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Home/Fort Lauderdale/POLLO TROPICAL #53

POLLO TROPICAL #53

3051 WEST COMMERCIAL BLVD, Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 · 954.484.5273

Last inspected Aug 5, 2026 · 12 visits since October 2023

Licence typeRestaurant
Seats78
Risk levelRisk Level 2
LicenceSEA1619655
Grade history
AUG 25
NOV 25
JAN 26
JUL 26
AUG 26
▼ IMPROVING

5 inspections, climbing. The current grade is the best on record.

Worst finding on record
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed brown rice (120-145F - Hot Holding) per operator held out of temperature less than 1.5 hours. Operator reheated in steamer
High priority/03B-01-6/Corrective Action Taken
Badges — 1 earned
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined

Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →

Disciplinary actions

1 case · $200

CaseViolation dateFinal orderAmount
2--2026005101Nov 13, 2025May 14, 2026$200

Inspection history

12 visits, newest first

Aug 5, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation

Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 1 finding
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt,dust. Observed on back of screens on cook line above steam table
Basic/23-03-4
Jul 10, 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
Show 2 findings ▾
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed at cook line hand washing procedures sink. Operator refilled
Intermediate/31B-02-4/Corrected On-Site
Ceiling/ceiling tiles soiled with accumulated dust. Observed above drive thru area
Basic/36-34-5
Jan 12, 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
Show 3 findings ▾
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
Basic/32-12-6
Employee with ineffective hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee wearing a hat and long hair exposed in back
Basic/13-02-4
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed hotel pans stacked with moisture between them. Operator stored correctly.
Basic/24-08-4/Corrected On-Site/Repeat Violation
Nov 13, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation

Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 2 violations recorded, 1 high priority.

1 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed shredded beef (120-131F - Hot Holding) per operator held out of temperature less than 1 hour. Operator reheated in steamer rechecked 180F
High priority/03B-01-6/Corrected On-Site/Repeat Violation/Admin Complaint
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed stacked hotel pans with moisture between them.
Basic/24-08-4
Aug 29, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

3 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee place head phones on another employee then handle single serve items.
High priority/12A-29-4
Employee washed hands with cold water. Observed employee washing hands with cold water employee turned on hot water and rewashed hands.
High priority/12A-19-4/Corrected On-Site
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed brown rice (120-145F - Hot Holding) per operator held out of temperature less than 1.5 hours. Operator reheated in steamer
High priority/03B-01-6/Corrective Action Taken
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand washing sink with ice cubes in it being used as a dump sink.
Intermediate/31A-11-4
Apr 3, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation

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

1 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed flan (45F - Cold Holding); Qutro leche (44F - Cold Holding) in front counter low boy per operator held out of temperature less than 3.5 hours not portion or prep today. Operator placed in another cooler for quick chill.
High priority/03A-02-5/Corrective Action Taken
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.
Intermediate/11-07-5
Nov 20, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

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

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Aug 30, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

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

1 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed pulled pork (98-120F - Hot Holding)in hot holding unit per manager held out of temperature less than one hour. Employee placed in steamer to reheat. Rechecked 172F Observed cooked chicken breast (125F - Hot Holding) in hot holding drawer on cook line per manager held less than one hour, manager voluntarily discarded.
High priority/03B-01-6/Corrected On-Site
Employee with ineffective hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee wearing hat long braids exposed in back while engaging in food preparation.
Basic/13-02-4
Jun 18, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation

Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee wearing a watch while preparing food.
Basic/13-07-4
May 23, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation

Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination at cook-line. Operator inverted.
Basic/25-06-4/Corrected On-Site
Dec 18, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation

Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

1 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed nonfood-grade bag in freezer containing an opened bag of fully cooked yucca. Operator removed.
High priority/14-31-5/Corrected On-Site
Oct 27, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

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

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic

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.