El Portal Restaurante
Last inspected: Dec 23, 2025
64
Score
El Portal Restaurante has been inspected 10 times since 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 23, 2025. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around two violations lately and about five violations before that.
Looking across the full record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.
By comparison, the average Deerfield Beach facility scores 83, putting El Portal Restaurante on the weaker side. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 23, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
64
Aug 13, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
90
Jan 9, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - Nonfood-grade basting brush used in food.paint brush used as a basting brush is not food grade. Chef discarded brush. **Corrected On-Site**
14-14-4
90
Sep 18, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Three door reach in cooler on cook line is at chicken (51F - Cold Holding); beef (51F - Cold Holding),cooksaid items there since 8:00 am. The cook found out it was unplugged when they moved it this morning. Chef plugged unit back in
03A-02-5
Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Lights above the cook line has no shielding for ceiling lights
38-07-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour not labeled. Cook labeled flour **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
78
Jun 27, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk in cooler, the raw eggs were stored over the citrus fruit. The items were switched **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
Basic - Food stored on floor. In the walk in freezer, raw chicken was stored on the floor. The items were moved off of the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
82
May 24, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed at flip top cooler - Raw shell eggs stored over cooked pork at cooking line - chest freezer: Beef Patties stored over cheese pastry all items not commercially packaged- Operator stored all products properly **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at beverage cooler at front - milk (60F - Cold Holding) Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, out of temperature for approximately 2 hours. Operator moved product to walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Walk in cooler: pork tamal (45F - Cooling) at 2:45 since yesterday 8:00pm ; white beans (48F - Cooling at 2:45 since yesterday 8:00pm) At current rate of cooling product did not reach 41F with in 6 hours. See stop sale
03D-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Walk in cooler: pork tamal (45F - Cooling) at 2:45 since yesterday 8:00pm ; white beans (48F - Cooling at 2:45 since yesterday 8:00pm) At current rate of cooling product did not reach 41F with in 6 hours. See stop sale
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed chemical sprayer bottle without label at front customer area. Advised operator to properly label all chemicals.
41-17-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Scrubbing sponge observed inside handwashing sink at front costumer area. Operator removed sponge. **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.
53B-14-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed gap at back door; needs weather strip.
35B-01-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Whole chicken thawing in standing water by triple sink. Advised operator to thaw it under running water. Operator thawed properly **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
37
Nov 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No hand wash sign at hand wash sink in kitchen
31B-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of food on the floor in the walk-in freezer, manager picked up **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
86
Aug 10, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
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
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
32
Apr 6, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pan of salsa stored in container of raw beef in cook line flip top. Operator discarded salsa **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. rice and chicken 12:15 (127°F - Cooling); rice and chicken 12:45 (120°F - Cooling). Operator started to reheat for steam table **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Items stored in cook line hand wash sink. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items stored on slicer on prep table. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
23-24-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed on walk in cooler shelving
23-03-4
61
Nov 9, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in kitchen blocked by table. Chef moved table **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Chicken left on counter to thaw, chef moved to cooler **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Portal Restaurante last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Portal Restaurante on file is from Dec 23, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Portal Restaurante?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Portal Restaurante.
How does El Portal Restaurante compare to other restaurants in Deerfield Beach?
El Portal Restaurante most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Deerfield Beach average of 83.
Has El Portal Restaurante's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at El Portal Restaurante have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Portal Restaurante 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 Portal Restaurante inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Portal Restaurante is inspected around three times per year on average.
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