LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Hamilton Street
Jacksonville, Florida, 32205
Duval County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5)
Based on 7 health inspection reports
All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 4/18/2025
High Priority
0
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
1
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- N/A:No Violations Were Observed
Food safety inspection conducted on 4/18/2025 revealed 1 total violations (0 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 4/17/2025
High Priority
4
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
4
Disposition: Facility Temporarily Closed
Inspection Details:
- 03D-02-5:High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed; 2 pans of queso at temperatures of 44-47F stored in walk-in cooler near door. 3 pans for cooked chicken at temperatures of 45-46F stored in walk-in cooler near door. 3 pans of refried beans at temperatures of 44-46F stored in walk-in cooler near door. Person in charge stated all food items were prepared day prior and were not removed from walk-in cooler for any reason. Queso (44-47F - Cooling); Cooked chicken (45-46F - Cooling); Refried beans (44-46F - Cooling) **Warning**
- 35A-05-4:High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed; 1 live roach in flip top cool on cook line behind white back protective plate. 1 live roach above flip top cooler on cook line between shelf and peeling cover on bottom side of shelf. 8 live roaches on under side of storage shelf where dish machine chemicals are stored. Person in charge began cleaning and disposing of live roaches. 4 live roaches on under side of bar between plywood wall and bar structure. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
- 35A-23-4:High Priority - Roach excrement and/or droppings and egg sac present. Observed; 1 roach egg sac and roach droppings on sheet pan on drying rack near three compartment sink. 1 roach egg sac and roach droppings on under side of bar near plywood connector for wall and bar top near dish machine. **Warning**
- 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed; 2 pans of queso at temperatures of 44-47F stored in walk-in cooler near door. 3 pans for cooked chicken at temperatures of 45-46F stored in walk-in cooler near door. 3 pans of refried beans at temperatures of 44-46F stored in walk-in cooler near door. Person in charge stated all food items were prepared day prior and were not removed from walk-in cooler for any reason. **Warning**
Food safety inspection conducted on 4/17/2025 revealed 4 total violations (4 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 1/15/2025
High Priority
0
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
1
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- N/A:No Violations Were Observed
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/15/2025 revealed 1 total violations (0 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 1/9/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
1
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 22-49-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dish machine next to three compartment sink not dispensing chlorine sanitizing solution. Person in charge and inspector attempted to prime and find cause of no solution dispensing. Person in charge stated he will call for maintenance. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-09: At callback observed no change to dish machine. Person in charge stated maintenance was scheduled for beginning of next week. **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/9/2025 revealed 1 total violations (1 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 1/8/2025
High Priority
4
Intermediate
3
Basic
12
Total
20
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed two ceramic white bowls used for scooping in chili powder container stored in dry storage area near walk-in freezer. Person in charge removed scoops. **Corrected On-Site**
- 24-05-4:Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Observed ice bucket stored not inverted on top of bag-in-box soda syrup across from ice machine. Employee inverted ice bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
- 35A-03-4:Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed three dead roaches under single service items and oil boxes in small dry storage hallway across from ice machine. Employee cleaned and discarded. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phone stored on shelf above flip top cooler on cook line. Person in charge removed cell phone. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 36-22-4:Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed area behind ice machine with standing water.
- 36-17-5:Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed multiple floor tiles in disrepair throughout kitchen area. **Repeat Violation**
- 36-73-4:Basic - Floor, walls, and/or ceiling soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed; soiled ceiling tiles throughout cook line area. Soiled floors under and around ice machine. Soiled walls around cook station in kitchen.
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed; chips stored on floor in between prep station with steam table and station with flip top cooler. Person in charge moved chips to proper storage location. Multiple food items stored on floor in walk-in freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
- 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs stored on oven door handle under stove top. Person in charge removed tongs. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed soiled gaskets on standing reach in freezer located between cook line and dish area. **Repeat Violation**
- 35B-05-4:Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Observed small gap at corner of door at rear exit of kitchen. Gap causing visible light to shine through. **Repeat Violation**
- 29-03-4:Basic - Water draining onto floor surface. Observed hand wash sink with no drain attached causing water to drain directly on to floor. Hand wash sink is located across from walk-in cooler.
- 22-49-4:High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dish machine next to three compartment sink not dispensing chlorine sanitizing solution. Person in charge and inspector attempted to prime and find cause of no solution dispensing. Person in charge stated he will call for maintenance. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef items stored over ready to eat house-made salsa in reach in cooler next to walk-in cooler. Person in charge rearranged food items to proper storage levels. **Corrected On-Site**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed; shredded cheese and cut tomatoes at temperatures of 55-57F stored in flip top cooler. Food items were filled past fill line and flip top cooler was left open. Person in charge added ice and closed lid. House made salsa with temperature of 54F stored on small shelf in server station under expo window. Employee moved salsa to reach in cooler in bar area. Shredded cheese, cut tomatoes (55-57F - Cold Holding); House made salsa (54F - Cold Holding) **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
- 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed; cooked beef, cooked chorizo and cooked pork with temperatures of 78-110F stored on stove top next to flat top grill. Person in charge stated food items were cooked 2.5 hours prior. Person in charge moved food items to flat top grill to reheat to minimum temperature of 165F. Cooked cheese quesadillas with temperatures of 82-97F stored on steam table across from stove top. Person in charge stated quesadillas were cooked an hour prior. Person in charge moved cheese quesadillas to oven to reheat to minimum temperature of 165F. Queso with temperature of 78F stored in pan on top of oven on cook line. Person in charge moved queso into oven to reheat to minimum temperature of 165F. Cooked beef, cooked chorizo, cooked cheese tortillas, cooked pork (78-110F - Hot Holding); Queso (78F - Hot Holding) **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
- 11-27-4:Intermediate - 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. Observed person in charge unable to provide written procedure in event of vomiting or diarrhea for establishment. Inspector emailed written plan. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soiled can opener on prep table across from three compartment sink. Person in charge moved can opener to three compartment sink for cleaning. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed; unlabeled spray bottle with yellow liquid person in charge stated was bleach stored on three compartment sink. Unlabeled spray bottle with blue liquid stated was cleaning chemical stored on ledge in bar area. Person in charge labeled both spray bottles. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 45-02-4:Portable fire extinguisher gauge in red zone. For reporting purposes only. Observed fire extinguisher with gauge in recharge zone stored by rear exit of kitchen.
