Eat SafelyIn Florida
Home/Miami Beach/LA ESENCIA LATIN CUISINE

LA ESENCIA LATIN CUISINE

6944 COLLINS AVE, Miami Beach FL 33141 · 305-479-8572

Last inspected Mar 3, 2026 · 6 visits since September 2023

Licence typeRestaurant
Seats9
Risk levelRisk Level 2
LicenceSEA2329040
Grade history
SEP 23
JUN 24
DEC 24
OCT 25
MAR 26
≈ ERRATIC

5 inspections, swinging between A and C. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.

Worst finding on record
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license is expired as of October 1, 2025.
High priority/50-17-3/Warning
Badges — none earned
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined

Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →

Disciplinary actions

2 cases · $600

CaseViolation dateFinal orderAmount
1--2019023156Mar 29, 2019Sep 20, 2019$200
1--2016024748May 18, 2016Jul 7, 2016$400

Inspection history

6 visits, newest first

Mar 3, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 3 findings
Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed ceiling tiles in restroom showing water damage.
Basic/36-32-5
Food stored on floor. Observed cases of plastic water bottles stored on floor of storage closet near restroom.
Basic/08B-38-4
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filters soiled with grease.
Basic/23-03-4
Dec 17, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection

A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.

0 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
Intermediate/05-08-4/Warning/Return visit Dec 17, 2025 · No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products Time Extended
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Basic/50-09-4/Warning/Return visit Dec 17, 2025 · Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Time Extended
Oct 14, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection

Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 10 recorded, 1 high priority.

1 High priority4 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license is expired as of October 1, 2025.
High priority/50-17-3/Warning
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed container stored in hand wash sink in kitchen. Owner removed container.
Intermediate/31A-11-4/Corrected On-Site/Warning
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification.
Intermediate/53A-01-7/Warning
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
Intermediate/16-37-1/Warning
No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
Intermediate/05-08-4/Warning
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Basic/50-09-4/Warning
Employee beverage container in ice machine/ice bin. Observed employee water bottles stored in ice machine at front counter. Owner removed water bottles.
Basic/12B-14-4/Corrected On-Site/Warning
Food stored on floor. Observed plastic jug of oil stored on floor in storage closet. Owner placed plastic jug on crate.
Basic/08B-38-4/Corrected On-Site/Warning
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed hand sink at cook line missing hand wash sign.
Basic/31B-04-4/Warning
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets inside reach in cooler at cook line soiled with old food debris.
Basic/23-03-4/Warning
Dec 2, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jun 11, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Equipment gaskets in poor repair. Observed reach in cooler ( located in the middle hallway ) with gaskets in disrepair.
Basic/14-11-5
Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed reach in cooler shelves are rusted.
Basic/14-33-4/Repeat Violation
Sep 14, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection

Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority3 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
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. Poster was provided to operator
Intermediate/11-27-4
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. Form was provided to operator
Intermediate/11-26-1/Corrective Action Taken
No soap provided at handwash sink. By cooking equipments
Intermediate/31B-03-4
Equipment in poor repair. 3 reach in coolers in disrepair
Basic/14-11-5
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. By cook equipments
Basic/31B-04-4
Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Reach in cooler in hallway.
Basic/14-33-4

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.