stored properly in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. Observed 2 cracked shell eggs with raw shell eggs in stand alone cooler. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-14-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked Beef (122F - Hot Holding). Manager reheated cooked beef. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed all required employee training expired. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed pans stored in employee hand sink. Employee removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed ready to eat desserts without time mark prepared onsite.
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table. Manager removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee engaging in food preparation without hair restraint.
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed torn door gasket on stand alone cooler on cook line.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of water stored on floor on service line. Repeat Violation** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed single service plates stored on floor on hallway near kitchen.. Manager will remove and store properly. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
25-05-4
37
May 6, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 3, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. In glass door reach in cooler in kitchen, two pans of pork 101F. Both pans placed in cooler approximately five (5) hours prior. Pork discarded. See stop sale.
03D-01-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. In glass door reach in cooler in kitchen, two pans of pork 101F. Both pans placed in cooler approximately five (5) hours prior. Pork discarded. See stop sale.
01B-36-5
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Employee preparing fresh green beans with bare hands. Inspector coached employee on proper food preparation procedures. Employee washed hands and placed gloves on. **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In glass door reach in cooler in kitchen, six containers of cooked pork, eggs, raw pork, eggs, and cooked vegetables 49F. Employee states reach in cooler was opened/closed frequently during lunch rush. Inspector checked ambient air temperature - 62F. Inspector asked doors to be kept closed to see rate of temperature drop. Inspector rechecked ambient air temperature 48F after 30 minutes. Inspector asked employees to keep doors closed for temperature recovery. **Warning**
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. All items at front counter (pork, chicken, bananas, vegetables) are not time marked. Items removed from temperature control approximately one (1) prior. All items time marked. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. All employee certifications presented expired. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands in triple sink in kitchen for approximately five (5) seconds and without soap. Inspector coached employee on proper hand washing procedures. Employee washed hands correctly. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In front display counter, containers of flan and containers of cooked sweet potatoes prepared two days prior are not dated. Employee began dating products. **Corrective Action Taken**
02C-02-5
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Packaged napkins on floor at front counter. Napkins moved and stored correctly. Tin foil containers on shelf in hallway by restrooms not inverted. Containers inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License displayed expired 06/01/2022.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee serving food at front counter. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Floors, walls, and/or ceilings soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor under cooking equipment in kitchen.
36-73-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. At front counter, case of squash and case of plastic water bottles on floor. Items moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall in hallway near unisex restroom. Wall behind door in unisex restroom.
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters above cooking equipment. Backsplash for oven.
23-03-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Rear exit door does not self close.
35B-03-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Employee cutting fresh green beans before rinsing.
08B-39-4
22
Dec 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
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. See stop sale. Observed no time mark for items held under time control. Manager placed time mark for foods on time control. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw shell eggs stored in stand alone cooler over unwashed string beans. Manager removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Observed Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Inspector provided copy of Big 6 Foodborne illnesses. **Corrected On-Site**
11-07-5
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. Observed establishment without written procedures for vomiting and diarrhea clean up. Inspector provided copy of written procedures on vomiting and diarrhea clean up. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
11-27-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table in middle of kitchen. Employee removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
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 purse stored on food storage area. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed multiple cases of bottled water stored on floor of front line. Manager removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed single service cups stored on floor at entrance of kitchen. Manager removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.
42-01-4
45
Jun 13, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
37
Nov 22, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Food prep employee cutting onions for garnish with bare hand contact. Manager intervened. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
09-01-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored over ready to eat lemons , carrots in reach in cooler. **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Food prep employee wiped floor with rag then engaged in food prep activity without washing hands or changing gloves. Manager intervened. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Large bag of raw chicken in kitchen Hand Wash Sink. Moved by manager. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at kitchen Hand Wash Sink. **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Soiled exterior of equipment including handles to coolers. **Repeat Violation**
23-24-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Food prep employee with no hair restraint.
13-03-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Rear door with no self closing mechanism. **Repeat Violation**
35B-03-4
Basic - Theme park food cart with food-contact surfaces not protected from cross contamination. Cleaned bowls, utensils stored in mop sink. Moved by manager
24-12-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. 1 wet wipes on counter in : kitchen.
21-12-4
41
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cabalen Eatery last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cabalen Eatery on file is from Mar 19, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cabalen Eatery?
Across the inspection record, “employee with no hair restraint while engaging” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cabalen Eatery.
How does Cabalen Eatery compare to other restaurants in Jacksonville?
Cabalen Eatery most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is higher than the Jacksonville average of 74.
Has Cabalen Eatery's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cabalen Eatery have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cabalen Eatery means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Cabalen Eatery inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cabalen Eatery is inspected around four times per year on average.
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