Zona Fresca
Last inspected: Dec 22, 2025
58
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Zona Fresca, the earliest from 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 22, 2025. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near four violations each time.
Across the inspection history, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Zona Fresca's latest score of 58 falls below the Delray Beach average of 71. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
2
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 22, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...pico de gallo 50F in ice bath in double container at expo line , food not prepped or portioned today, food being held less than 4 hours . Employee removed one container with time marked. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked...ground meat was cooked 5 days ago , grilled tomatoes 2 days ago at walk in cooler without properly date marked. Employee date marked . **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food...cut avocado with unwashed avocado with sticker in reach in cooler . Employee removed to wash. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
58
Aug 20, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...salsa 49F in ice bath at front line , food not prepped or portion today, food being held less than 4 hours, manager voluntarily discarded food. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours.... Observed at 4:15 pm cut tomatoes 50F in a deeper than 4 inches container with covered . Per prep person food was cut at 10 am . Stop sale issue . Employee discarded Food . **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-06-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit...Hot holding grille chicken 124F-130F in steam table being held less than 4 hours . Manager time marked on food . **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles...chlorine ++200 ppm. Manager discarded solution. **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse.... Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours.... Observed at 4:15 pm cut tomatoes 50F in a deeper than 4 inches container with covered . Per prep person food was cut at 10 am .
01B-02-5
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil...manager discarded . **Corrected On-Site**
21-11-4
45
Mar 11, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking... green salsa, red salsa at rare counter at front line being held less than an hour . Employee time marked . **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable...white cutting board by the hot holding at kitchen.
14-09-4
82
Aug 14, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...sour cream 50F , shredded cheese 51F, cut tomatoes 48F, cut lettuce 49F, in flip top reach in cooler and raw chicken 48F, raw beef 48F, shrimp 47F, stuffed peppers 56F in reach in drawer at kitchen. Food not prepped or portion today , food being held less than 4 hours . Manager removed food to walk in cooler . **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking...salsa at expo line being held less than 4 hour . Manager time marked. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled...couple spray bottles not labeled. Manager labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
67
Jan 4, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse.... Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...sour cream 51°, pico de gallo 45° temperature control in ice at cook line refill product with old product which is being held more than 4 hours .
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...sour cream 51°, pico de gallo 45° temperature control in ice at cook line refill product with old product which is being held more than 4 hours . Stop sale issue. Employee discarded food. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking.. to go red salsa at front line being held less than 4 hours. Employee time marked. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked...all food with day name not date marked.
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled...multiple cleaning spray bottles . Employee labeled **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
52
Jul 21, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles 200ppm+ chlorine at cook line. Cook set up fresh solution at 75ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
High Priority - Operator unable to provide documentation that aquacultured fish has been raised in a controlled environment and fed formulated feed. Raw Striped Pangasius in chest freezer,offered in ceviche on Fridays special. Box instructions say the following: Cook before consumption. Product must be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. Manager stated she will cook fish and use for other dishes.
01D-08-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink for sink and surface cleaner.
16-37-1
67
Feb 28, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 20, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces sanitized with a quaternary ammonium solution not exposed to the sanitizer solution for at least 30 seconds. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed dishwasher exposing utensils for less than 30 seconds. Operator explained procedure. **Corrected On-Site**
22-50-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled.Operator labeled **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Observed dishwasher washing hand in utility sink.
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Observed at walk-in cooler salsa (64-cold holding) @1:09pm rechecked 63° @ 1:40pm in 5 gallon bucket. At this rare of cooling food will not reach 42°F in a total of four hours. Operator removed and placed in shallow pans to cool rapidly. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Observed by Three compartment sink no hot and cold water. Operator stated plumbing was done in bathroom water never reconnected to hang sink. **Warning**
31A-04-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed frozen shrimp on shelf next to prep area. Operator placed back in walk-in refrigerator **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
47
Sep 27, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Zona Fresca last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Zona Fresca on file is from Dec 22, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Zona Fresca?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Zona Fresca.
How does Zona Fresca compare to other restaurants in Delray Beach?
Zona Fresca most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Delray Beach average of 71.
Has Zona Fresca's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Zona Fresca have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Zona Fresca 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 Zona Fresca inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Zona Fresca is inspected around three times per year on average.
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