MIAMI, FL. Inspectors visiting Marabu at 701 S Miami Ave during the week of May 25 documented 12 high-severity violations in a single visit, the highest count among 15 Miami restaurants cited for serious infractions that week. The findings included food sourced from unapproved suppliers, inadequate shell stock identification records, parasite destruction procedures not being followed, and no person in charge present or performing duties.
That last violation is not a paperwork problem. It is the condition that makes every other violation more likely.
The Week's Worst Findings
Mi Lindo Ecuador at 8726 NW 26 St was emergency-closed by the state on May 27 after inspectors found roach activity inside the facility. The closure came alongside 11 high-severity violations, including food sourced from unapproved suppliers, food found in poor condition or adulterated, inadequate shell stock records, and no written employee health policy.
Supermachi Grill and Bar at 7925 NW 2 St drew 9 high-severity violations. Inspectors cited the absence of a person in charge, no employee health policy, food from unapproved sources, shell stock identification failures, and improper use of time as a public health control.
Lolita Restaurant Corp at 316 SW 8 Ave was cited for 8 high-severity violations, including food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and both inadequate and improperly performed handwashing.
Acai Express at 6855 Main St accumulated 7 high-severity violations including parasite destruction procedures not followed, food from unapproved sources, toxic chemicals improperly stored, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items.
Mikes at Venetia at 555 NE 15 St also drew 7 high-severity violations. Among them: food not cooked to minimum required temperature, improper sewage or wastewater disposal noted as an intermediate violation, and toxic chemicals stored improperly.
El Gallegazo at 7467 Coral Way was cited for 6 high-severity violations including undercooked food, time as a public health control not properly used, no consumer advisory, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
Kami-Koi Sushi Fusion at 13816 SW 56 St drew 6 high-severity violations including no person in charge, food from unapproved sources, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and single-use items being reused.
Pollo Tropical 150 at 1277 SW 8 St received 6 high-severity violations with no intermediate violations. The citations included food not cooked to required minimum temperature, food in poor condition, inadequate shell stock identification, and toxic chemicals stored improperly.
Mangal Edgewater at 2929 Biscayne Blvd was cited for 5 high-severity violations, including no allergen awareness demonstrated, food not cooked to minimum temperature, no consumer advisory, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
iBurger at 275 NE 18 St drew 4 high-severity violations including an employee not reporting illness symptoms, food in poor condition, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Inspectors also noted improper sewage or wastewater disposal.
Ol'Days at 3301 NE 1 Ave received 4 high-severity violations: improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, food not cooked to minimum temperature, time as a public health control not properly used, and no consumer advisory.
Los Ranchos Restaurant at the Falls at 8888 SW 136 St was cited for 4 high-severity violations including an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and no consumer advisory.
Studio 24 at 1250 S Miami Ave drew 4 high-severity violations: no employee health policy, inadequate handwashing, improper handwashing technique, and food in poor condition or adulterated.
Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar and Latam Grill at 3067 Grand Ave received 3 high-severity violations including inadequate handwashing facilities, time as a public health control not properly used, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods.
What These Violations Mean
The absence of a person in charge, cited at Marabu, Supermachi Grill and Bar, and Kami-Koi Sushi Fusion, is not a technicality. CDC research shows facilities without active managerial control accumulate critical violations at three times the rate of those with engaged supervision. When no one is directing the kitchen, every other safeguard weakens.
Food from unapproved or unknown sources, documented at Marabu, Mi Lindo Ecuador, Supermachi Grill and Bar, Acai Express, and Kami-Koi Sushi Fusion, removes the inspection chain that catches contaminated product before it reaches a plate. If someone gets sick, there is no way to trace the ingredient back through the supply chain to identify the source or the scope of the problem.
The consumer advisory violations found at Lolita Restaurant Corp, Acai Express, Mikes at Venetia, El Gallegazo, Mangal Edgewater, iBurger, Ol'Days, Los Ranchos, and Jaguar Ceviche are especially consequential at restaurants serving raw or lightly cooked proteins. Pregnant women, elderly diners, and anyone with a compromised immune system face acute risk from undercooked poultry or raw shellfish and have no way to make an informed choice if the menu carries no warning.
The handwashing violations across this week's list, ranging from employees not washing at all to employees using improper technique, are the most direct contamination pathway in a commercial kitchen. At Studio 24, inspectors cited both failures simultaneously: inadequate handwashing and improper technique. That combination means contaminated hands are reaching food regardless of whether an employee makes the attempt.
The Longer Record
Several of this week's worst offenders are not new to inspectors. Mi Lindo Ecuador, Pollo Tropical 150, and Ol'Days each carry 29 prior inspections on record, the highest history count among all facilities cited this week. Mi Lindo Ecuador's emergency closure for roach activity on May 27 came against that backdrop of nearly three dozen previous visits. Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar and Latam Grill also shows 29 prior inspections, and this week's findings still included a citation for inadequate handwashing facilities, a structural problem that cannot be fixed during a shift.
Kami-Koi Sushi Fusion has 28 prior inspections on record and this week drew violations for food from unapproved sources and single-use items being reused. Supermachi Grill and Bar has 27 prior inspections and still had no person in charge present. Mikes at Venetia has 25 prior inspections and this week was cited for improper sewage disposal alongside food temperature and chemical storage failures.
Mangal Edgewater and Studio 24 each carry 25 prior inspections. Mangal's citation this week for no allergen awareness demonstrated is notable given how many visits preceded it. El Gallegazo has 23 prior inspections and Los Ranchos Restaurant at the Falls has 23 as well, both drawing handwashing and food safety violations that inspectors have had ample opportunity to observe before.
Acai Express, with 14 prior inspections, is among the shorter histories on this week's list. It still accumulated 7 high-severity violations including parasite destruction failures and unapproved food sources. Marabu, with 16 prior inspections and the week's highest violation count at 12 high-severity findings, had no person in charge present when inspectors arrived. Whether that absence contributed to the scope of what they found is a question the record does not answer.