CUBAN FOOD PALACE
6409 MERRILL RD, Jacksonville FL 32277
Last inspected Jul 26, 2023 · 1 visit since July 2023
□ Not on the state's active licence list
This licence isn't in DBPR's current active file, which usually means the business has closed, been sold, or let the licence lapse. Everything below belongs to this licence, not to whoever may be trading here now. The history stays public because it is a public record.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 5 live flying insect inside food truck on counter top and ware washing area and clean equipments. Service window is left open when not serving customers. Reviewed with owner Service window not kept closed when not actually serving a customer.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
1 visit, newest first
Jul 26, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 30 violations recorded, 15 high priority.
15 High priority7 Intermediate8 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 30 findingsThe state's own report →
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee washing dishes and handling clean equipments without washing hands
Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee using personal cell phone and touching ear piece and continue to prepare and touch food with gloves on hands without washing hands
Food prepared in a private home. See stop sale. Observed 2 containers of cooked pork stored in single door upright reach in cooler on food truck as per owner that was prepared and cooked at home and place on food truck to be served to public. Stop sale issued
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed employee not sanitizing equipment's after washing and rinse and placing away for storage. Owner stated they didn't have any bleach and forgot to purchase
Show the remaining 26 findings ▾
Food/ice received from unapproved source/no invoice provided to verify source. See Stop Sale. Observed 4 trays of cooked meat empanadas stored in single door upright reach in cooler in food truck. Owner stated was purchased from lady who makes them but unable to provide proof of invoice, address, contact information or license establishment. Stop sale issued
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 5 live flying insect inside food truck on counter top and ware washing area and clean equipments. Service window is left open when not serving customers. Reviewed with owner Service window not kept closed when not actually serving a customer.
Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle conducted food preparation, food storage or other food activity in a private home. See stop sale. Owner stated on phone call that she has reach in cooler/ freezer at home and dry storage Owner owns salon where food truck is parked and uses as commissary and observed food being stored in reach in freezer and dry storage inside building which is unapproved commissary. Reviewed with operator A PRIVATE RESIDENCE CANNOT BE UTILIZED TO PREPARE, COOK OR STORE FOOD. Owner is aware that all these items will need to be stored inside food truck or an approved commissary.
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Peeled plantains stored inside non-food grade bags inside food truck and also inside non-approved commissary reach in freezer at salon
Nonfood-grade hose conveying potable water. Missing back flow preventer at attached pvc pipe to the non food grade water hose which is connected to food truck to receive fresh water
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Operator license expired June 1, 2023.
Raw animal food stored over canned/bottled drinks. Employees personal raw pork food in container stored over public soda cans in upright reach in cooler on food truck. Employee properly stored
Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source. Observed 4 trays of cooked meat empanadas stored in single door upright reach in cooler in food truck. Owner stated was purchased from lady who makes them but unable to provide proof of invoice, address, contact information or license establishment. Stop sale issued Observed 2 containers of cooked pork stored in single door upright reach in cooler on food truck as per owner that was prepared and cooked at home and place on food truck to be served to public. Stop sale issued
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Raw beef and slice cheese (47-51F - Cold Holding), in upright single door reach in cooler food truck. Employee stated in and out of unit. Employee keeping unit door closed
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sunscreen bottle stored on shelf next to season and clean equipment at ware washing area. Employee removed
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing back flow preventer at attached pvc pipe to the non food grade water hose which is connected to food truck to receive fresh water
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 operator with Clean-Up of Vomiting and Diarrheal Events handout
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bag of ice stored inside hand wash sink. Employee removed
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. Owner on the phone stated has manager certification but unable to provide and no other certified manager employed at this establishment
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towel at hand wash sink. Employee provided
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. Discussed and provided the Employee Health Reporting Agreement form during the inspection.
No sanitizer of any kind available for warewashing. Only use single-service items to serve food to customers until sanitizer is available for warewashing. Observed employee not sanitizing equipment's after washing and rinse and placing away for storage. Owner stated they didn't have any bleach and forgot to purchase
Self-sufficient mobile food dispensing vehicle operating from an unapproved commissary. Owner stated on phone call that she has reach in cooler/ freezer at home and dry storage Owner owns salon where food truck is parked during inspection and uses as commissary and observed food being stored in reach in freezer and dry storage inside building which is unapproved commissary. Reviewed with operator A PRIVATE RESIDENCE CANNOT BE UTILIZED TO PREPARE, COOK OR STORE FOOD. Owner is aware that all these items will need to be stored inside food truck or an approved commissary.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl stored inside multiple unlabeled white powdered containers at ware washing area
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employees personal raw pork food in container stored over public soda cans in upright reach in cooler on food truck. Employee properly stored
Food stored on floor. Multiple dry storage foods stored on floor in side Food Truck and inside non approve commissary on site next to food truck at salon
Mobile food dispensing vehicle license number not permanently affixed on the side of the unit in figures at least 2 inches high and in contrasting colors from the background of the vehicle. Mobile has no license number displayed on unit
Mobile food dispensing vehicle service opening not kept closed except during food service. Observed approximately 5 live flying insect inside food truck on counter top and ware washing area and clean equipments. Service window is left open when not serving customers. Reviewed with owner Service window not kept closed when not actually serving a customer.
Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Observed approximately 5 live flying insect inside food truck on counter top and ware washing area and clean equipments. Service window is left open when not serving customers. Reviewed with owner Service window not kept closed when not actually serving a customer.
Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe leaking under hand wash sink when water is running and turned on.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Multiple containers of white powdered substance not label on shelf at ware wash area. Employee stated it's sugar
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.