DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

EL JALAPENO

EL JALAPENO maintains a 3.3/5 food safety rating based on 8 health department inspections in LAKE WORTH. Recent inspections show improving food safety practices.

4960 SOUTHARD ST

Overall Food Safety Rating

★★★☆☆ (3.3/5)
Based on 8 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

Inspection Date: 9/26/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 13530376

  • 12A-25-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee itched hair with hand and after without washing hands employee handled container of cooked steak, discussed with operator employee washed hands. - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-26: Operator adjusted eye glasses with hand and after without washing hands began to prepare tortillas on flat top, discussed with operator who washed hands. Admin Complaint Corrected On-Site
  • 12A-29-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee washed dirty dishes and after without washing hands handled clean and sanitized utensils. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-26: Employee handled personal drink bottle and after without washing hands began to prepare tacos for customer, discussed with operator employee washed hands. Admin Complaint Corrected On-Site

Inspection Date: 9/25/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 13471696

  • 35A-03-4:Basic - Dead roaches on premises. In kitchen approximately 3 dead roaches under three compartment sink. In kitchen approximately 2 dead roaches under dry dry storage rack, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize areas. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. In kitchen large pots of cooked chicken, cooked cow tongue, bag of lettuce and multiple sauce bottles, discussed with operator to remove products from floor.
  • 29-08-4:Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Exterior water drain leaking water on to ground, discussed with operator to repair.
  • 22-16-4:Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of reach in cooler soiled with accumulation of soiled debris, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize.
  • 21-09-4:Basic - Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Multiple soiled wet cloths used to wipe cutting boards, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize properly with clean cloths.
  • 41-07-4:High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Bottle of burn medication stored above flip top cooler, discussed with operator who removed medication. Corrected On-Site
  • 12A-25-4:High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee itched hair with hand and after without washing hands employee handled container of cooked steak, discussed with operator employee washed hands.
  • 12A-29-4:High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee washed dirty dishes and after without washing hands handled clean and sanitized utensils. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 22-45-4:High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee rinsed off bowl and after without sanitizing bowl placed it to dry, discussed with operator proper dish washing procedures.
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in cooler raw shell eggs stored directly above cooked beef, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. Corrected On-Site
  • 03E-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. In steam table cooked shredded beef (154F - Reheating) per operator product finished reheating final reheating temperature did not reach 165F, discussed with operator who moved product back to flat top to reheat to 183F. Corrected On-Site
  • 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table cooked steak (133F - Hot Holding) per operator steak prepared on flat top stove and hot held in steam table, discussed with operator hot holding, operator moved product back to flat top to reheat to 187F. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 12A-03-4:Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands in three compartment sink, discussed with operator who educated employee.
  • 03D-15-4:Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. In large metal pot cooked chicken (106F - Cooling) at 9:25 since 9:00 to 105F at 9:20, at this current rate of cooling product will not reach 70F within 2 hours discussed with operator to move product to cooler to chill. In reach in cooler cut lettuce (47F - Cooling) at 9:20 since 9:00 to 47F at 9:40, at this current rate of cooling product will not reach 41F within 4 hours, discussed with operator to move to another cooler to allow for faster cooling. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand washing sink filled with dishes and non accessible, discussed with operator who cleared sink. Corrected On-Site
  • 11-26-1:Intermediate - 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. New employee Marleni morales started 1 week ago has no employee health reporting agreement or food handler certificate, discussed with operator.

Inspection Date: 7/25/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 13471306

  • 35A-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Approximately 7 dead roaches inside storage cabinet for single service items. Approximately 2 dead roaches inside AC unit on ceiling. Approximately 4 dead roaches under three compartment sink. Discussed with operator to clean and sanitize areas. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-25: Approximately 4 dead roaches on floor, discussed with operator who cleaned and sanitized areas. Admin Complaint Corrected On-Site
  • 36-17-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. MFDV flooring has rusted away with holes through the floor making outside ground visible from interior, discussed with operator to repair flooring. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-25: MFDV flooring has rusted away with holes through the floor making outside ground visible from interior, discussed with operator to repair flooring. Admin Complaint

Inspection Date: 7/25/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 13472555

  • 36-17-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. MFDV flooring has rusted away with holes through the floor making outside ground visible from interior, discussed with operator to repair flooring. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-25: MFDV flooring has rusted away with holes through the floor making outside ground visible from interior, discussed with operator to repair flooring. Admin Complaint - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-25: **Time Extended**

Inspection Date: 7/24/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10902020

  • 35A-03-4:Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Approximately 7 dead roaches inside storage cabinet for single service items. Approximately 2 dead roaches inside AC unit on ceiling. Approximately 4 dead roaches under three compartment sink. Discussed with operator to clean and sanitize areas. Warning
  • 36-17-5:Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. MFDV flooring has rusted away with holes through the floor making outside ground visible from interior, discussed with operator to repair flooring. Warning
  • 12A-29-4:High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled gas can and without washing hands employee handled dried chilis, discussed with operator employee washed hands. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 35A-05-4:High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Approximately 1 live roach fell from ceiling onto inspectors iPad, inspector had to sanitize iPad using alcohol swaps. Approximately 2 live roaches walking on floor in between steam table and flip top cooler. Approximately 30 live roaches under three compartment sink next to waste water tank. Discussed with operator to clean and sanitize all areas and eliminate all roaches. Warning
  • 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table refried beans (129F - Hot Holding) per operator product prepared on stove top and moved to steam table approximately 1 hour ago, discussed with operator who reheated product to 172F and placed back on steam table. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 27-16-4:Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hand washing sink no hot water discussed with operator who turned on water valve. Corrected On-Site Warning

Inspection Date: 12/4/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10734204

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 4/15/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8481291

  • 21-07-4:Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observe at 0ppm Operator correct to 75ppm. Corrected On-Site
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Operator Ice chest ; milk (52F - Cold Holding). Operator stated less then hour and added more ice. **Corrective Action Taken**

Inspection Date: 8/23/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8331705

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed