Taco Rico's Tex Mex Café
Last inspected: Jan 5, 2026
70
Score
Taco Rico's Tex Mex Café, located at 409-411 15 St in Miami Beach, FL, underwent a moderate risk inspection on January 5, 2026. During this inspection, one critical, one major, and two minor violations were noted. These included issues with cold holding temperatures for pico de gallo and tomato salsa, soiled ceiling tiles near the walk-in cooler, and in-use tongs stored improperly on equipment, though some issues were corrected on-site.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 5, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed pico del gallo (50F - Cold Holding); tomato salsa (50F - Cold Holding) at the front counter. As per the manager the food was placed there at 12:00. The manager had the some of the water removed and added ice. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed in the restroom. The brought towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed the ceiling vent and tiles next it soiled by the walk-in cooler.
36-34-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed a tong on the oven handle. The manager removed it. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
70
Aug 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands.
12A-17-4
Intermediate - Water treatment device has not been inspected or serviced according to manufacturer's instructions. **Repeat Violation**
29-28-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employees wearing bracelets and watches.
13-07-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
64
Jan 9, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes and then picked up plated food, without washing hands.
12A-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the can opener blade soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed by the triple sink. The manager brought towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Water treatment device has not been inspected or serviced according to manufacturer's instructions. Observed by the rice cookers.
29-28-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed a half empty water bottle on a table ne t to the rice cooker. The manager discarded it. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
61
Aug 15, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Observed a server touch dirty plates and then touch clean plastic cups, lids, and straws.
12A-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed the ice chute on the soda machine soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a case of water bottles on the floor at the front counter.
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the hood soiled.
23-03-4
74
Mar 20, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
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
55
Sep 26, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 1, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. **Warning**
12A-07-5
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. Form provided via email. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. **Warning**
16-37-1
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. Form provided via email. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Water treatment device has not been inspected or serviced according to manufacturer's instructions. Observed by the water heater. **Warning**
29-28-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the can opener blade soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed the reach in cooler gaskets torn. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed several cracked tiles in the kitchen. **Warning**
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the reach in cooler gaskets soiled. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed several plastic squeeze bottles at the cook line. **Warning**
02D-01-5
43
Feb 20, 2023
Routine - Food
4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 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 written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event cleanup to Manager.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed a plastic container and plastic pitcher stored in handwash sink at kitchen area. Plastic containers were removed from handwash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
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 employee reporting agreement form to Manager. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink located across from three compartment sink and behind front counter. Manager replace batteries for soap dispenser. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed "mahi mahi" not removed from commercially processed reduced oxygen package before thawing, stored in reach in cooler drawers under cookline.
06-09-1
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed soiled equipment door handle, located at kitchen oven. Observed soiled hood filters above kitchen cookline. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
61
Jul 20, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed yellow rice (130F - Hot Holding) located at hot water steamtable unit, on top of food containers, not stored directly in steamtable, less than 4 hours. Manager removed yellow rice to be reheated to 165F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap located behind front counter, next to drink dispensers.
31B-06-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler located across from flat grill at kitchen area.
29-49-6
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed a paper cup with no handle used to portion food and left inside a container of beef at top portion of prep cooler.
14-01-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured located at kitchen area.
51-11-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents/air vent soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed air conditioner vent with an accumulation of mold-like substance, located on kitchen wall, above microwave.
36-34-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable located at prep cooler at kitchen area.
14-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed grease accumulation on hood filters above kitchen cookline. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
58
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