Tacos Lucas
Last inspected: Feb 12, 2026
45
Score
Inspectors have visited Tacos Lucas six times, with records going back to 2024. The most recent visit was on Feb 12, 2026. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to seven violations per visit.
The pattern that stands out is “employee began working with food”, which has been cited two times.
Compared to other Ocala restaurants (averaging 78), there's room to close the gap. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
6
Inspections
3
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 12, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Male employee cooking in food truck with no soap to wash hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee entered food truck from outside and closed screen then put on gloves without first washing hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found One fly in food truck **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-7
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Missing at hand wash sink and triple sink. Operator walk to gas station and purchased soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees and/or 110 degrees at Triple sink not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Water at hand wash sink and triple sink is 83F. Operator turned up water heater then 112F. **Corrected On-Site**
27-16-4
Basic - Mobile food dispensing vehicle service opening not kept closed except during food service. Door on food truck left open with magnetic screen not fully closed. **Repeat Violation**
35B-14-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Pipe to handwashing sink leaking onto floor.
29-08-4
Basic - Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Three soiled towels in food truck
21-10-4
45
Jul 24, 2025
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Establishment operating with no potable running water. Water pump was not connected upon entry to food truck. Employee repaired pump then water was provided. **Corrected On-Site**
27-12-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found Approximately 7 live flies in food truck.
35A-02-7
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Pork and sausage stored in black thank you style bags
14-31-5
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 6/1/2025.
50-17-3
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Upon arrival, employee make in salsa and reheating food with no water to wash hands.
12A-16-4
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee touched face and continued to cook without washing hands.
12A-25-4
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. Male employee touched cook chicken with bare hands.
09-01-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Towels and containers in sink. Moved during this inspection **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. One male employee.
13-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Sides and under grills soiled with grease and food debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Windows open with flies inside.
35B-05-4
Basic - Unpackaged food in an unprotected holding unit in a customer/nonsecure area. Two bags of meat stored in reach in cooler in dining area.
08B-63-4
26
Jul 10, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 13, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In pans at cookline: Pork (119F - Hot Holding); pork (95F - Hot Holding). Employee stated the pork has been held at the cookline for approximately 15 minutes. Inspector had employee reheat both items of 165F during this inspection. pork (95F 2:05, 168F 2:12 - Reheating); chicken (119F 2:05, 190F 2:35 - Reheating) **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No certified food manager for establishment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ No certified food manager for the establishment. Inspector provided information on where to obtain food manager certification during this inspection. **Warning**
53A-07-6
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Water leaking from pipe onto the floor below handwash sink. **Repeat Violation**
29-11-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling inside MFDV soiled with mold-like substance.
36-34-5
70
Apr 8, 2025
Complaint Partial
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Water draining onto floor surface. Waste Water leaking from a connection under the three-compartment sink drain pipe onto the floor inside of the food truck. Employees cleaned water into a bucket also installed a provisional catch bucket. **Admin Complaint**
29-03-4
95
Aug 19, 2024
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Screening is not 16-mesh to the inch. Screen missing at serving windows
35B-13-4
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tacos Lucas last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tacos Lucas on file is from Feb 12, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tacos Lucas?
Across the inspection record, “employee began working with food” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Tacos Lucas.
How does Tacos Lucas compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Tacos Lucas most recently scored 45 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Tacos Lucas' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Tacos Lucas have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Tacos Lucas 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.
Nearby Restaurants