Tu Empanada Xpress Café
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
95
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Tu Empanada Xpress Café, the earliest from 2023. The most recent report on file is from Dec 17, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around six violations each.
Across the inspection history, “observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Restaurants in Hollywood average 75, so Tu Empanada Xpress Café is doing better than most peers. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
95
Dec 15, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
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. Employee handled cell phone and then continued to cut peppers without washing hands and changing gloves. Reviewed with employee proper procedures and employee washed hands and changed gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Triple sink sanitizer reading less than 50ppm chlorine. Employee corrected to 100ppm chlorine. **Warning**
22-42-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In front counter hot case, assorted empanadas (115-127F - Hot Holding); cheese taquitos (117F - Hot Holding). Per employee all prepared today and none in unit more than 2 hours. Employee returned all to kitchen to reheat for proper hot holding. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Warning**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In chest freezer under service window, container of prepared food items missing date marks. Per employee, some made on 12-14 and others made before that. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink. Do not use dishes/equipment not properly sanitized. Employee has wash sink set up in center triple sink instead of first sink. Employee began draining sink to correctly set up. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
16-13-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of fryer oil on floor by triple sink. **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. In kitchen black Whirlpool refrigerator. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
05-09-4
43
Aug 1, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
52
Jan 28, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Sanitizer sink reading 10ppm chlorine. Employee added bleach to correct to 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
22-42-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Front counter hand sink used to rinse espresso machine spoons as evidenced by spoons in sink.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Frozen containers of prepared foods in kitchen mini chest freezer not dated marked. **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Small container of sugar by espresso machine not labeled.
02D-01-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Ambient thermometer missing in kitchen fliptop unit.
05-09-4
61
Sep 6, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In both chest freezers, raw chicken and raw beef in standard plastic to go bags.
14-31-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In large chest freezer, containers of prepared and portioned foods not date marked.
02C-02-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Buspan of raw peppers and container fryer oil on floor under kitchen prep table. Employee moved peppers and oil onto shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives held between back of triple rink and wall. Manager removed knives to container to hold. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
70
Feb 7, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef stored over cooked shredded chicken inside avantco reach in cooler in kitchen. Operator moved raw beef to lower shelf and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No proof provided that one food employee hired less than 60 days ago is informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator signed reporting agreement firm during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-26-1
Basic - Cleaned and sanitized pots and pans or utensils not properly stored in kitchen. Pots and pans stored on floor in kitchen. Operator moved to be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Advised operator to store 6 inches off the floor. **Corrective Action Taken**
24-07-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Container with cooking oil, bag of onions and gallons of water on floor in kitchen. Operator elevated **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - Observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway to restroom. **Repeat Violation**
36-34-5
Basic - Single-service articles( to go containers )not stored inverted or protected from contamination in kitchen. Operator inverted to go plates. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White Sugar not labeled in coffee station, operator labeled sugar. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
61
Aug 5, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway to restroom. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-08-05: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
95
Aug 4, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Three compartment sink above 200ppm chlorine. Operator remade to 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-18-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 3 live, small flying insects flying above garbage can in kitchen. Operator removed garbage, killed, cleaned and sanitized area during inspection. 2 live , small flying insects flying above and around mop sink in kitchen. Operator killed , cleaned and sanitized area during inspection. 3 live, small flying insects flying under 3 compartment sink in kitchen. 2 live , small flying insect flying on top dining room tables. Operator killed, cleaned and sanitized dining room tables during inspection. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
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. Provided to manager, operator posted in kitchen. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. **Warning**
05-08-4
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. New employees hired, no signed employee reporting agreement forms provided for employees at time of inspection. **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway to restroom. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Employee personal items ( Cell Phone) stored on top container of mayonnaise in dry storage area in kitchen. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water under 3 compartment sink in kitchen. **Warning**
36-22-4
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Provided sign to manager. Manager posted in kitchen **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
51-13-4
45
Jun 30, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway.
36-34-5
Basic - No drainboards or equivalent provided for soiled items and/or air drying cleaned items.
16-04-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Glass front freezer in kitchen turned off at time of inspection. Equipment not in use. No foods stored inside unit at time on inspection.
14-11-5
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tu Empanada Xpress Café last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tu Empanada Xpress Café on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tu Empanada Xpress Café?
Across the inspection record, “observed some ceiling tiles with stains in kitchen and hallway” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tu Empanada Xpress Café.
How does Tu Empanada Xpress Café compare to other restaurants in Hollywood?
Tu Empanada Xpress Café most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Hollywood average of 75.
Has Tu Empanada Xpress Café's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Tu Empanada Xpress Café have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Tu Empanada Xpress Café means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Tu Empanada Xpress Café inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tu Empanada Xpress Café is inspected around four times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants