El Taco Regio
Last inspected: Sep 23, 2025
35
Score
Public records show five inspections at El Taco Regio stretching back to 2022. The most recent report on file is from Sep 23, 2025. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around nine violations lately compared to roughly four violations before.
Looking across the full record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
That's lower than the typical Trenton restaurant, which scores around 66. Taken together, the history suggests a facility that has struggled with consistency.
5
Inspections
4
Critical latest
4
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Sep 23, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Pan of rice lined with grocery bag in warmer at cookline. Manager removed the rice from the grocery bag during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 06/01/2025. Establishment is open and operating during this inspection. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Pan containing raw chicken stored on shelf directly above box of plantains inside reach-in cooler near cookline. Employee rearranged the cooler during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Two spray bottles containing Lysol stored on shelf beside box containing single-use plastic forks. Manager removed the Lysol from the shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Open jug of milk missing date on shelf inside reach-in cooler near back door. Manager stated the milk was opened on 9/20 and added the proper date mark during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - No certified food manager for establishment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ No certified food manager currently employed at this establishment. **Warning**
53A-07-6
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Manager stated all employees are new and have only been employed for approximately two weeks. Manager does not have proof of food handler training provided proof either employee has been informed of their health reporting responsibilities.
11-26-1
Intermediate - No soap and/or paper towels/mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. 1. No soap or towels at handwash sink near ice machine. 2. No towels at handwash sink at cookline. Manager replenished all during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Box containing single-use foam cups stored directly on floor in dry storage room. Manager placed them on a shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
35
Mar 3, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
95
Feb 2, 2024
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pan of raw chicken stored on shelf above packages of sliced cooked ham and diced cooked ham. Employee moved ham to the top shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with black substance. Cutting board at cookline stained.
22-02-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling above takeout containers in dry storage area soiled with brown substance. Ceiling tile in server station above reach-in drink coolers stained.
36-34-5
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach on floor in dry storage room. Employee swept up dead roach during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup inside reach-in freezer at cookline.
14-69-4
Basic - No waste receptacle installed at handwash sink provided with disposable towels. No waste receptacle near handwash sink near ice machine.
33-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Lighting above cookline soiled with dust. Hood filters over fryer soiled with food debris.
23-03-4
61
Feb 21, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Food/ice received from unapproved source/no invoice provided to verify source. See Stop Sale. Brown eggs stored inside reach-in cooler in kitchen near back door. Employee stated they were purchased from a customer. Stop sale issued.
01A-05-4
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. None available. Inspector provided during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. None available. Inspector provided during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic pans wet nested on clean dish storage rack near three-compartment sink.
24-08-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside reach-in freezer in kitchen near back door. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Light shield damaged/in disrepair. Fluorescent lights in server station unshielded. **Repeat Violation**
38-01-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Dumpster behind building. **Repeat Violation**
33-11-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop stored down inside mop bucket near mop sink.
42-01-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth on prep table near three-compartment sink. Employee placed cloth back into solution during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. In of sugar on lower shelf of prep table not labeled. Employee added proper label during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Back door to kitchen left open.
35B-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Current license not posted.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table above bin of sugar in kitchen near three-compartment sink. Employee removed drink from table during this inspection. **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. Employee purse and keys on table near back door above frying oil. Employee removed both from table during this inspection. Employee jackets stored on food storage shelf above canned foods in dry storage area. Employee removed both jackets from shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
41
Jul 6, 2022
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee entered kitchen and began preparing food without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flies in kitchen near back door.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 6/1/2022.
50-17-2
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Item in reach-in cooler across from oven: pork (46F - Cold Holding); beef (45F - Cold Holding). Manager stated items placed in cooler 2 hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. Cooked pork in reach-in cooler next to oven dated 6/29.
01B-28-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stored on bottom shelf of prep table near back door. Can opener on prep table near back door. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Five employees working with no certified food manager present.
53A-05-6
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed one dead roach on floor in front of back door.
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on shelf in dry storage room.
40-06-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Back door to kitchen.
35B-01-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Floor in room with water heater. **Repeat Violation**
36-22-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor in wait station.
36-17-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach-in freezer next to kitchen entrance.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on oven handle. Manager moved tongs to prep table. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Light shield damaged/in disrepair. Light shield missing for light fixture above hand washing sink in wait station. **Repeat Violation**
38-01-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Dumpster behind building. **Repeat Violation**
33-11-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Vent above grill and oven. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
23
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Taco Regio last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Taco Regio on file is from Sep 23, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Taco Regio?
Across the inspection record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Taco Regio.
How does El Taco Regio compare to other restaurants in Trenton?
El Taco Regio most recently scored 35 out of 100, which is lower than the Trenton average of 66.
Has El Taco Regio's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Taco Regio have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at El Taco Regio 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 Taco Regio inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Taco Regio is inspected around two times per year on average.
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