LORITA'S FRESH MEXICAN FOOD
10278 CAUSWAY BLVD, Tampa FL 33619 · 8136007409
Last inspected Jun 25, 2026 · 10 visits since October 2023
JUL 24
JAN 25
FEB 25
JUL 25
APR 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot holding: shredded cooked beef 81 F, Per operator beef was made 2 hours earlier. Operator had employee reheat at time of inspection to bring back up to temperature.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
10 visits, newest first
Jun 25, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Apr 22, 2026Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority3 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot holding: shredded cooked beef 81 F, Per operator beef was made 2 hours earlier. Operator had employee reheat at time of inspection to bring back up to temperature.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on reach in cooler.
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification.
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.
Jul 29, 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 ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning on clear containers on dish drying rack.
Jul 17, 2025Call Back - Extension given, pendingRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems were not fixed yet and the kitchen was given more time.
0 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
Food stored in a prohibited area. Operator had a dry good delivery being made at time of inspection. Operator stated all Togo containers and paper goods were stored at storage facility called Morningstar on Causeway Boulevard Tampa,Fl. Inspector went to storage facility to see items in storage unit. Operator must keep all items for establishment at licensed location.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning on clear containers on dish drying rack.
Jul 7, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 10 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
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 squeeze limes without gloves. Inspector spoke with operator about proper hand washing procedures.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs over chipotle sauce and garlic cilantro sauce in reach in cooler of dry storage room. Raw shrimp over salsa in walk in cooler. Operator relocated to prevent cross contamination.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cold Holding: cut lettuce 50 F, guacamole 49 F, Per operator items were left overnight in reach in cooler and is unaware when items went out of temperature.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold Holding: cut lettuce 50 F, guacamole 49 F, Per operator items were left overnight in reach in cooler and is unaware when items went out of temperature.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
Food stored in a prohibited area. Operator had a dry good delivery being made at time of inspection. Operator stated all Togo containers and paper goods were stored at storage facility called Morningstar on Causeway Boulevard Tampa,Fl. Inspector went to storage facility to see items in storage unit. Operator must keep all items for establishment at licensed location.
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Reach in cooler across from stove.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning on clear containers on dish drying rack.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee energy drink in reach in cooler in dry storage room. Operator removed.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Multiple bulk boxes of Togo containers, lids and cups on floor in storage unit.
Feb 12, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine at dessert station.
In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Handle of scoop in frozen peas.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink in reach in cooler with tortillas. Operator removed.
Jan 17, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority3 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cold holding: beef cooked 56 F, Beef in walk in cooler date marked 1-16-25 was made yesterday and held overnight in walk in cooler. Operator is unaware when items went out of temperature.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold holding: beef cooked 56 F, Beef in walk in cooler date marked 1-16-25 was made yesterday and held overnight in walk in cooler. Operator is unaware when items went out of temperature.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Scraper on handwash sink in kitchen. Employee removed.
Probe thermometer not used to ensure proper food temperatures. Operator stated she has not taken temperature of food in walk in cooler.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee dowager bottle on prep table in kitchen. Employee relocated.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee strawberries in reach in cooler in dry storage area. Operator relocated.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee jacket on single use items in dry storage.
Equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink. Do not use dishes/equipment not properly sanitized. Employee had 3 compartment sink set up with only wash and sanitizer bay filled. Operator has employee set up 3 compartment sink in correct order.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Dry storage.
Jul 11, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Sauce in rice not labeled.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee watermelon on shelf next to vanilla on shelf over reach in cooler. Operator removed at time of inspection.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on shelf over reach in cooler in kitchen.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Handle in bulk sugar.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses on cutting board of reach in cooler in kitchen.
Feb 28, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 11 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority1 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish over strawberry puree in reach in freezer.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemicals above soda boxes, operator removed at time of inspection.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter missing vacuum breaker.
No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ 6+ employees working with no food manager on site.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Containers wet nesting next to 3 Compartment Sink.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Throughout kitchen.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on below grill. Operator removed at time of inspection.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop handle in rice, in dry storage.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gaskets on cook line. Reach in cooler door handle on cook line. Exterior of equipment through kitchen.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go boxes not inverted near register, operator inverted at time of inspection.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of cinnamon sugar not labeled, operator labeled at time of inspection.
Oct 24, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl in bulk sugar.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee monster energy drink on slicer in kitchen. Operator removed at time of inspection.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee food on tortillas in reach in cooler. Operator relocated at time if inspection.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on shelf over prep table and next to single service bowls. Operator removed at time of inspection.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees at handwash sink next to kitchen door. Operator put on at time of inspection.
Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. In walk in cooler.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk salt and garlic powder.
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.