El Pimiento
Last inspected: Jan 5, 2026
47
Score
Going back to 2022, El Pimiento has eight inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Jan 5, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around 10 violations lately compared to roughly four violations before.
The pattern that stands out is “ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled”, which has been cited five times.
El Pimiento's latest score of 47 falls below the Miami Lakes average of 74. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
5
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 5, 2026
Routine - Food
5 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
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. Employees name Daira Dominguez with more than 2 months of being hired.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed cooked potatoes, cooked pork, sauce with no date marked, was prepared from more than 24 hours as per operator. Operator properly labeled it. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled.
41-17-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No chlorine test kit. **Repeat Violation**
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. On hand sink located at the front counter.
31B-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 multiple open bottles of water on preparation table.
12B-12-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed double door reach in cooler gasket in disrepair, located in front of walk in cooler door.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of mussels on walk in freezer floor. Operator properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
47
Aug 18, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - In-use utensil stored in unclean water at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in used utensil stored in standing water of 118°F. Operator discarded it. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-05-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken over raw beef criquetas in reach in cooler, operator properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed winded spray bottle on preparation table.
41-10-4
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dishwasher machine with chlorine sanitazer solution of 0 ppm. Operator primed the dishwasher machine, rechecked chlorine 100 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-41-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine test kit
16-37-1
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed windex in spray bottle with no label.
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
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.
36-34-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Observed knife in between wall and preparation table.
10-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Filter soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust.
36-27-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. **Repeat Violation**
42-01-4
32
Feb 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed garlic mixture (68F - Cold Holding) for less than 4 hours as per operator. Operator placed inside reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed filter soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust.
36-27-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.
42-01-4
67
Sep 19, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed metal container with Cod fish in hand sink, operator removed it. **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. Observed white rice, cooked chickpeas, was cooked from more than 24 hours as per operator, with no date marked.
02C-02-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cod fish box, mussels box on walk in freezer floor.
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Operator removed it. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Operator removed it. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in used utensils in water at 84°F. Operator discarded it. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board.
21-04-4
61
Jun 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
95
Mar 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
86
Jun 29, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Equipment drain line draining into handwash sink. Observed drain line from ice machine draining inside hand wash sink located at the front line.
31A-10-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed degreaser in spray bottle without label.
41-17-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Almond container.
02D-01-5
74
Dec 19, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw chicken over fish inside walk in freezer, operator properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
Intermediate - Equipment drain line draining into handwash sink. Observed ice machine drain line inside hand wash sink located at the front area.
31A-10-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of fish, cases of bread on walk in freezer floor.
08B-38-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Pimiento last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Pimiento on file is from Jan 5, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Pimiento?
Across the inspection record, “ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at El Pimiento.
How does El Pimiento compare to other restaurants in Miami Lakes?
El Pimiento most recently scored 47 out of 100, which is lower than the Miami Lakes average of 74.
Has El Pimiento's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Pimiento have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at El Pimiento 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 Pimiento inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Pimiento is inspected around three times per year on average.
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