Restaurante La Esperanza

1302 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Mar 23, 2026

Score

High Risk

Inspectors have visited Restaurante La Esperanza seven times, with records going back to 2022. Restaurante La Esperanza was last inspected on Mar 23, 2026. The high risk label is a heads-up that the most recent visit didn't go well.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around five violations to closer to three violations per visit over the last few inspections.

Looking across the full record, “time/temperature control for safety food” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.

That's lower than the typical Lake Worth restaurant, which scores around 77. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Mar 23, 2026

Routine - Food

3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Employee Health Policies Present

FL-03

Hands Clean and Properly Washed

FL-08

Certified Food Manager Identification

FL-02

Food Obtained from Approved Sources

FL-11

Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures

FL-21

Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean

FL-23

Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed

FL-50

Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored

FL-41

Jul 8, 2025

Food-Licensing Inspection

No violations found.

100

Jul 24, 2024

Food-Licensing Inspection

No violations found.

100

Feb 19, 2024

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 7 violations

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. pork (93F - Hot Holding); steam table. Not prepped or portioned. Cooked and placed in unit less than four hours reheated in oven 165F. **Corrective Action Taken**

03B-01-6

High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Thank you grocery bags storing tomatoes and bread Removed **Corrected On-Site**

14-15-4

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Plastic bag over hand sink faucet **Corrected On-Site**

31A-09-4

Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Not turning on

05-08-4

Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. **Corrected On-Site**

31B-03-4

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On prep table **Corrected On-Site**

21-12-4

Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cellphone on prep table **Corrected On-Site**

40-06-5

Jul 11, 2023

Routine - Food

2 major violations. 1 minor violation.

View 3 violations

Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink.

31B-03-4

Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Expired 10/28/22

53B-05-5

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar container over bane Marie

02D-01-5

Jan 17, 2023

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Certified Food Manager Identification

FL-02

Hands Clean and Properly Washed

FL-08

Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place

FL-36

Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored

FL-41

Aug 8, 2022

Routine - Food

4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 6 violations

High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. One live ant in sugar container.

01B-03-5

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. chicken (110F - Hot Holding) in steam table. Operator states chicken cooked this morning. Product in unit less than 4 hours. Operated reheated on stove top to 165F. **Corrective Action Taken**

03B-01-6

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef over beans in two door refrigerator unit. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**

08A-05-6

High Priority - Presence of insects or other pests. 5 live ants on cutting board of reach in cooler. 8 live ants on top shelf of reach in cooler. Operated removed, cleaned, and sanitized areas. **Corrected On-Site**

35A-09-4

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Plastic bucket stored in hand sink. Operated removed. **Corrected On-Site**

31A-09-4

Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 0ppm). Operator remade. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 100ppm) **Corrected On-Site**

21-07-4

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Restaurante La Esperanza last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Restaurante La Esperanza on file is from Mar 23, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Restaurante La Esperanza?

Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Restaurante La Esperanza.

How does Restaurante La Esperanza compare to other restaurants in Lake Worth?

Restaurante La Esperanza most recently scored 41 out of 100, which is lower than the Lake Worth average of 77.

Has Restaurante La Esperanza's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Restaurante La Esperanza have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at Restaurante La Esperanza 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 Restaurante La Esperanza inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Restaurante La Esperanza is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Rustico Italiano

701 Lucerne Ave

Score: 74 — Medium Risk

Foodtok

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Score: 58 — Medium Risk

El Tikal Billar of Lake Worth

1014 Lake Ave #A

Score: 82 — Low Risk

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→ All locations in Lake Worth → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Florida → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Lake Worth