Pollo Tropical #122
Last inspected: Apr 7, 2026
78
Score
Pollo Tropical #122 has been inspected nine times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Apr 7, 2026. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around four violations lately and about seven violations before that.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable”, showing up four times.
Among Tampa restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 7, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Half chicken on the grill hot holding at 121f, temped at 1:30 pm ,cooked at 1:00 pm , employee reheated item to 189f at 2:00pm. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed yellow cutting board on ware washing drying rack with grooves , manager discarded cut board. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed squeeze bottles of sauces unlabeled on the front cook line across from the customer counter area, manager labeled items accordingly. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
78
Dec 15, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Missing at splitter connected to mop sink facet. **Repeat Violation**
29-42-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Glass cleaner stored on prep table. Employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Mold like substance inside ice machine near back kitchen hand sink. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Yellow cutting board grooved and stained on cookline . **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee candy stored on prep table near front registers. Employee phone stored over prep table cutting board on cookline. Employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper stored over mixer machine. Manager moved mixer machine. **Corrected On-Site**
35B-02-4
Basic - Mold like substance inside ice machine located next to back hand sink. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop not inverted at mop sink. Employee hung up . **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket tested at 0ppm. Operator discarded, refilled, and tested at 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
55
Jun 13, 2025
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jan 14, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Garlic cilantro sauce 58F at 3:30pm, retempted to 27F at 4:15pm. Chimichurri sauce 57F at 3:30pm, retempted to 31F at 4:15pm. Operator relocated sauces to Walk in freezer. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed Employee touched personal phone with gloved hands then began bagging food. Discussed with operator, single-use gloves must be changed when soiled after changing tasks. Operator has employee change gloves and wash hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
29-42-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Located adjacent to mop sink.
51-11-4
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Reach in cooler iced over in back.
14-74-7
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. On multiple cutting boards on front line cook.
14-09-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Located on Walk in freezer door. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Located at front line cook. Operator removed knives during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. No ambient thermometer on front counter Reach in cooler for saucers.
05-09-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Located at drive thru station. Located at three compartment sink. **Repeat Violation**
29-11-4
45
Aug 14, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. 3 lbs ham 51F on front line cook area.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 3 lbs ham 51F on front line cook area. Operator trashed ham during time of inspection.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked yellow rice 120F at 3:11pm reheated to 146F at 3:32pm. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Reach in freezer inside soiled, next to fryer.
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Located on shelf over three compartment sink.
24-08-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice built up in Walk in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Missing in cardboard dumpster.
33-11-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in freezer gasket soiled, next to fryer.
23-03-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Located at Employee handwash sink at drive through area.
29-11-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Aunt Jemima syrup stored on dry storage shelf over bags of rice and black beans. Personal food inside warmer at front line cook. Operator removed personal food to another location during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
43
Apr 10, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
95
Oct 13, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Blast chiller ambient temperature 60 f Stop sale chicken soup 49 f 7 lbs cook beef 11 lbs at 52 f lbs held over 4 hours no temperatures taken.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Blast chiller ambient temperature temperature 60 f Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Blast chiller ambient temperatures 60 f Stop sale chicken soup 49 f 7 lbs cook beef 11 lbs at 52 f lbs held over 4 hours no temperatures taken.
03A-02-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Marinade mix in buckets on floor walk in freezer
08B-38-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee
13-03-4
67
May 12, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations.
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Missing for 3 employees
53B-13-5
82
Dec 1, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook plantains: on counter 63 f 2nd temp to freezer 63 f **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Missing 22 employee trainings. Observed 1 employee training.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At 71 f by cook line.
27-16-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on cutting board.
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Metal dishes on dry storage shelf.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Soda bags In boxes on floor in dry storage area by back door
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. On cook lines ovens.
10-20-4
52
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pollo Tropical #122 last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Pollo Tropical #122 on file is from Apr 7, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Pollo Tropical #122?
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 Pollo Tropical #122.
How does Pollo Tropical #122 compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Pollo Tropical #122 most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is about the same as the Tampa average of 79.
Has Pollo Tropical #122's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Pollo Tropical #122 have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Pollo Tropical #122 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 Pollo Tropical #122 inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Pollo Tropical #122 is inspected around three times per year on average.
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