SAN JOSE'S ORIGINAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT OF TAVARES
1990 SR 19 #112-113, Tavares FL 32778 · 321.609-2243
Last inspected Aug 12, 2026 · 7 visits since July 2023
JUL 24
FEB 25
JUL 25
MAR 26
AUG 26
▼ IMPROVING
5 inspections trending up, 29 points better than where it started.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands. - cutting lettuce - operator coached employee
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Aug 12, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 8 findingsThe state's own report →
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Hibiscus stored in retail bag. Operator removed.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled. Operator cleaned.
Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Vents in dining room. Vents in the dining room.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor at cook line. Floor at ice machine and hand washing sink.
Show the remaining 4 findings ▾
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. In walk in freezer.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Low boy cooler gaskets at cook line.
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Low boy at cook line.
Single-service articles improperly stored. To go bowls on floor. Operator removed.
Mar 24, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. White small cutting board on prep table. Can opener. Operator cleaned.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked with container of water.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor at cook line. Floor under hand washing sink. Floor underneath the ice machine.
Food stored on floor. 2 bottles of cooking oil. Operator removed.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled Fan guards in walk in cooler.
Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. On shelf next to clean utensils. Operator removed.
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 0 ppm. Operator change water.rechecked 50 ppm.
Jul 21, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 16 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate12 Basic
Show 16 findings ▾
Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. 0 ppm. Sanitizer was out. Operator put new sanitizer.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Per operator less than 4 hours. Operator reheated to 165F. Cheese Sauce (121F - Hot Holding)
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled Fryer baskets soiled Operator cleaned.
No soap provided at handwash sink. Across from cook line. Operator put soap.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Operator printed and posted.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. By cook line. Operator removed.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic containers on dish rack in the kitchen
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor at frying station
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. In walk in freezer
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. In flour and rice containers. Operator removed.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. South end oven at the end of cook line.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan Guard in walk in cooler.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go plates in dining area. Operator inverted.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food.Unwashed pineapple over flan and cut melon on walk in cooler. Operator removed.
Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall by dish washing area Wall at prep sink
Feb 3, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 13 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate9 Basic
Show 13 findings ▾
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands. - cutting lettuce - operator coached employee
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. - Rice 117° -operator reheat to 165°
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. - water pitcher stored in hand sink on cooks line
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. - personal items stored with food on storage rack next to ice machine.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. - front bar.
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. - utensil scoops stored in 93° water.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -walk in gasket - hood filters
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. - lettuce
Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. - hand sink next to ice machine.
Jul 26, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 14 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority2 Intermediate8 Basic
Show 14 findings ▾
Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands.
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. - employee walk outside, using phone and returned.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. -spray bottle of chlorine hanging on hand sink next to ice machine.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. - white cutting boards on line.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. - hand sink at 3 compartment sink blocked with trash can.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. - men's and women's bathrooms
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package.
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. -back door -back door at bathrooms
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. - microwave on line
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - hood filters
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning.
Jan 22, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -White cutting board on cooks line -can opener -Drink dispenser saddle at front bar
Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. -front bar ice bin
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. -microwave on cooks line.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - hood fliters
Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. -Silverware stored handle side down at rolling station.
Jul 10, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink next to 3 compartment sink blocked with trash can.
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.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Pinto beans
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container.
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.