Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for March 2024
In March, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found rodent droppings, flies on food, rat poison and other health violations.
Out of more than 160 businesses inspected, 25 scored below a 90 and 34 received perfect scores. In March, Hunan Express on Williams Drive scored the worst with a 71.
The health district describes a food establishment as a place that sells or serves food to the public, which can include bars, hotels, apartments, schools and food trucks. These establishments must get an annual permit and be inspected by the health district.
Inspections are based on a demerit system, in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The inspection report checks for 47 different violations, each scoring from 3 to 1.
Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were given during March 2024.
Bingo Taco #3 at Bingoland
4826 Crosstown Expy.
The restaurant was inspected March 22 and received an 84. Inspectors found raw meat stored above serrano peppers, a dirty microwave, toxic chemicals stored near pans and no paper towels at handwashing sink.
Bingo Taco at Bingoland was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 97.
Black Sheep Bistro
15201 S. Padre Island Drive
The restaurant was inspected March 5 and received an 89. Inspectors found raw meat stored near fresh produce, a dirty ice machine, gnats and food not dated.
Black Sheep Bistro was last inspected in February 2024 and scored an 85.
Chacho's Tacos
3700 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected March 26 and received an 80. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, rodent droppings, employees not wearing hairnets and knives stored in-between equipment.
Chacho's Tacos was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 83.
El Caporal Mexican Restaurant
4450 Greenwood Drive
The restaurant was inspected March 13 and received an 81. Inspectors found raw meat stored above vegetables, a dirty microwave, rodent droppings and employees not wearing beard guards or hairnets.
El Caporal was last inspected in December 2023 and scored an 85.
El Rinconcito
4013 Prescott St.
The restaurant was inspected March 22 and received an 83. Inspectors found employees not washing hands, employees with expired food handlers permits, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards.
El Rinconcito was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 91.
El Sol de Mexico #3
5250 Everhart Road
The restaurant was inspected March 28 and received an 89. Inspectors found sugar uncovered, employees without food handlers permits, not thawing food correctly and food stored on the ground.
El Sol de Mexico was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 89.
Frank's Spaghetti House
2724 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected March 5 and received an 87. Inspectors found lasagna not being held at the proper temperature, a dirty ice machine, dirty soda nozzles and grease buildup in fryer.
Frank's was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 97.
Hunan Express #1
5502 Everhart Road
The restaurant was inspected March 7 and received an 86. Inspectors found dirty soda nozzles, food stored on the floor, employees with food handlers permits and grease buildup on walls.
Hunan Express was last inspected in February 2024 and scored a 76.
Hunan Express #2
5997 Williams Drive
The restaurant was inspected March 19 and received a 71. Two days later, the restaurant scored an 86. Inspectors found food stored on top of other food, employees not washing hands or wearing gloves, a dirty handwashing sink and employees without food handlers permits.
Hunan Express was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 78.
Hunan Express #3
5614 McArdle Road
The restaurant was inspected March 13 and received an 85. The same day, the restaurant scored a 100. Inspectors found egg rolls and chicken not being held at the proper temperature, food stored on the floor, employees not washing hands and employees not wearing gloves.
Hunan Express was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 92.
Jack in the Box
1502 Airline Road
The restaurant was inspected March 21 and received a 75. Inspectors found mayo not being held at the proper temperature, a dirty ice machine, no certified food manager present and a broken back door.
Jack in the Box was last inspected in January 2024 and scored a 95.
La Michoacana Meat Market
4214 Ayers St.
The meat market was inspected March 19 and received an 80. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, raw turkey stored above ham, toxic chemicals stored improperly and broken handwashing sinks.
La Michoacana was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 82.
Las Potosinas Restaurant
901 Navigation Blvd.
The restaurant was inspected March 12 and received an 84. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, employees without food handlers permits, no valid health permit and gnats.
Las Potosinas was last inspected in September 2023 and scored a 92.
Linda's Mexican Restaurant
4033 Gollihar Road
The restaurant was inspected March 19 and received an 83. Inspectors found flies on food, food stored on ground, a dirty microwave and cooks not wearing gloves or washing hands.
Linda's was last inspected in February 2024 and scored a 79.
Mudbugs Cajun Icehouse
2743 Airline Road
The restaurant was inspected March 14 and received an 84. Inspectors found food being prepped in bar area, employees not wearing gloves, gnats and employees not wearing beard guards.
Mudbugs was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 94.
