MR. EMPANADA
17693 N DALE MABRY HWY, Lutz FL 33548
Last inspected Aug 18, 2026 · 11 visits since July 2023
JAN 25
JUN 25
OCT 25
APR 26
AUG 26
— STEADY
5 inspections within 22 points of each other. Whatever this kitchen does, it does consistently.
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.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
11 visits, newest first
Aug 18, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 2 findings
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stained in prep cooler
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee no hair restraint while engaging food preparation.
Apr 30, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Sliced ham marked date 4/23/26. See stop sale
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Sliced ham marked date 4/23/26 in walk in cooler. More than 7 days shelf life time.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stained
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No soup and paper towels at hand sink by soda rack. Operator refilled them all
Oct 28, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee put gloves on without washing hands then touched diced ham to prep salad.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board soiled and black mold substance buildup in kitchen.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Soda box black the hand wash sink in kitchen. Operator removed the soda box.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep table with switch toaster.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer
Stored food not covered Sauce container not covered
Jun 2, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by bucket. Operator removed.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Dust build up on air conditioning vent at counter.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
Food stored on floor. Pickles and soft drinks on floor in walk in cooler. Operator placed on shelf.
Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Operator replaced cover.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have buildup of grease.
Jan 15, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 10, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee handled dirty equipment with gloves on and changed gloves without first washing hands.
Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on reach in cooler has built up food debris.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in kitchen blocked by soda boxes.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has mold like substances.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. CO2 tanks in rear closet not properly secured.
Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice buckets on ice machine not inverted for protection.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on prep cart above sliced ham.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
Jun 13, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Apr 12, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 2 recorded.
0 High priority2 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
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.
Feb 26, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 4 violations recorded.
0 High priority3 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Observed - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -Cutting board on reach-in cooler on cook line soiled with food debris
Observed - From initial inspection : Intermediate - 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.
Observed - From initial inspection : Intermediate - 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 - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. -Ice machine soiled with pink mold like substance
Dec 14, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 23 violations recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority7 Intermediate12 Basic
Show 23 findings ▾
Employee used the bathroom and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands upon returning to employee area.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. -Tomatoes held at 63F in reach-in cooler next to service window -Cut lettuce held at 62F in reach-in cooler next to service window -Black beans held at 88F under hot holding unit across from reach-in cooler -Chick peas held at 87F under hot holding unit across from reach-in cooler Operator states no temperature monitoring has occurred
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -Tomatoes held at 63F in reach-in cooler next to service window -Cut lettuce held at 62F in reach-in cooler next to service window Operator states no temperature monitoring has occurred See stop sale
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. -Black beans held at 88F under hot holding unit across from reach-in cooler -Chick peas held at 87F under hot holding unit across from reach-in cooler See stop sale. Manager on duty voluntarily discarded items.
Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. -Observed 2 cooks wash hands in the three compartment sink Discussed proper handwashing with cooks
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 written plan for bodily fluid cleaning
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -Cutting board on reach-in cooler on cook line soiled with food debris
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. -No paper towels on hand washing station next to slicer
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.
No sanitizer of any kind available for warewashing. Only use single-service items to serve food to customers until sanitizer is available for warewashing.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. -Ice machine soiled with pink mold like substance
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. -Tanks next to three compartment sink not chained for protection
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. -Establishment has their license application posted and not the actual license
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. -Purse kept on top of soda boxes next to office in kitchen Manager on duty properly stored items
Employee with ineffective hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. -Cook observed preparing food with ineffective hair restraint
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. -Observed cook preparing food with no hair restraint
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. -Floors in walk-in cooler soiled with food debris
Food stored on floor. -Buckets of pickles kept on floor in walk-in cooler -Boxes of food kept on floor in walk-in freezer
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. -Ice buildup coming off condenser in walk-in freezer
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. -Microwave directly under service window soiled with food debris
No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. -Provided operator with choking poster
Single-service articles improperly stored. -Catering trays kept on floor near office in kitchen Manager on duty properly stored items
Jul 19, 2023Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 7 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority5 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cut lettuce (60F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (60F - Cold Holding) in cooler less than four hours. Manager moved to walk in.
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.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board at reach in cooler soiled.
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.
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.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
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.