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Aug 06, 2023

Employees smoking, bugs: Which eateries scored bad with health district

Date night might be coming up, but think twice about where you decide to dine if you're unsure of how they scored with the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District. In July, health district

Date night might be coming up, but think twice about where you decide to dine if you're unsure of how they scored with the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District.

In July, health district inspectors found some employees smoking in the kitchen, dead roaches, food stored on top of a trash can and other health violations.

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 against 47 different violations, each scoring from 3 to 1.

Out of more than 210 businesses inspected, 24 scored below a 90 and 41 received perfect scores.

Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were given during July 2023.

5922 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 13 and received an 87. Inspectors found dirty refrigerators, flies and gnats, employees eating in the kitchen area and employees not wearing beard guards or hair nets.

Agave Jalisco was last inspected in April 2023 and scored an 84.

5884 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 25 and received an 84. Inspectors found a dirty microwave, toxic chemicals stored near the bar, employees not wearing hair nets and a dirty walk-in cooler.

The Blue Clove was last inspected in January 2023 and scored a 90.

5803 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on July 11 and received an 84. Inspectors found a dirty microwave, gnats, employees not washing hands before putting on gloves and dirty knives mixed with clean knives.

Bluffalo Wings was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 80.

6601 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 11 and received an 85. Inspectors found raw meat stored above vegetables, gnats, employees not washing hands after wiping them on a "common" towel and a trash can without a lid in the women's restroom.

Golden Crown was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 87.

6113 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on July 12 and received an 88. Inspectors found chemical bottles near toothpicks and trays, a certified food manager not present, food containers not labeled and a dirty curtain between the kitchen and serving area.

Hana Poke was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 98.

5997 Williams Drive

The restaurant was inspected on July 24 and received a 78. Inspectors found chicken not being cooled properly, products on line cooler not being held at the correct temperature, flies and employees not wearing beard guards or hair nets.

Hunan Express was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 81.

5714 McArdle Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 6 and received an 88. Inspectors found employees smoking in the kitchen, roaches, chicken not being stored at the proper temperature and dirty air conditioner vents.

JaJa Cafe was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 99.

4701 Ayers St.

The bar was inspected on July 21 and received an 89. Inspectors found no certified food manager present, ceiling tiles needing repair, items not labeled and dead roaches.

This was the first inspection for Jerky Plug.

5514 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 18 and received an 87. Inspectors found items not labeled, cracked and caved in ceiling tiles, employees not wearing hairnets and no thermometers being used.

Kiko's was last inspected in April 2023 and scored an 84.

6337 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on July 27 and received an 86. Inspectors found dishes not being sanitized, employees not wearing hair nets, dirty aprons near clean pots and toxic chemicals not labeled properly.

La Mexicana was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 90.

5730 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on July 20 and received a 79. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, a dirty ice machine, employees without a food handler's permit and gnats.

Luby's was last inspected in April 2023 and scored an 82.

5334 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 5 and received an 88. Inspectors found spoiled cucumbers, toxic chemicals not being stored properly, dirty microwaves and missing ceiling tiles.

Maggie's was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 95.

6306 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on July 19 and received an 81. Inspectors found dirty soft serve machine spouts, employees not washing hands before putting on gloves, gnats and deep fryer chemicals above deep fryers.

McDonald's was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 92.

5405 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected on July 26 and received an 87. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, thermometers not in coolers or freezers, food not being dated and dirty ceiling tiles.

Middle East Deli was last inspected in February 2023 and scored a 99.

6537 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 20 and received an 89. Inspectors found gnats, employees not washing their hands before preparing a pizza, food not being held at the proper temperature and the restaurant's health permit not posted.

Pizza Hut was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 97.

4414 Prescott St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 27 and received an 79. Inspectors found toxic chemicals not stored properly, employees without food handler's permits, rodent droppings and holes in walls and ceilings.

The restaurant was inspected in April 2023 and scored 81.

5922 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected on July 21 and received an 87. Inspectors found calzones not being held at the proper temperature, no record of how fresh/old calzones are, kitchen equipment not being used correctly and dirty food containers.

Sal's was last inspected in March of 2023 and scored a 91.

5350 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 25 and received an 87. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, employees not washing their hands before putting on gloves, employees wearing jewelry and sanitizing solution not being held at the proper temperature.

Shoreline Sandwich Co. was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 100.

7602 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 11 and received an 88. Inspectors found chemical products not stored properly, no soap at the hand washing sink, meat not being thawed properly and dirty deli refrigerators.

Subway was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 82.

5216 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected on July 26 and received an 76. Inspectors found chips stored on top of a trash can, a dirty microwave, fruit flies and meat not being thawed properly.

Takeniwa was last inspected in December 2022 and scored a 91.

4346 Ayers St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 26 and received an 88. Inspectors found a dirty ice bin, employees not wearing beard guards or hair nets, food not stored in containers and food not dated.

Taqueria Express & Seafood was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 99.

5702 S. Staples St.

The restaurant was inspected on July 19 and received an 97. Inspectors found dishes not being washed properly, food not being stored at the proper temperature, gnats and employees not wearing hairnets.

Tokyo Hibachi was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 90.

6022 Sarazen Drive

The restaurant was inspected on July 18 and received an 89. Inspectors found food not being stored at the proper temperature, styrofoam cups and cardboard trays storing dry goods, employees not wearing hairnets and food not being labeled.

Wings 'N More - To-Go was last inspected in March 2023 and scored a 94.

10446 IH-37

The restaurant was inspected on July 19 and received an 89. Inspectors found a dirty ice machine, toxic chemical stored near food, no certified food manager present and employees not wearing beard guards.

Xpress Burgers was last inspected in April 2023 and scored a 95.

More:Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for June 2023

More:Cuisine to cool off with: Here are five locally owned sushi restaurants

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at [email protected] or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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