Tijuana Flats
Last inspected: Apr 6, 2026
67
Score
Across the available record, Tijuana Flats has 13 inspections on file, the first dated 2022. On Apr 6, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around five violations each.
“Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
That's lower than the typical Tampa restaurant, which scores around 79. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
13
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 6, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
22-02-4
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Near walk in cooler door.
36-36-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-04-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bulk oil on floor in kitchen. Employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine in kitchen.
22-20-5
67
Aug 26, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 1 expired training - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-26: **Time Extended**
53B-14-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee drink next to restaurant dry goods on shelf. Employee phone on single service box by seating bench on customer service line. - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-26: **Time Extended**
40-06-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee. - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-26: **Time Extended**
13-04-4
82
Aug 25, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold holding: raw beef 46F cook chicken 46F cut lettuce 46F cook beef 46F ambient air temp 43F-46F discussed with manager to add ice to food. Cook line main reach in cooler ambient air temp 45F cut lettuce 47F shredded Mexican cheese 48F cut tomatoes 46F discussed with manager to add ice for rapid cool down. - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: Cheese 43 F, cut leafy greens 43 F, cut tomatoes 39 F, in reach in cooler. Cooked beef 47, cut lettuce 50 F, cooked chicken 47 F, raw beef 48 F, raw chicken 48 F, in walk in cooler. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Tested at 0 ppm - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: Tested 0 ppm quaternary ammonium. **Time Extended**
22-43-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 1 expired training - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended**
53B-14-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee drink next to restaurant dry goods on shelf. Employee phone on single service box by seating bench on customer service line. - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended**
40-06-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee. - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended**
13-04-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: **Time Extended**
13-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Tested at 100ppm **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-25: Sanitizer bucket tested 0 ppm quaternary ammonium **Time Extended**
21-08-4
55
Aug 20, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold holding: raw beef 46F cook chicken 46F cut lettuce 46F cook beef 46F ambient air temp 43F-46F discussed with manager to add ice to food. Cook line main reach in cooler ambient air temp 45F cut lettuce 47F shredded Mexican cheese 48F cut tomatoes 46F discussed with manager to add ice for rapid cool down.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Tested at 0 ppm
22-43-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1 live fly at kitchen entrance 7 live flies by ware washing area not landing on food. 2 live flies next to mop sink water heater area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-7
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Pitcher inside sink on main cooks line. Employee moved the pitcher. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 1 expired training
53B-14-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee drink next to restaurant dry goods on shelf. Employee phone on single service box by seating bench on customer service line.
40-06-5
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Tested at 100ppm **Repeat Violation**
21-08-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee
13-03-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee.
13-04-4
43
Jan 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 8 flies in dry storage shelves,behind ice machine. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-10: 5 flies on storage shelves by ice machine**Admin Complaint** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
86
Jan 9, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 8 flies in dry storage shelves,behind ice machine. **Warning**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Handwashing sink has dishes stored in it on cooks line. Management removed dish from sink and placed at dishwasher. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
51-18-6
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanbucket tested 0ppm of quaternary ammonia. Manager refilled bucket retested at 200PPM.
21-08-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food preparation table in between rice cookers. Manger removed drink and properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
67
Aug 8, 2024
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Plastic containers on shelves by ice machine have cracks.
14-38-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on fryer door handle. Employee removed tongs and placed at dishwasher. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Leaking pipe underneath 3 compartment sink.
29-11-4
86
Apr 24, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Collin Houghtaling. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-24: No food certification Collin Houghtaling. **Admin Complaint**
53A-01-7
90
Feb 22, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 3 compartment sink tested 0ppm of chlorine. Manager connected new bottle of chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
22-42-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Collin Houghtaling. **Warning**
53A-01-7
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop sitting inside mop bucket preventing proper air drying.
42-01-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
51-18-6
64
Aug 25, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
95
Apr 12, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored overtop raw fish inside walk in cooler. Manager removed and properly stored raw chicken. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Plastic lids on storage shelves by 3 compartment sink have cracks and broken corners. **Repeat Violation**
14-38-4
82
Jan 6, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
74
Jul 5, 2022
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean dishes stacked on top of each other preventing proper air drying. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-05: **Time Extended**
24-08-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. No ambient thermometer inside reach in cooler on cooks line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-05: **Time Extended**
05-09-4
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tijuana Flats last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tijuana Flats on file is from Apr 6, 2026. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tijuana Flats?
Across the inspection record, “employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tijuana Flats.
How does Tijuana Flats compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Tijuana Flats most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Tijuana Flats' inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Tijuana Flats have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Tijuana Flats 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 Tijuana Flats inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tijuana Flats is inspected around three times per year on average.
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