Pollo Tropical #73
Last inspected: Feb 4, 2026
67
Score
The health department has logged 12 inspections at Pollo Tropical #73, the earliest from 2022. On Feb 4, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around two violations compared to roughly four violations earlier on.
Across the inspection history, “employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
Restaurants in West Palm Beach average 79, so Pollo Tropical #73 trails the local norm. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
12
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 4, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee taking/inputing customers orders into point of sale order entry system and collecting payment then put on gloves and began handling clean utensils and unwrapped single service takeout containers to package food for customers without washing hands. Operator discussed with employee who then washed hands and changed gloves. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control (TPHC) marked with a time that exceeds the 4-hour limit. At front line; cut lettuce/cooked beans and corn/cut lettuce/cut tomatoes/cut tomatoes held using time as a public health control marked with a 4 hour discard time of 2:30pm at 10:25am. Operator stated items removed from temperature control at 10:00am, changed discard time to 2:00pm 4 hour discard. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-01-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. At prep area; fresh garlic in mayo cilantro sauce (44F - Ambient Cooling 10:30/48F 11:00). Operator stated being portioned, held in full deep container in ice not surrounding product level for 20 minutes at this rate will not reach 41F within 4 hours, added ice to surround product level to facilitate faster cooling. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
67
Aug 19, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. In walk in cooler in front of freezer door
36-17-5
95
Feb 13, 2025
Complaint Full
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
90
Dec 2, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
82
Aug 30, 2024
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At walk in cooler, Raw chicken marinated 44F cold holding. Not prepared or portioned today. Operator stated product held over 4 hours. See stop sale.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. At dry storage, 3 dented cans of guava marmalade. See stop sale.
01B-01-4
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 touched garbage can then proceeded to grab clean utensils without washing her hands. Operator educated employee of proper handwashing. Employee washed hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee scraped in use knife on garbage can then proceeded to put knife onto clean cutting board. Advised employee to wash, rinse, and sanitize cutting board and knife.
22-45-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At walk in cooler, Raw chicken marinated 44F cold holding. Not prepared or portioned today. Operator stated product held over 4 hours. See stop sale.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. At walk in cooler, chicken breast at 3:22 45F-Cooling since 11:00am. Stop sale.
03D-06-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. At cook line, No time mark for ham, per operator stated prepared 15 minutes prior to. Operator placed on TPHC. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. At walk in cooler, Marinated chicken at 3:13pm 46F cooling since 2:13pm at 4 pm same temperature. At this current cooling rate, product will not reach 41F within 4 hours. Operator opened lid to allow air flow.
03D-15-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. At walk in cooler, unwashed produce over plantains. Advised operator of proper storage, operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
30
Jun 20, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. At walk in cooler, black beans (47F - Cooling). Operator stated item cooling overnight, held in deep pan with lid. Did not reach 41 within 6 hours. See stop sale
03D-02-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. At walk in cooler, black beans (47F - Cooling). Operator stated item cooling overnight, held in deep pan with lid. Did not reach 41 within 6 hours. See stop sale
01B-36-5
74
Jan 22, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing on one side of the splitter at mop sink.
29-34-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Female employee put on gloves without washing hands to prep food . Explained and she washed hands and put on new pair of gloves. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee just rinsed the scoop in prep sink. Explained and she dipped scoop in washcloth towel bucket. Explained again and she washed ,rinsed and sanitized scoop in three compartment sink. **Corrected On-Site**
22-45-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef stored over cooked pork in walk in cooler. Manager rearranged. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
55
Sep 22, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 21, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 4 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
58
Dec 28, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking....corn 45°, cheese 48° in cold hold well at front line prep station, food being held less than four hours. Employee time marked on food **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime...can opener blade , employee cleaned **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water by the walk in cooler due to floor tiles missing
36-22-4
74
Oct 25, 2022
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 4 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
FL-28
50
Jul 6, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pollo Tropical #73 last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Pollo Tropical #73 on file is from Feb 4, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Pollo Tropical #73?
Across the inspection record, “employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Pollo Tropical #73.
How does Pollo Tropical #73 compare to other restaurants in West Palm Beach?
Pollo Tropical #73 most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the West Palm Beach average of 79.
Has Pollo Tropical #73's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Pollo Tropical #73 have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Pollo Tropical #73 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 Pollo Tropical #73 inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Pollo Tropical #73 is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants