How many health inspections has EL TROPICO REST had?

EL TROPICO REST has had 23 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.

Has EL TROPICO REST ever been shut down?

Yes, EL TROPICO REST has been shut down 2 times by state inspectors.

What are the most common violations at EL TROPICO REST?

The most frequently cited violations at EL TROPICO REST are: Food contact surfaces, Employee health policy, Proper ventilation.

What does Florida violation V14 (Food contact surfaces) mean?

CROSS-CONTAMINATION: Improperly cleaned food contact surfaces are a primary vehicle for bacterial transfer. Cutting boards can harbor 200x more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat. Biofilms form on surfaces within 24 hours, protecting Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli from routine cleaning. One contaminated surface can transfer pathogens to dozens of food items throughout the day. Clean and sanitize ALL food contact surfaces: after each use, between different food types (especially raw meat to ready-to-eat), every 4 hours during continuous use, and when contaminated. Use proper sanitizer concentration: chlorine 50-100 ppm, quaternary ammonium 200-400 ppm. Air dry — do not towel dry. Test sanitizer concentration every 2 hours.

What does Florida violation V32 (Proper sanitizing) mean?

SANITIZER FAILURE: Improper sanitizer concentration leaves pathogens alive on surfaces. Too weak: bacteria survive and multiply. Too strong: chemical residue contaminates food. Incorrect temperature or contact time reduces effectiveness by up to 90%. Without proper sanitizing, cleaned surfaces still harbor millions of Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli. Use approved sanitizers at proper concentration: Chlorine: 50-100 ppm, temperature 75°F+, contact time 7 seconds minimum. Quaternary ammonium: 200-400 ppm, temperature per manufacturer specs, contact time 30 seconds minimum. Hot water sanitizing: 171°F for 30 seconds. Test concentration with test strips every 2 hours. Change solution when dirty.

EL TROPICO REST

7902 NW 36 ST, Miami, FL 331666637

Miami-Dade County · Permanent Food Service · Owner: EL TROPICO RESTAURANT CAFE INC · License: SEA2323291

EL TROPICO REST in Miami, FL has 23 inspections on record with 310 total violations (13.5 per inspection) and 2 emergency closures.

23Inspections

310Violations

2Closures

Data current as of March 17, 2025

Emergency Closures (2)

Emergency closure history for EL TROPICO REST
Date	Reason	Reopened
Mar 2, 2015	Roach activity	12:03:00
Feb 12, 2015	Roach activity	12:24:00

Inspection History (23)

Mar 17, 2025 — Complaint Full· 4 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V32 Proper sanitizing

Jan 15, 2025 — Complaint Full· 20 violations (1 high priority)· Warning Issued

Sep 12, 2024 — Routine - Food· 21 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V32 Proper sanitizing

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Mar 27, 2024 — Routine - Food· 12 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V32 Proper sanitizing

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Oct 26, 2023 — Routine - Food· 17 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V32 Proper sanitizing

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V45 Floor maintenance

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Mar 30, 2023 — Routine - Food· 14 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V32 Proper sanitizing

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

V53 Outer openings protected

Aug 18, 2022 — Routine - Food· 13 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jan 24, 2022 — Routine - Food· 13 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V01 Management awareness

V02 Employee health policy

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Aug 5, 2021 — Routine - Food· 16 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jan 14, 2021 — Routine - Food· 12 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Aug 31, 2020 — Routine - Food· 19 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V45 Floor maintenance

V53 Outer openings protected

Apr 13, 2020 — Routine - Food· 18 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V24 Toxic substance control

V27 Correct procedures

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V32 Proper sanitizing

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Dec 6, 2019 — Routine - Food· 8 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Jun 12, 2019 — Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V23 Chemical properly stored

Jun 11, 2019 — Routine - Food· 18 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Mar 29, 2019 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V14 Food contact surfaces

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

Jan 28, 2019 — Routine - Food· 27 violations (5 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V13 Parasite destruction

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

May 30, 2018 — Routine - Food· 12 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V24 Toxic substance control

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Jul 20, 2017 — Routine - Food· 0 violations · Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Jul 13, 2017 — Routine - Food· 24 violations (6 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

Jan 6, 2017 — Routine - Food· 11 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

Jul 6, 2016 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V14 Food contact surfaces

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

Jul 5, 2016 — Routine - Food· 24 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V35 Single-use items

V36 Proper ventilation

V41 Toilet facilities

How Does This Facility Compare?

EL TROPICO REST has had 2 emergency closures, compared to the Miami-Dade County average of 0.08 closures per facility. It has averaged 13.5 violations per inspection vs. the county average of 4.07.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many health inspections has EL TROPICO REST had?: EL TROPICO REST has had 23 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.
Has EL TROPICO REST ever been shut down?: Yes, EL TROPICO REST has been shut down 2 times by state inspectors.
What are the most common violations at EL TROPICO REST?: The most frequently cited violations at EL TROPICO REST are: Food contact surfaces, Employee health policy, Proper ventilation.

Nearby Establishments

CATRINA RESTAURANT, CORP

7902 NW 36 ST STE 7-8, Doral

24 inspections · 210 violations

Last inspected: Apr 8, 2025

PATACON RESTAURANT 2

7902 NW 36 ST, Miami

22 inspections · 210 violations

Last inspected: Mar 4, 2025

MIYAKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

7902 NW 36 ST # 12, Miami

20 inspections · 182 violations

Last inspected: Dec 17, 2024

LA CROQUANTINE DE MATTHIEU

7930 NW 36 ST STE 30, Doral

26 inspections · 178 violations

Last inspected: Jun 19, 2025

Editorial Standards & Data Oversight

Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.

Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, using professional regulatory data auditing protocols.

Last verified: March 17, 2025 | Our methodology | Editorial standards | Report an error

This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with EL TROPICO REST.