El Carriel

1215 N Martin Luther King, Clearwater, FL 33755
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Dec 29, 2025
70
Score
Medium Risk

El Carriel has been inspected 10 times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Dec 29, 2025. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.

The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around four violations, down from roughly 11 violations earlier in the record.

Across the inspection history, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.

El Carriel's latest score of 70 falls below the Clearwater average of 79. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.

10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 29, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink in kitchen . Manager placed soap at hand wash sink **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Two dead roaches on floor in hallway of storage area in front counter area . Manager removed roaches , cleaned and sanitized area . **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - grease accumulation on sides of cooking equipment and on stove
23-03-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe under triple sink with bucket under drip . Water leaking from mop sink faucet in restroom . Reviewed with manager
29-11-4
Basic - Wood food-contact surface not properly sealed as shelving in double glass door cooler .
14-06-4
70
Jan 7, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. plantains (92F - Hot Holding) 178F; cooked noodles (96F - Hot Holding) 167F put back on stove to reheat **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-03-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife between pipe and wall
10-17-4
70
Jul 15, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
86
Jul 12, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Dented can in the storage room **Warning**
01B-01-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 5 dead flies in the storage room **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Beef (52F - Cold Holding); beef patties (31 F - Cold Holding); Pork (55F - Cold Holding); meatballs (55F - Cold Holding); cheese (55F - Cold Holding) all temps taken at 7:42am . All items in cooler since last night **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Beef (52F - Cold Holding); beef patties (31 F - Cold Holding); Pork (55F - Cold Holding); meatballs (55F - Cold Holding); cheese (55F - Cold Holding) all temps taken at 7:42am . All items in cooler since last night **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled and rustic. Can opener soiled **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License is expired 02-01 2024 **Warning**
50-09-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach by chest freezer in the storage room 4 dead roaches in the storage room next to trucks tires **Warning**
35A-03-4
45
May 13, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : 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 touched face then engaged in food preparation **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: Operator no prepping food at this time. **Time Extended**
12A-25-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee washed hands with cold water and continued to prepared food in the prep area water temperature 82F **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: Operator no prepping food at this time. **Time Extended**
12A-19-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap. Employee rinsed hands off, did not use soap **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: Operator no prepping food at this time. **Time Extended**
12A-20-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. chicken Quesadillas (107F - Hot Holding); Rice and beams (103F - Hot Holding) on shelf ready to be loaded onto mobile, operator put back on stove tacos (107F - Hot Holding) 165F; beef (102F - Hot Holding) on cook line, operator put back in fryer and on stove to be reheated **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: No food holding **Time Extended**
03B-01-6
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee touched his pants and shirt then put gloves on and engaged in food preparation without washing hands **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: Operator no prepping food at this time. **Time Extended**
12A-07-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Can opener soiled and rustic **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: Still rusty **Time Extended**
14-21-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and stained and is no longer cleanable. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. All reach in coolers gasket needs repairs **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-13: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
41
May 10, 2024
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 18 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Box of rotten bananas with flies on them. **Warning**
01B-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. chicken Quesadillas (107F - Hot Holding); Rice and beams (103F - Hot Holding) on shelf ready to be loaded onto mobile, operator put back on stove tacos (107F - Hot Holding) 165F; beef (102F - Hot Holding) on cook line, operator put back in fryer and on stove to be reheated **Warning**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee touched his pants and shirt then put gloves on and engaged in food preparation without washing hands **Warning**
12A-07-5
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 touched face then engaged in food preparation **Warning**
12A-25-4
High Priority - Employee washed hands with cold water and continued to prepared food in the prep area water temperature 82F **Warning**
12A-19-4
High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap. Employee rinsed hands off, did not use soap **Warning**
12A-20-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 3 flies in kitchen food prep area, door left open during preparation of food, 33 small flies in box of rotten bananas by front door, employee moved box of rotten bananas out of kitchen, now there are 6 flies in kitchen area **Warning**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Scoop stored on hand sink, scoop removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Front door wide open flies on kitchen **Warning**
35B-05-4
Basic - Can opener soiled and rustic **Warning**
14-21-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and stained and is no longer cleanable. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Dumpster overflowing garbage, open garbage bag on top of dumpster open and lots of flies around it. **Warning**
33-14-4
Basic - Employee drink in counter next door entrance and next to food **Warning**
12B-02-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation in the kitchen. **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. All reach in coolers gasket needs repairs **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. All reach in coolers **Warning**
22-16-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry insisted bucket I Next to mop sink area inside the Restroom **Warning**
42-01-4
18
Nov 7, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. - container of soapy water stored inside kitchen hand wash sink - container relocated - reviewed with manager hand wash sinks are for washing hands only and must be accessible at all times **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees in storage area **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
Basic - No hot running water at mop sink in restroom - manager turned on hot water **Corrected On-Site**
27-10-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Open bags of dry bean, flour in dry storage room - manager closed bags **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
78
Aug 24, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
90
Jun 21, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 02/01/2023 - operator paid license during inspection - license is now current **Corrected On-Site**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food ( raw chicken ) stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food( passion fruit drink) in reach in cooler in storage area - manager rearranged food **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. - raw pork at 54 F and cut lettuce 54 F temperatures taken this morning - food moved to reach in freezer for quick chill down **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
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.
11-27-4
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. Expired in 2019 and 2021
53B-05-5
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues in storage room - employee cleaned cooler **Corrected On-Site**
22-16-4
50
Jul 20, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area. -Observed 2 live flies. Discussed with operator. Operator removed flies from kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. -Tested at 200ppm, retested at 100ppm. Employee changed solution. Discussed with operator **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -Cutting board in kitchen prep area heavily stained. -Can opener soiled with food debis. **Repeat Violation** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. -Pan and spoon stored inside hand sink. Employee took it out. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. -Near three compartment sink, employee placed soap and paper towels at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. -Discussed with operator
53B-13-5
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. -Rust on reach in cooler racks
14-17-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. -Torn gaskets on reach in cooler.
14-11-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -Soiled gaskets in reach in cooler. -soiled oven with old food.
23-03-4
43

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Carriel last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Carriel on file is from Dec 29, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Carriel?

Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at El Carriel.

How does El Carriel compare to other restaurants in Clearwater?

El Carriel most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Clearwater average of 79.

Has El Carriel's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at El Carriel have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly 11 earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at El Carriel means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is El Carriel inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Carriel is inspected around three times per year on average.