Sabor a Mexico Restaurant
Last inspected: Dec 29, 2025
58
Score
Across the available record, Sabor a Mexico Restaurant has 10 inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Sabor a Mexico Restaurant was last inspected on Dec 29, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around eight violations per visit lately, up from roughly three violations before.
“Handwash sink not accessible for employee use” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Brandon restaurant, which scores around 82. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 29, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over raw beef in walk in cooler. Operator moved chicken to lower shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink at cookline blocked by tortilla chip container. Operator moved container. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Operator fixed paper towel jam. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-05-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Drink glasses at drinks station.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on flip top cooler at cookline
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Fryer oil on floor at cookline.
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have grease buildup.
23-03-4
58
Oct 22, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 21, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 5 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach observed on wall under 3 compartment sink. **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs stored over cooked pork and shrimp in flip top cooler at cookline. Operator moved eggs to lower shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Insect larvae observed in standing water in broken grout lines along cove molding in multiple locations in dish and storage areas. **Warning**
35A-09-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 15 live flies observed on wall behind soda bibb rack. 4 live flies observed on wall behind 3 compartment sink. 4 live flies observed on wall behind hot water heater. 1 live fly observed on wall under prep table by ice machine **Warning**
35A-02-7
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Steel wool in bar hand sink. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink at cookline being used as dump sink, observed food debris in bottom of sink. Observed employee rinsing towel in hand sink. **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand sink on end of cookline **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed at bar hand sink **Warning**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Multiple items in all coolers with no date marking. **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Drink glasses at soda fountain. **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cooking oil at cookline. Employee placed on shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-08-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. Raw beef, sliced mushrooms and salsa verde in reach in cooler in dish area not covered. **Warning**
08B-12-5
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Tested at 10ppm. Operator refilled, tested at 50ppm **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Flip top cooler door gaskets soiled. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed at bar hand sink. **Warning**
31B-04-4
23
Jul 1, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Cook line hand sink, refilled **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-01: **Time Extended**
31B-02-4
90
Apr 21, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw chicken and beef over whole peppers and limes in walk in cooler **Warning**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink on cook line blocked by cart. Manager removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Cook line hand sink, refilled **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Only had expired Safe Staff certificates and Observed certicicate for a Safe Staff card that was issued through a third party company but not an official training card and provider not an approved training program **Warning**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink.by dish. Manager refilled **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At front hand sink **Warning**
31B-04-4
55
Jan 24, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed debris on can opener blade employee cleaned blade. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed in storage area upstairs.
36-11-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed single service items on floor in upstairs storage area.
25-05-4
82
Mar 18, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
70
Jul 20, 2023
Complaint Full
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 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. Emailed to operator
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed push cart blocking hand sink in dish area
31A-09-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall along dish area soiled with black mold
36-27-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed old food build up inside reachin coolers on cookline
23-03-4
74
Apr 11, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
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. Emailed to manager **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand sink in dish area blocked by push cart **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Emailed to manager **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed bulk sugar missing a label on shelf next to storage room in service area **Warning**
02D-01-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed stored on prep table **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed 4 containers of oil stored on floor adjacent to walk-in cooler **Warning**
08B-47-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table next to chip warmer **Warning**
12B-07-4
52
Nov 3, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food not separated from ready-to-eat food during preparation. Observed raw chicken stored over tortillas in walk-in cooler Corrected-observed employee place on bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-14-5
High Priority - Food contaminated by employees/consumers and operator continued to serve food. See stop sale. Observed employee pick tortillas off the grill with bare hands Employee voluntarily discarded tortillas and inspector explained proper glove use and hand washing methods.
01B-12-4
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee pick tortillas off the grill with bare hands Employee voluntarily discarded tortillas and inspector explained proper glove use and hand washing methods.
09-01-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed missing paper towels and soap at hand sink next to fryers on cookline Corrected-observed employee replace **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed metal bowl used to scoop chilis under prep table in kitchen Corrected-observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed 6 containers of oil stored on floor in dry storage area
08B-47-4
Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Observed soda machine stored outside near mop sink
33-31-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed bulk salt not labeled Corrected-observed employee label **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sabor a Mexico Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sabor a Mexico Restaurant on file is from Dec 29, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sabor a Mexico Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “handwash sink not accessible for employee use” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Sabor a Mexico Restaurant.
How does Sabor a Mexico Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Brandon?
Sabor a Mexico Restaurant most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Brandon average of 82.
Has Sabor a Mexico Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Sabor a Mexico Restaurant have averaged around eight violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sabor a Mexico Restaurant 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 Sabor a Mexico Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sabor a Mexico Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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