El Tucan
Last inspected: Mar 5, 2026
70
Score
Across the available record, El Tucan has nine inspections on file, the first dated 2022. On Mar 5, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around six violations per visit lately, up from roughly three violations before.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.
El Tucan's latest score of 70 falls below the Merritt Island average of 77. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 5, 2026
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. In streamwell on cook line cooked beans (111F - Hot Holding)
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Coffee urns heavily stained on interior
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Shelf over plates. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White granular substance removed from original packaging not identified **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
70
Oct 9, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - Water treatment device has not been inspected or serviced according to manufacturer's instructions. Listed replacement date for April 2025
29-28-4
Basic - Interior of refrigerator or freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation. Flip top of reach in cooler across from burners has exposed insulation. Operator repaired during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
14-36-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk in cooler shelves are soiled
23-03-4
82
Mar 25, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Fully thawed raw tuna in vacuum sealed packaging bearing indicator label for thawing requirements
01B-13-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Over single service items in dry storage closet. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Removable tip to soda gun behind bar is soiled **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Taco poke bowl and sushi-rrito on specialty menu not marked as having raw ingredients Masago on volcano lobster bites is not identified as a raw product. Operator marked all menus **Corrected On-Site**
02B-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. **Corrected On-Site**
16-21-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. 2oz plastic soufflé cup used as scoop in red granular. Operator discarded. Togo soup container used as scoop in tempura flour. Operator discarded **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
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. Fully thawed raw tuna in vacuum sealed packaging bearing indicator label for thawing requirements. SEE STOP SALE
06-09-1
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Prep worker put on hat **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on front of oven door. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White granular substance removed from original packaging is not labeled identifying by common name. Operator labeled as tempura flour **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Compressed air tanks not secure. Operator tethered **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
43
Oct 31, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
78
Apr 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
58
Feb 2, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Dec 4, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Dish washer handled soiled dishes and then began touching clean dishes without washing hands
12A-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In bus tub next to stovetop cook area. cut tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding)
03A-02-5
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. **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on front of equipment. operator moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Shelves in walk in cooler
14-17-4
61
Apr 4, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
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. Whipping cream and milk not date marked, whipping cream opened Sunday. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Small tanks not secured. **Corrected On-Site**
51-11-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups on shelf are wet nesting. Operator had them rewashed and air dry. **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Operator is aware and has work order in for it. **Corrective Action Taken**
35B-01-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cases of corn and tomatoes stored on floor. Operator moved them off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice build up under the fan in walk in freezer
14-69-4
70
Aug 25, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Multiple spray bottles not labeled identifying liquid contents. Operator labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Dishmachine not washing/rinsing properly. Must wash, rinse and sanitize all dishware, equipment and utensils in three-compartment sink until dishmachine is functioning properly. Dish machine testing at 0ppm chlorine. Operator contacted repair company. **Corrective Action Taken**
16-55-4
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Tucan last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Tucan on file is from Mar 5, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Tucan?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Tucan.
How does El Tucan compare to other restaurants in Merritt Island?
El Tucan most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Merritt Island average of 77.
Has El Tucan's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Tucan have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Tucan 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 Tucan inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Tucan is inspected around three times per year on average.
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