Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Mar 30, 2026
74
Score
Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant has been inspected 16 times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 30, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around seven violations each, up from closer to four violations before.
Looking across the full record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” is the recurring theme, flagged five times.
Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant's latest score of 74 falls below the Temple Terrace average of 87. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
16
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 30, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the interior of the soda gun being soiled with a brown mold like substance.
22-02-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler in bar area.. **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Ice buildup on walk-in freezer door frame.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed mold like substance built on the the fan guards in the walk in cooler.
23-03-4
74
Oct 27, 2025
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. Observed raw eggs and raw beef over ready to eat sauce and beans. Employee corrected storage. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed stained cutting board on the hot holding unit. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Observed the expired license being on display. **Repeat Violation**
50-09-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water in the walk in cooler.
36-22-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed the handle to the ice scoop touching the ice. Storage corrected. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the exterior of the lid holding dry beans being soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler in bar area. **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
61
Apr 1, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed a stained cutting board on the steam table.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No soap,paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink near the cook line. Employees were able to provide soap and paper. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area. **Repeat Violation**
36-02-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Repeat Violation**
50-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor in the walk in cooler. Manager stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Light shield damaged/in disrepair in the dish washing area.
38-01-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed rusted shelves in the dry storage area and near the cook line.
23-03-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler in the bar area. **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
58
Dec 16, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
58
Mar 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed at rear exit door. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-21: Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed at rear exit door. **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
95
Mar 20, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
70
Oct 31, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof provided that food some employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator had a few forms signed but not all employees **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-30: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-31: **Time Extended**
11-26-1
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-30: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-31: **Time Extended**
14-17-4
86
Oct 30, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line: shredded cheese (47F - Cold Holding); pico de gallo (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (51F - Cold Holding) **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-30: Cook line: cold holding: shredded cheese 62f, shredded lettuce 60f, cut tomatoes 45f, pico de gallo 45f. shredded cheese and lettuce had no ice on product. Other items the ice was primarily melted in ice bath. Manager iced product. **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof provided that food some employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator had a few forms signed but not all employees **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-30: **Time Extended**
11-26-1
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-30: **Time Extended**
14-17-4
74
Oct 27, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 5 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee grab gloves to work with food and did not wash hands **Warning**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Observed prep cook prepping raw chicken and then grabbed back pack, and left kitchen. Employee then came back into kitchen and did not change gloves or wash hands **Warning**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed cook handle raw shrimp then grabbed container of ice and didn't wash hands **Warning**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line: shredded cheese (47F - Cold Holding); pico de gallo (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (51F - Cold Holding) **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam well: cooked rice (129F - Hot Holding); cooked chicken (126F - Hot Holding); refried beans (119F - Hot Holding); tomato sauce (118F - Hot Holding) **Warning**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink on cook line not operational. **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At either cook line hand sink. Manager put soap **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food some employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator had a few forms signed but not all employees **Warning**
11-26-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. At either cook line hand sinks. Manager put soap **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit shut off at employee handwash sink. By dish area. Manager turned on water **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
27-16-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Warning**
14-17-4
27
Jun 7, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Jun 5, 2023
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flies next to mop sink, one fly in dry storage and five flies in the bar area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-05: observed 1 live roach in bar area. Person in charge eradicated on site. Observed 1 live fly inside scrub pad box. observed 3 live flies on exterior case of tortillas and napkins.. 2 dead roaches observed on floor behind ice machine. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed in kitchen. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-05: D **Time Extended**
31B-02-4
78
Jun 2, 2023
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Hydrogen peroxide stored on food shelf. **Warning**
41-07-4
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed two cans dented and on bottom seam. **Warning**
01B-01-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flies next to mop sink, one fly in dry storage and five flies in the bar area. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed the following TCS foods out of temperature. Make table/cook-line- cold holding. Plant Foods (52F); Plant Foods (43F - Cold Holding); Plant Foods (73F - Cold Holding) WIC-Plant Foods (47F - Cold Holding); Beef (46F - Cold Holding); Poultry (46F - Cold Holding); Pork (47F - Cold Holding) **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soiled can opener. Soda nozzle in bar area with black substance. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed in kitchen. **Warning**
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Observed open drink on lower shelf next to cook line. **Warning**
12B-12-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed purse on top of can foods in kitchen. **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Observed large ice scoop on top of ice machine. **Warning**
10-12-5
39
May 3, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-02: Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-03: Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen **Time Extended**
14-33-4
95
May 2, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed following: 2 live flying insects in kitchen area 2 live flying insects in bar area 1 live flying insect at entrance corridor **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-02: Observed 7 live flies in prep area by soda boxes 2 live flies by mop sink. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-02: Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen **Time Extended**
14-33-4
82
May 1, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Establishment experience interruption of electrical power during inspection, facility stopped taking orders and closed doors. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
51-03-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed following: 2 live flying insects in kitchen area 2 live flying insects in bar area 1 live flying insect at entrance corridor **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw ground beef stored over beef franks. Operator removed raw beef. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed paint stored above margarita mix, operator reminded paint from above mix. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4
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 form to operator. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hose attached to sink for spraying, operator removed hose from sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
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. Provided form to operator. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed in sugar bin on cookline. Employee removed bowl from sugar bin. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed on white board on food preparation table in kitchen. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filters with grease , and wall and sides of equipment on cookline. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen. **Warning**
22-16-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed in glass door unit in kitchen. **Warning**
14-33-4
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink. Observed on cookline. **Warning**
29-20-5
30
Dec 19, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 12 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw shelled eggs,raw shrimp, stored overtop unwashed green peppers and onions inside refrigerator by hand washing sink on cooks line. Manager properly stored eggs and shrimp. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand washing sink in back kitchen area has a water hose connected to it.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand washing sink by cooks line. Employees placed paper towels at hand washing sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Shelves inside walk in cooler have rust.
22-31-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Raw bacon,raw beef stored inside refrigerator by hand washing sink on cooks line has no date markings. Employee added proper date markings to raw beef and raw bacon. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has buildup of black-mold like substance in back kitchen are by dishwasher.
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl with no handle used as scoop inside sugar bin underneath food preparation table on cooks line.
14-01-5
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. Cove molding missing around throughout kitchen.
36-03-4
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Throughout kitchen.
36-11-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Bin underneath food preparation table housing microwave has broken corners with food stored inside it.
14-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer has ice buildup on walls and floors.
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave has buildup of old food debris on cooks line.
22-08-4
Basic - Light not functioning. Lights underneath hood system do not turn on at all.
36-62-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
51-18-6
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have buildup of grease.
23-03-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall behind food preparation table in front kitchen area is soiled.
36-27-5
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Water leaking from bottom of dishwasher onto floor.
29-11-4
32
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant on file is from Mar 30, 2026. The public record contains 16 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant.
How does Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Temple Terrace?
Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Temple Terrace average of 87.
Has Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant 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 Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant is inspected around five times per year on average.
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