Popeyes
1115 S. Port Ave.
The restaurant was inspected March 22 and received an 86. Inspectors found dirty soda nozzles, toxic chemicals stored improperly, employees without food handlers permits and flies.
Popeyes was last inspected in January 2024 and scored an 83.
Price's Chef
1800 S. Alameda St.
The restaurant was inspected March 5 and received an 88. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near food, an expired certified food manager permit, rodent droppings and dirty knives stored with clean ones.
Price's was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 80.
Riley's Pub
6314 Yorktown Blvd.
The bar was inspected March 26 and received an 86. Inspectors found a dirty cooler, drinks stored on the floor, employees without food handlers permits and an expired health permit.
Riley's was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 90.
Santa Rosa Restaurant
2722 S. Staples St.
The restaurant was inspected March 28 and received an 84. Inspectors found personal drinks stored in lettuce container, raw meat stored above vegetables, rat poison and rodent droppings.
Santa Rosa was last inspected in December 2023 and scored a 91.
Surfing Crab
6418 S. Staples St.
The restaurant was inspected March 11 and received an 86. Inspectors found employees without food handlers permits, a dirty handwashing sink, employees not wearing beard guards and the ice scoop placed inside the ice machine.
Surfing Crab was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 91.
Taqueria El Alteno #1
2601 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected March 8 and received an 83. Inspectors found raw chicken stored above nopales, toxic chemicals stored near food, improperly thawing out chorizo and electrical wiring hanging from ceiling.
Taqueria El Alteno was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 81.
Taqueria Express & Seafood
4346 Ayers St.
The restaurant was inspected March 12 and received an 81. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature in refrigerator, employees not washing hands, rodent droppings and employees not wearing gloves.
Taqueria Express & Seafood was last inspected in November 2023 and scored an 84.
Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco #3
8151 Leopard St.
The restaurant was inspected March 19 and received an 88. Inspectors found employees with expired food handlers permits, an expired health permit, items not labeled and employees not wearing beard guards.
Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 95.
Wet Bar
6355 S. Padre Island Drive
The bar was inspected March 19 and received an 89. Inspectors found raw chicken stored above lettuce, an expired health permit, no thermometers in freezer or coolers and ice scoop stored in ice machine.
Wet Bar Grill was last inspected in July 2023 and scored a 95.
Z-Counter
1220 Airline Road
The restaurant was inspected March 7 and received an 88. Inspectors found rice left out, no soap and paper towels at handwashing sink, food not dated and food containers being stacked without lids.
Z-Counter was last inspected in October 2023 and scored an 89.
Perfect scores (100)
Aunt Sissy's Kitchen: 14254 S. Padre Island Drive
Banda's Seafood: 4934 Gollihar Road
Bottomless Pit BBQ: 2815 Leopard St.
Bourbon Street Candy Co.: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive
Cancun Mexican Restaurant: 6314 Yorktown Blvd.
Chick-fil-A: 9601 S. Padre Island Drive
Coastline Grill: 209 Coastline Drive
Coffee & More: 707 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Donut Palace: 14602 Compass St.
Driftwood Coffee Co.: 4703 S. Alameda St.
Dylan's Pizza: 128 Market St.
Fired Up Nutrition: 10501 Leopard St.
Gigi's Pizzeria: 4234 S. Alameda St.
Hardknocks Sports Grill: 15401 S. Padre Island Drive
Jason's Deli: 1416 Airline Road
JB's German Restaurant & Bakery: 4141 S. Staples St.
Mi Nueva Casa Restaurant: 7602 S. Staples St.
Nano's Taco Run: 4722 Holly Road
Nolan's: 7426 S. Staples St.
Panjo's Pizza Parlor: 1320 Airline Road
Pop's Bar: 6702 S. Staples St.
Port A Pizzeria: 407 E. Ave.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive
Seaside Cafe: 169 Seaside Drive
Siren's Call Winery: 14225 S. Padre Island Drive
Snoopy's Pearl Oyster Bar: 13313 S. Padre Island Drive
Snoopy's Pier: 13313 S. Padre Island Drive
Starbucks: 14002 S. Padre Island Drive
Stingers Coffee: 1304 Airline Road
Subway: 11101 Leopard St.
Taste at 555: 555 N. Carancahua St.
Third Coast Nutrition: 14254 S. Padre Island Drive
Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery: 4210 S. Alameda St.
Whataburger: 4021 IH-69 Access Road
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Flies on food: Which eateries had low health district scores
