Chiles Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Mar 23, 2026
52
Score
Chiles Mexican Restaurant appears in inspection records nine times, starting in 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Mar 23, 2026. Diners may want to take note: high risk reflects issues that a health inspector considered important.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near eight violations per visit across recent inspections.
“Ready-to-eat” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
Compared to other Tampa restaurants (averaging 79), there's room to close the gap. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 23, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired on 02/01/2026. **Warning**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Cooked beef tongue, cooked beef and some other cooked food in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
02C-04-5
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 employees training expired on October 2025. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Basic - Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. In dry food storage room. **Warning**
14-05-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink and food stored on prep table next to meat slicer in kitchen. Operator removed food and drink at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Walk-in cooler door frame and gasket disrepair. Walk-in freezer door handle disrepair. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. 2 cases of fry oils stored on floor in dry food storage room. **Warning**
08B-47-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At bar. **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Wood food-contact surface not properly sealed. Wooden food storage shelves in dry food storage room. **Warning**
14-06-4
52
Oct 9, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee handled raw meat, then replaced gloves engaged to cook food without washing hands first.
12A-07-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. A container of Pico De Gallo 45 F stored in top cold well of the reach-in cooler at cook line.
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Accumulation of food debris in handwash sink at kitchen.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked ground beef, cut watermelon and various items in walk-in cooler.
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 food employee working at cook line.
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Walk-in cooler door frame and gasket disrepair.
14-11-5
55
Apr 4, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Tested 10ppm. Employee reset sanitizer, tested 100ppm.
22-42-4
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired on 02/01/2025. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with old food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee on cook line. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Microwave handle broken at cook line.
14-11-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At bar.
31B-04-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. A piece of frozen beef thawing at prep sink with no running water. **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed avocados and tomatoes stored on top shelf over cooked beef, cooked peppers and various ready to eat foo in walk-in cooler. Discussed with operator.
08B-17-4
47
Aug 6, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed tortillas stored in non food grade bag in walk-in cooler
14-31-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed cooked pork and rice with no date marks in walkin cooler
02C-02-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed 3 CO2 tanks not secured at back door of kitchen
51-11-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting board grooved and stained on back prep table
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table on service line
12B-07-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed 4 containers of oil stored on floor in storage shed
08B-47-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed knifes and tongs stored in water temped 98F on cookline Corrected observed employee discard **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed raw fish thawing in standing water under 3-compartment sink Corrected-observed employee place under cold running water **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed spray bottle filled with oil not labeled on shelf under grill top on cookline Observed employee label **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
52
Feb 15, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored behind raw beef in reachin cooler on cookline adjacent to grill top Corrected observed employee place raw chicken in front of raw beef in reachin cooler on cookline **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed rice with no date mark in walk-in cooler **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed 2 boxes of Avocados stored on floor under bar area Corrected observed employee place on storage shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-47-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed serving utensils stored in water temped at 115 F on cookline prep table
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed missing at bar area
31B-04-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed tamales thawing at room temperature on prep table on cook line Corrected observed employee place in reach-in cooler **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
55
Oct 10, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee on cooks line placing gloves on with no prior hand washing, corrected action taken inspector discussed with operator proper hand washing procedures when changing gloves . **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Packaged food not labeled as specified by law. Bulk containers in kitchen area not labeled. **Repeat Violation**
02D-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked yellow rice , cooked chicken, all held over 24 hrs not date marked . **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Foods stored on floor in walk in freezer .
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs stored on pot handle on cooks line . **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single service , to go containers, not inverted over cooks line .
25-06-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
55
Jun 23, 2023
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
64
Jan 11, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
52
Jul 18, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Can of tomato sauce stored in employee hand wash sink, corrected , operator removed can during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked beef stew , cut fruits , curt greens all held over 24 hrs not date marked. **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. In kitchen area.
36-11-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of avocados stored on floor at front bar.
08B-38-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored on food prep table , corrected, employee removed drink during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
12B-13-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Box of chicken thawing out on counter , corrected operator placed chicken in walk in cooler during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink. Do not use dishes/equipment not properly sanitized. Three compartment sink set up with sanitizer in middle sink , corrected , inspector had operator set up three compartment sink as Wash, Rinse, and Sanitize. **Corrected On-Site**
16-13-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine with rust build up . **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chiles Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Chiles Mexican Restaurant on file is from Mar 23, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Chiles Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “ready-to-eat” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Chiles Mexican Restaurant.
How does Chiles Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Chiles Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 52 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Chiles Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Chiles Mexican Restaurant have averaged around eight violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Chiles Mexican Restaurant 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 Chiles Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Chiles Mexican Restaurant is inspected around two times per year on average.
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