El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina
Last inspected: Jul 16, 2025
41
Score
Public records show nine inspections at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina stretching back to 2022. The most recent report on file is from Jul 16, 2025. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around 14 violations each, up from closer to eight violations before.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease”, showing up six times.
Restaurants in Melbourne average 84, so El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina trails the local norm. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
3
Major latest
12
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 16, 2025
Complaint Full
3 major violations. 12 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Items stored in sink at bar. Educated **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Meghan, Karla and Josiah
53B-14-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled.
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Kitchen **Repeat Violation**
36-34-5
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered can in 2 stalls
32-12-6
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Current
50-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items Phone on cook line **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket make table and reach in freezer Hood filters and grease on hood fan **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Opened water on cook line
12B-13-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Avocado stickers not removed **Corrected On-Site**
08B-39-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Walk in cooler
22-16-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Repeat Violation**
14-33-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk in cooler
14-17-4
41
Mar 19, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 11 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Sitting on ledge of dish pit clean dish side **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
29-42-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Under dishwasher is black
36-27-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour not labeled **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl in flour. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Light lens on back kitchen line are soiled
36-34-5
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. 3 pcs of salmon on cook line cooler. Chef discarded **Repeat Violation**
06-09-1
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Drink on prep table on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of food stored on floor in walk in freezer **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Floor in walk in cooler and walk in freezer has old food debris build up, needs cleaned **Corrective Action Taken**
23-03-4
Basic - Objectionable odors in bathroom or other areas of the establishment. **Corrective Action Taken**
36-64-5
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Shelving in fajita staging fridge **Corrected On-Site**
14-33-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Tin pans in dry storage Coffee filters not protected **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
43
Oct 28, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 12 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Food preparation pans has soil/old food residue on clean dishes. Manager rewashed dishes **Corrected On-Site**
22-35-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Knife holder on wall soiled. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Fish was in walk in cooler, still frozen so they could remove oxygen from packaging **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
06-09-1
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. **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. Drink on prep table, employee moved drink. Backpack with personal items on food storage shelf, manager relocated items. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gasket in poor repair on keg refrigerator in bar area
14-11-5
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Food debris under ice machine and bar area **Corrected On-Site**
36-01-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Manager discarded pans **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-38-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Corrected On-Site**
22-08-4
Basic - Light not functioning. 2 lights out under cook line hoods
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Fajita staging refrigerator shelves are rusted
14-33-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. 2 pans in walk in not covered. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe leaking on hand sink in bar area. **Corrective Action Taken**
29-11-4
43
Apr 16, 2024
Routine - Food
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
14-17-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Walk in cooler and walk in freezer are soiled with old food debris. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
36-01-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Several containers have cracked/broken corners - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
14-38-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
14-69-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Interior of reach in cooler on cook line. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-16: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
74
Apr 15, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 14 minor violations.
View 18 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 flying insects in dish pit area **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach in employee bathroom. Manager killed it. **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. milk (52F - Cold Holding); salsa (50F - Cold Holding) brisket (50F - Cold Holding) **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap. Soap dispenser is full but does not dispense soap, at handsink right outside employee bathroom.
31B-06-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. 4 salmon, 2 tilapia thawed without removing from vacuum packaging.
06-09-1
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee drink on shelf above to go containers **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans wet nesting
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler at server station temping at 50F
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. In dish pit area where missing tiles are
36-22-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing in dish area
36-17-5
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Several containers have cracked/broken corners
14-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Interior of reach in cooler on cook line.
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall behind ice machine is soiled with dust build up and wall at end of cookline is soiled with old food debris.
36-27-5
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Walk in cooler and walk in freezer are soiled with old food debris.
36-01-4
29
Dec 22, 2023
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Dec 11, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
22
May 22, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
70
Dec 5, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Shell eggs over ra beef walk in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. 2 cracked eggs walk in cooler
01B-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Knives stored in sink. Back of kitchen **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. **Corrected On-Site**
22-20-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets reach in cooler Gaskets reach in hot box both
14-11-5
Basic - Light not functioning. 2 hood fan
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters
23-03-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed jalapeño over salsas **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-17-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk in cooler
14-17-4
45
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina on file is from Jul 16, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina.
How does El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina compare to other restaurants in Melbourne?
El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina most recently scored 41 out of 100, which is lower than the Melbourne average of 84.
Has El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina have averaged around 14 violations per visit, up from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina 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 El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Chicos Mexican Rest&Cantina is inspected around three times per year on average.
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