Mofongo Candela
Last inspected: Apr 1, 2026
100
Score
Going back to 2022, Mofongo Candela has 12 inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 1, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around five violations lately compared to roughly one violation before.
“Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Restaurants in West Palm Beach average 79, so Mofongo Candela is doing better than most peers. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 1, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Mar 31, 2026
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 2 under cook line area, 1 crawling on prep table where deli slicer is located **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. raw shell eggs (56F - Cold Holding) Observed in beverage cooler by front counter. Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in cooler for three days. See stop sale. **Warning**
03A-03-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. raw shell eggs (56F - Cold Holding) Observed in beverage cooler by front counter. Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in cooler for three days. See stop sale. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Beef (117F - Hot Holding) Observed in steam table. Per operator, out of temperature for approximately 2 hours. Operator returned to stove, 178F. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw chicken over tres leches not in commercial packaging. Operator stored products properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw Ground beef over raw fish at reach in freezer, both products not in commercial packaging. Operator stored products properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-17-6
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead under triple sink area. **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. At clean dish rack. **Warning**
16-46-4
37
Oct 24, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer non commercially packaged raw beef stored above cooked corn, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in cooler raw shell eggs stored above cooked chicken and plantains, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products.
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table cooked onions (123F - Hot Holding); cooked beef (119F - Hot Holding) per operator product prepared approximately 1 hour ago and held in steam table until served. Discussed with operator who moved product to reheat to 165+F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Operator entered kitchen from customer lobby and without washing hands began to handle container of cooked chicken, discussed with operator who washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Operator wiped up spilt employee beverage with paper cloth and without washing hands handled various container on food, discussed with operator who washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-29-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand washing sink at bar, discussed with operator who provided paper towels.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. In reach in cooler cooked rice (90F - Cooling) at 3:10 since 2:10 to 90F at 3:20, at this current rate of cooling product will not reach 70F within 2 hours discussed with operator who moved product to reach in freezer to rapid chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. In mop sink closet unlabeled spray bottle with cleaner, discussed with operator to label bottles.
41-17-4
35
Mar 26, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Mar 25, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations.
View 4 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. Employee went from washing dishes to touching food containers. Hands not washed in between **Warning**
12A-13-4
Intermediate - No hot running water at three-compartment sink. **Warning**
27-06-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. All hand sinks **Warning**
27-16-4
Intermediate - Basic - Hot water at mop sink does not reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit. **Warning**
27-25-4
64
Nov 1, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 31, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee not sanitizing dishes after washing them. Educated on site on how to properly sanitize equipment. **Warning**
22-45-4
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. One live roach on wall in kitchen near triple sink One live roach on chlorine sanitizer bucket under triple sink **Admin Complaint**
35A-05-4
Intermediate - Probe thermometer not accurate within plus or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit. **Warning**
05-06-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At hand sink at front counter **Warning**
41-17-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach on floor next to grease trap in kitchen One dead roach on shelf next to ice machine at front counter in dining room **Admin Complaint**
35A-03-4
58
Apr 11, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observe raw shelled eggs,above cooked meats. Operator placed raw shelled eggs on lower shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
05-08-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observe beef , and pork defrosting in sink at room temperature. Operator turn on water. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observe in rice. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Observe at 2 door refrigerator.
05-09-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Observe unwashed peppers above cooked meat.
08B-17-4
64
Oct 24, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours...roast pork 47° to 43° in the surface. Per employee food was cooked yesterday. Stop sale issue . Advise discarded food. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged....home packaged corn with raw beef in reach in freezer. Employee properly stored food. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food....raw beef , pork above rice , soups , French fries at glass door reach in cooler at kitchen. Employee properly stored food. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse.... Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours...roast pork 47° to 43° in the surface. Per employee food was cooked yesterday.
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked...soup was cooked yesterday at 9 am in reach in cooler . Employee date marked. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing....stored drink glasses in hand washing sink at front line . Operator moved. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again....cooked beef at reach in freezer
02C-04-5
41
May 30, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
May 2, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed at back door. - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-02: **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
95
Oct 20, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mofongo Candela last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Mofongo Candela on file is from Apr 1, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Mofongo Candela?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Mofongo Candela.
How does Mofongo Candela compare to other restaurants in West Palm Beach?
Mofongo Candela most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the West Palm Beach average of 79.
Has Mofongo Candela's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Mofongo Candela have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Mofongo Candela means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Mofongo Candela inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Mofongo Candela is inspected around three times per year on average.
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