Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina
Last inspected: May 1, 2026
70
Score
Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina appears in inspection records 10 times, starting in 2022. The most recent visit was on May 1, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to nine violations.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable”, showing up four times.
Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina's latest score is in line with the Dunedin average of 73. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 1, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Incorrect chemical test kit provided for measuring the concentration of the sanitizer solution used in the three-compartment sink and/or dishmachine. No quat test kit
16-32-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee on cook line with no hair restraint **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Scoop handle in ice machine
10-08-5
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop on cardboard beer boxes
10-12-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled
23-03-4
70
Feb 2, 2026
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Ceiling in dry storage area acoustic tiles. Not smooth and easily cleanable. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
36-37-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Dry storage room used as office. Office equipment, maintenance equipment and chemicals stored over and around single service items and ready to eat food items. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
42-03-5
90
Dec 3, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 6 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 20 violations
High Priority - Employee used tobacco, ate, or drank then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee drank from water bottle and then engaged in preparation of food. **Warning**
12A-05-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw beef and fish. Operator moved chicken to proper location. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Operator handled raw beef and then clean utensils without changing gloves or washing hands. **Warning**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Operator stored WD-40 and butane over food preparation table in kitchen, operator moved chemicals to proper area. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Wiping cloth quaternary 500ppm. Operator corrected bucket to 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-27-4
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Provided operator with form HR 5030-100 **Warning**
11-07-5
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 operator a physical copy of form HR 5030-104 **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand-wash sink on cook line blocked by trash can. Operator moved trashcan **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink in bar used as dump sink. Dirty glasses stored in handwash sink. Operator moved glasses from handwash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of Oil stored on floor in dry storage. Operator moved oil to proper location. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Single service items stored with tools, chemicals, and office equipment. **Warning**
25-05-4
Basic - Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Soiled dry wiping cloths in use on cook line. Operator disposed of dirty wiping cloth. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-10-4
Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Dry storage room used as office. Office equipment, maintenance equipment and chemicals stored over and around single service items and ready to eat food items. **Warning**
42-03-5
Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Ceiling in dry storage area acoustic tiles. Not smooth and easily cleanable. **Warning**
36-37-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Grooved cutting boards in kitchen prep areas and on cook line. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Employee drinking from plastic water container while preparing tomatoes. **Warning**
12B-01-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone, wallet, and keys on food preparation area. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee on cook line no hair restraint. Asked employee to wear hair restraint. **Warning**
13-03-4
17
Feb 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
95
Sep 3, 2024
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Observed employee eating on cook line while doing my introduction. Owner corrected employee during inspection **Corrective Action Taken**
12B-02-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook with no hair restraint.
13-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottles on cooks line containing food removed from its original container container.
02D-01-5
86
Jan 22, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-22: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
95
Jan 17, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Chili Releno (45 - Cold Holding); bean salad (45F - Cold Holding);Tomato based sauce (45F - Cold Holding). Operates placed foods in freezer to quick cool. These temperatures were closer to the door of the walk in and the door had been open for a delivery. I was unable to obtain a second temperature. **Warning**
03A-02-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Warning**
14-09-4
82
Jul 19, 2023
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Operator no hair restraint
13-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottles containing food removed from its original container not labeled with its common name
02D-01-5
90
Jan 25, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
74
Sep 15, 2022
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go foil containers not in verged on cooks line **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottles on cook line not labeled. Discussed the import of labeling foods after they are removed from their origin container
02D-01-5
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina on file is from May 1, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina?
Across the inspection record, “cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina.
How does Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina compare to other restaurants in Dunedin?
Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is about the same as the Dunedin average of 73.
Has Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina 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 Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina is inspected around three times per year on average.
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