San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares
Last inspected: Mar 24, 2026
64
Score
Across the available record, San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2022. The most recent report on file is from Mar 24, 2026. 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 11 violations per visit lately, up from roughly nine violations before.
Across the inspection history, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Among Tavares restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 24, 2026
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
64
Jul 21, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
33
Feb 3, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands. - cutting lettuce - operator coached employee **Corrected On-Site**
09-03-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. - Rice 117° -operator reheat to 165° **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained.
53B-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. - water pitcher stored in hand sink on cooks line **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-21-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. - personal items stored with food on storage rack next to ice machine.
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. - front bar.
36-22-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. - utensil scoops stored in 93° water. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -walk in gasket - hood filters **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. - lettuce **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. - hand sink next to ice machine.
29-11-4
39
Jul 26, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
30
Jan 22, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -White cutting board on cooks line -can opener -Drink dispenser saddle at front bar
22-02-4
Basic - Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system.
14-42-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. -front bar ice bin **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. -microwave on cooks line. **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - hood fliters
23-03-4
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. -Silverware stored handle side down at rolling station. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
24-18-4
70
Jul 10, 2023
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink next to 3 compartment sink blocked with trash can.
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.
11-26-1
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
16-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Pinto beans
14-01-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system.
14-42-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container.
10-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
52
Feb 23, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
29-42-4
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Tamales stored in walk-in freezer
14-31-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. white cutting board on cooks line. Can opener.(COS)
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Hand sink at front bar.
31A-04-4
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Gallon milk open 2 days prior. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Servers
13-07-4
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Forks stored at expo.
24-18-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Walk-in cooler.
08B-17-4
45
Jul 7, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee took uncooked chicken from cooler place on grill and proceed to get tortilla.
12A-09-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board in kitchen by tortilla shells soiled. Can opener in kitchen soiled. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink by flattop on cook line had a pitcher in sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Container used to dispense peas not above food in container. Container with salt has scoop handle touching salt in container. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Wall behind flattop grill soiled. Exterior ice machine soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Containers by dish room on shelf has old labels.
16-46-4
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in hand sink. Hand sink by cook line slow drains.
29-20-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Cases of unwashed lettuce above prepared pico de gallo, and prepared sauce.
08B-17-4
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares on file is from Mar 24, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares.
How does San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares compare to other restaurants in Tavares?
San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is about the same as the Tavares average of 66.
Has San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares have averaged around 11 violations per visit, up from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares 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 San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, San Jose's Original Mexican Restaurant of Tavares is inspected around two times per year on average.
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