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/8/2025 revealed 20 total violations (4 high priority, 3 intermediate, 12 basic).
Inspection on 7/19/2024
High Priority
0
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
1
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- N/A:No Violations Were Observed
Food safety inspection conducted on 7/19/2024 revealed 1 total violations (0 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 7/16/2024
High Priority
4
Intermediate
3
Basic
17
Total
24
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 36-36-4:Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Observed multiple missing ceiling tiles above walk-in cooler.
- 24-06-4:Basic - Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty drawer or rack. Observed clean pans and utensils stored in dirty tub.
- 14-74-7:Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Walk in cooler unable to maintain temperature of 41F and below. Observed walk-in cooler with ambient temperature of 46F. Observed walk-in cooler door not able to fully close, latch doesn't keep door shut. **Warning**
- 35A-03-4:Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed one dead roach next to booth in dining area. Also, one dead roach observed u set table on side of bar. Operator cleaned up both dead roaches. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
- 29-18-4:Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. Observed missing drain cover under three compartment sink.
- 12B-07-4:Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee beverage on shelf above chips and queso in server area.
- 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phone on cook line next to ready to eat foods on shelf. Employee removed cell phone. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed stacked clean utensils in containers in dish ware area unable to dry properly .
- 14-11-5:Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed door of ice machine in disrepair and easily unattached. Also, bottom of walk-in cooler door in disrepair. **Repeat Violation**
- 36-17-5:Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing floor tiles and multiple floor tiles in disrepair in bar area, cook line and warewashing areas
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed box of oil by back door stored on floor. **Repeat Violation**
- 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs hanging from oven door on cook line. Operator removed tongs to properly store. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in freezer around corner of cook line with gaskets soiled. **Repeat Violation**
- 35B-05-4:Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Observed gap beneath back door by dry storage and back door by walk-in cooler not protecting from vermin being present.
- 29-08-4:Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Observed plumbing in disrepair at hand wash sink by walk-in cooler. Pipes missing causing water to pour onto floor. Also, Observed leaking faucet in three compartment sink.
- 42-03-5:Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Observed employee bike in dry storage area by back door blocking access and leaning on single service items.
- 21-03-4:Basic - Wet wiping cloths stored in detergent and sanitizer mixed together. Wet wiping cloths stored in bucket with soap and bleach mixed together per operator in bar area. Operator emptied bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
- 22-49-4:High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed no sanitizer being dispensed during cycle of dish machine. Dishwasher (chlorine 0ppm) Observed tube of sanitizer not stored in any chemical, tube laying across other buckets under dishwashing machine. Operator placed another bucket of chemical but unable to dispense properly. Operator called to have machine serviced. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
- 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 12 flying insects in the following areas: Observed two flying insects in dish ware area. Observed six flying insects by back door area. Observed two flying insects in front of house in server area. Observed two flying insects by soda machine in server area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed multiple time/temperature control for safety foods with temperature higher than 41F. Raw chicken (45-46F - Cold Holding) Cooked chicken (47-48F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler drawer below grill. Operator stated drawer may have been left open during lunch rush. Also, Housemate Tomatillo salsa w/ cut tomatoes(52F - Cold Holding) on front service line.operator stated the salsa was on ice earlier during lunch but melted. Operator voluntarily discarded salsa. Also, Queso cheese (66F - Cooling); Cooked chicken (47-48F - Cold Holding); refried beans (45F - Cold Holding); raw pork (47F - Cold Holding) in walk-in cooler . Observed cooler door not fully closing. Operator worked to fully close walk-in cooler door. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed multiple time/temperature control for safety foods temping less than 135F. Chorizo, cooked beef (88-106F - Hot Holding); Queso cheese (90F - Hot Holding) On top of stove without burner on. Employee turned burner back on and retested foods at more than 165F **Corrected On-Site**
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed mold like substance on soda machine in server area. Observed soiled water build up in holster of soda gun.
- 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed an unlabeled spray bottle containing toxic substance in dish ware area.
- 27-16-4:Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. No hot water at hand wash sink on cookline. And hand wash sink in warewashing area
Food safety inspection conducted on 7/16/2024 revealed 24 total violations (4 high priority, 3 intermediate, 17 basic).