ABUELO'S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY
3700 LAKESIDE VILLAGE BLVD, Lakeland FL 33803 · 863-686-7500
Last inspected Apr 29, 2026 · 9 visits since July 2023
JAN 24
SEP 24
MAR 25
DEC 25
APR 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and C. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Chimichangas 53F Flan 52F Sour cream 51
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
9 visits, newest first
Apr 29, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 8 findingsThe state's own report →
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. Employee garnished a dessert with a strawberry and a mint leave. I informed the manager and the employee to use gloves. I verified that the establishment is not currently using am Alternative Operating Procedure (AOP).
Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Shelves in the dry storage area where can goods are stored. Walk in cooler shelves.
Cloth used as a food-contact surface. White cloth with an orange stripe used to cover tamales. The cloth was removed. I explained to the manager their options.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. February 1,2025 displayed.
Show the remaining 4 findings ▾
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Small green cutting board on the table across from the double oven.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelves in the dishwasher area.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Missing grout and broken tiles in the dishwasher area.
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. A lid covering a bulk container of shredded cheese is cracked around the edges. The manager discarded the lid and replaced it.
Feb 5, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed thawing packs of mahi and sea bass on cook line. Manager fully removed from package and sent handout
Dec 2, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded.
0 High priority3 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed black substance on margarita machine at bar. Manager cleaned
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink at bar had strainer in it. Manager removed
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Only safe staff cards on site were expired. Discussed Corporate program through Abuelos in not on approved list.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed thawing packs of mahi and sea bass on cook line. Manager fully removed from package and sent handout
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drinks on cook line by soda bibs. Manager removed
Equipment in poor repair. Cracked full sheet pans by salsa station. Cracked plastic tortilla chip bins by fryers.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Far hand sink at bar
Mar 21, 2025Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 1 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Onions 116F the onions was reheated to 165F. Inside the holding cabinet between the grill and stove.
Mar 20, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 6 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
In-use utensil stored in unclean water at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop for rice in water at 101F. Next to the steam table on the expo line. The water was discarded.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Chimichangas 53F Flan 52F Sour cream 51
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Chimichangas 53F Flan 52F Sour cream 51F
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Onions 116F the onions was reheated to 165F. Inside the holding cabinet between the grill and stove.
In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Scoop for rice on the expo line. The scoop was removed. Knives between the flip top reach in cooler and the prep table across from the oven and grill. The knives was removed to be washed, rinsed and sanitized.
Light not functioning. Under hood system.
Sep 19, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 12 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 12 findings ▾
Employee washed hands with no soap. The manager had the employee to wash his hands with soap.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Soup 109F Chicken 109F Inside the hot hold cabinet. The product was removed to be heated to 165F.
Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed his hands at the 3 compartment sink. The manager had the employee to wash his hands at a designated hand washing sink.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener holder is soiled with debris. The manager assigned an employee to clean the holder. Small green cutting board with a build up of mold like substance.. in the bar area.
Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Dry storage shelf in the prep area.
Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Dry storage shelf in the prep area where Dutch chocolate syrup is stored. Doors on the 1st hot holding cabins not securely closing; therefore causing heat to escape.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. February 1, 2024 displayed. February 1, 2025 was posted.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Small green cutting board in the bar area.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf across from the dishwasher.
Food stored on floor. A case of shoestring French fries on the floor inside the walk in freezer. The product was removed from off the floor.
Light not functioning. Hood system over the 8 burner stove. Hole in the wall near the back door where the brooms are stored. Over fryers.
Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Employee cutting avocados at the prep sink. The manager had the employee to stop the process and wash the avocados.
Jan 11, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by a colander with ice. The colander was removed.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives between prep sink and 3 compartment sink. Knives was moved to the dishwasher area to be washed, rinsed and sanitized.
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Utensils knives, spoons etc in water at 102F on the table next to the stove. Thaw water was discarded.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. 2 bottles of Dasani water in the top section of the small flip top reach in cooler packages of salmon. The beverages was removed.
Sep 19, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed Observed water coming up through floor tiles in prep area. Observed missing grout throughout kitchen
Jul 21, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 5 recorded.
0 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Establishment doing cook chill rop for queso dip, refried beans, shredded beef, chicken tortilla soup, shredded chicken, ground beef. Emailed documentation to manager
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed thawed tilapia in sealed bags in walk in cooler. Manager opened bags
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
Equipment in poor repair. Observed cracked plastic cambros and lids in walk in coolers
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed Observed water coming up through floor tiles in prep area. Observed missing grout throughout kitchen
This record follows the licence, not the owner. Restaurants change hands and the licence history normally does not, so an older entry may describe people who no longer run the place. Every inspection above links to the state's own report. Something wrong? Tell us.