Gringos Tacos
Last inspected: Feb 3, 2026
33
Score
The health department has logged eight inspections at Gringos Tacos, the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Feb 3, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around nine violations each, up from closer to four violations before.
Across the inspection history, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded seven times.
By comparison, the average St. Augustine facility scores 81, putting Gringos Tacos on the weaker side. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.
8
Inspections
5
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 3, 2026
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Salsa 45F. In cooler since 10am. Now 3.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler since 10am. Now 3.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Sanitizer was 0ppm. Remade sanitizer and it's 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-43-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 2 flies in kitchen. Person in charge disposed of flies. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-7
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Observed person come in back door and begin work without washing hands. Addressed and person washed their hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Microwave handle is soiled.
23-24-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In dry storage; tomatoes on the floor. Person in charge picked up. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Missing is little reach in cooler.
05-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. In between cold holding items ie in between cheese and lettuce there is debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop face down in mop bucket.
42-01-4
33
Aug 19, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Observed house made jalapeño ranch dressing and house made lime vinaigrette dressing date marked from 8/1.
01B-24-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef above house made dressings in walk-in cooler. Person in charge moved raw meat to different shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed house made chips stored in black trash bags.
14-15-4
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Observed brown paper towels used to line vegetables containers. Discussed with person in charge.
14-86-1
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. Observed house made fried chips transported and stored in a black plastic bag garbage bag.
01B-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting boards stained with food debris **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. Observed cardboard used to line walk-in cooler shelves.
14-45-4
Basic - Floors, walls soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floors and walls behind make line equipment heavily soiled with food debris.
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on reach in cooler and walk-in cooler soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
37
Jan 28, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Observed Triple Sink (Chlorine 400ppm). Discussed with person in charge and they added more water. Retested at 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
41-18-4
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. Provided written procedures and discussed with person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting board on flip-top cooler stained with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on reach in cooler soiled with black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Screen in door torn/in poor repair. Observed exterior screen door with torn screen.
36-60-5
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Observed exterior screen door being prevented from self closing by lock. Person in charge unlocked screen door and allowed it to close. **Corrected On-Site**
35B-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler torn. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Observed dumpster lid open.
33-16-4
55
Aug 7, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
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. Provided written procedures and discussed with person in charge **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting board on flip-top cooler stained with food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Unwrapped single-service utensils not presented so that only the handles are touched. Observed unwrapped forks, spoons, and knives laid on side with handles and food contact portions mixed at the drink station. Person in charge placed all plastic utensils behind counter. **Corrective Action Taken**
25-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler soiled with food. Observed gaskets on deep freezer soiled with black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowl used to scoop spices. Discussed with person in charge.
14-01-5
67
Sep 27, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
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. Provided written procedures and discussed with person in charge
11-27-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed cook line coolers gaskets soiled with food debris
23-03-4
86
Sep 5, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
67
Mar 2, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Mop sink y splitter needs vacuum breaker on side not going to wall mounted chemical dispenser.
29-42-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell egg stored on top shelf in walk-in cooler above ready to eat salas and dressing.
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Two food containers with prepared onsite food not date marked in walk-in cooler.
02C-02-5
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. Provided paper written procedures and discussed with person in charge. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Walk-in cooler gaskets torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Deep freezer gaskets soiled with black/green mold like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Salt/sugar bulk container above prep table not labeled.
02D-01-5
52
Jul 7, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stained with previous days food debris.
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/ food manager left to conduct errands. Discussed with person in charge that establishments with 4 or employees must always have a food manager onsite. Food manager showed up in middle of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
53A-05-6
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two spare CO2 tanks stored in dry good storage not secured. Person in charge had employee start securing tanks. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in cooler gasket soiled with black/green mold like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Dumpster lid opened. Person in charge had employee close. **Corrected On-Site**
33-16-4
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Gringos Tacos last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Gringos Tacos on file is from Feb 3, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Gringos Tacos?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited seven times, more than any other issue at Gringos Tacos.
How does Gringos Tacos compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Gringos Tacos most recently scored 33 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Gringos Tacos' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Gringos Tacos 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 Gringos Tacos 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 Gringos Tacos inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Gringos Tacos is inspected around two times per year on average.
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