La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza

2169 N Hercules Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Apr 23, 2025

Score

High Risk

Going back to 2023, La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza has three inspections in the public record. La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza was last inspected on Apr 23, 2025. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.

The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around 18 violations each, up from closer to two violations before.

La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza's latest score of 21 falls below the Clearwater average of 79. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 23, 2025

Routine - Food

3 critical violations. 7 major violations. 8 minor violations.

View 18 violations

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with tortillas on shelf in walk-in cooler. **Warning**

14-31-5

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. From reach-in cooler on cooks line at 2:10pm. Operator placed items in reach-in freezer on cooks line. Recheck temp a. sour cream (53F - Cold Holding); 45f b. cooked beans (47F - Cold Holding); 42f c. cooked rice (51F - Hot Holding) 45f **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

03A-02-5

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish stored above cooked chicken in walk-in cooler. Operator placed raw fish below cooked chicken. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

08A-05-6

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stored on reach-in cooler on cooks line is soiled with food debris between cracks. **Warning**

22-02-4

Intermediate - Handwash sink at front counter and on cooks line has ice inside bowl and plates, pots, and silverware inside bowl. Melted ice and removed items from hand wash bowls. Discussed with operator purpose of hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

31A-11-4

Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. **Warning**

53A-02-7

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using chlorine sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. **Warning**

16-37-1

Intermediate - No proof provided that two recently hired 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

Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink near front counter. Operator provided soap. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

31B-03-4

Intermediate - Spray bottle underneath hand wash sink on cooks line containing degreaser not labeled. Operator labeled spray bottle degreaser. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

41-17-4

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on top of cutting board on prep table. Operator discarded beverage. Discussed with operator cleaning and sanitizing area. **Warning**

12B-07-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. Two bags of jasmine rice stored on floor in walk-in cooler. **Warning**

08B-38-4

Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. **Warning**

14-20-4

Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler on cooks line. **Warning**

29-49-6

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan guard in walk-in cooler soiled with mold-like substance. **Warning**

23-03-4

Basic - In-use tongs stored on oven door handle between uses. **Warning**

10-20-4

Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between reach-in cooler and wall at front counter. **Warning**

10-17-4

Basic - Carbon dioxide tank located at front counter not adequately secured. **Warning**

51-11-4

Feb 8, 2024

Food-Licensing Inspection

2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.

View 5 violations

High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sanitizer stored on top of prep table. Employer moved sanitizer bucket to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**

41-10-4

High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Bottle of vitamins stored on counter. Manager on duty moved vitamins. **Corrected On-Site**

41-07-4

Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee beverage stored on counter. Manager on duty moved beverage. **Corrected On-Site**

40-06-5

Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go containers not inverted. Manager on duty corrected. **Corrected On-Site**

25-06-4

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottle of butter not labeled. Manager on duty labeled bottle. **Corrected On-Site**

02D-01-5

Jun 19, 2023

Food-Licensing Inspection

No violations found.

100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza on file is from Apr 23, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.

How does La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza compare to other restaurants in Clearwater?

La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza most recently scored 21 out of 100, which is lower than the Clearwater average of 79.

Has La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza have averaged around 18 violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza 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 La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, La China Poblana Mexican Restaurant and Pizza is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

1100 Ponce De Leon Blvd

Score: 61 — Medium Risk

Lakeview Grill

1510 Lakeview Rd

Score: 82 — Low Risk

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