Tropical Cuisine in Tampa
Last inspected:
3405 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610Tropical Cuisine in Tampa was emergency-closed on September 16, 2025 for rodent, roach, and fly activity. The facility has 24 inspections on record dating back several years, accumulating 302 violations—an average of 12.6 per inspection, more than double the statewide average of 5.2. High-priority violations have been pervasive, with employee health policy violations cited in at least 8 inspections, chemical storage violations in 7 inspections, and time-as-control violations (improper use of time rather than temperature to hold food safely) in 9 inspections. The facility has received 2 disciplinary actions totaling $960 in fines.
The September 2025 enforcement sequence reveals escalating conditions. On September 16, an inspector documented severe violations across 57 categories (9 high-priority, 6 intermediate, 18 basic) and recommended an emergency closure order for rodent, roach, and fly activity. Two follow-up inspections were conducted on September 17: one callback compliance inspection resulted in "Complied" status with 39 violations cited, while a second inspection the same day documented non-compliance with 42 violations, including repeated high-priority findings in employee health policy and hand/arm washing. This pattern of recurring violations across multiple inspections, combined with the documented pest activity and the facility's sustained non-compliance after the emergency closure order, indicates serious and persistent food safety management failures.
Most recent closure: September 16, 2025 for rodent, roach & fly activity.
Summary generated from Florida DBPR public inspection records.
Tropical Cuisine in Tampa: Comparison to Hillsborough County Averages
Tropical Cuisine in Tampa: Emergency Closure History (1)
Tropical Cuisine in Tampa: Fines & Disciplinary Actions (2)
Total fines on record: $960.00
| Action Date | Case Number | Fine | Violation Date | Enforcement Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2025070913 | $800.00 | Sep 16, 2025 | Orlando | |
| 3--2024053566 | $160.00 | Jul 15, 2024 | Miami (Doral) |
Tropical Cuisine in Tampa: Full Inspection History — DBPR (25)
— 1 inspection5 violations · 3 high priority
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 5 inspections66 violations · 36 high priority
— Routine - Food· 13 violations (7 high priority)· Emergency Order Callback Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 14 violations (7 high priority)· Emergency Order Callback Not Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 19 violations (11 high priority)· Emergency order recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Complaint Partial· 8 violations (5 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 12 violations (6 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 2 inspections27 violations · 13 high priority
— Complaint Full· 15 violations (8 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 12 violations (5 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 3 inspections42 violations · 25 high priority
— Routine - Food· 14 violations (8 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 11 violations (8 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 17 violations (9 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 2 inspections27 violations · 15 high priority
— Routine - Food· 15 violations (9 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 12 violations (6 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 4 inspections30 violations · 22 high priority
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (6 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Complaint Full· 3 violations (3 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
— Complaint Full· 13 violations (8 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 6 violations (5 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 3 inspections20 violations · 14 high priority
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (7 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (3 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 4 inspections20 violations · 16 high priority
— Routine - Food· 3 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (5 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 3 violations (3 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (6 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Basic Violations
— 1 inspection0 violations
— Food-Licensing Inspection· 0 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action
No violations recorded for this inspection.
Tropical Cuisine in Tampa: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Tropical Cuisine in Tampa under active enforcement?
- Records show 3 emergency order inspections between September 16, 2025 and September 17, 2025. This data reflects state records at time of publication. The facility may have since resolved these issues.
- When was Tropical Cuisine in Tampa last inspected?
- Tropical Cuisine in Tampa was last inspected by Florida DBPR on May 7, 2026. The result was: Inspection Completed - No Further Action.
- When was Tropical Cuisine in Tampa last shut down?
- Tropical Cuisine in Tampa was last shut down on September 16, 2025 for rodent, roach & fly activity. This data reflects state records at time of publication. The facility may have since resolved these issues.
- What are the most common violations at Tropical Cuisine in Tampa?
- The most frequently cited violations at Tropical Cuisine in Tampa are: Chemical properly stored, Employee health policy, Time as control.
- How many health inspections has Tropical Cuisine in Tampa had?
- Tropical Cuisine in Tampa has had 25 inspections on record with Florida DBPR, averaging 12.5 violations per inspection, above the statewide average of 5.2.
- What did the most recent inspection of Tropical Cuisine in Tampa find?
- Tropical Cuisine in Tampa was most recently inspected on May 7, 2026 with 10 violation(s). Disposition: Inspection Completed - No Further Action.
- Has Tropical Cuisine in Tampa ever been shut down?
- Yes, Tropical Cuisine in Tampa has been emergency-closed 1 time by Florida DBPR inspectors.
- What does Florida violation V10 (Approved food source) mean?
- Violation 10 (Approved food source) is classified as a high priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/10.
- What does Florida violation V22 (Consumer advisory) mean?
- Violation 22 (Consumer advisory) is classified as a high priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/22.
- What does Florida violation V23 (Chemical properly stored) mean?
- Violation 23 (Chemical properly stored) is classified as a high priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/23.
- Has Tropical Cuisine in Tampa faced any disciplinary actions?
- Yes, Tropical Cuisine in Tampa has 2 disciplinary action(s) on record with Florida DBPR totaling $960.00 in fines.
- How much has Tropical Cuisine in Tampa been fined?
- Tropical Cuisine in Tampa has been fined a total of $960.00 across 2 disciplinary action(s) on record with Florida DBPR.
Nearby Establishments to Tropical Cuisine
Poor Inspection Records Near Tampa
Stories You May Have Missed Tampa
Tampa's La Ceibena Shut Down for Roach Activity, Ordered Vacated by April 30
State inspectors emergency-closed La Ceibena on W Flora St in Tampa on April 29, 2026, citing active roach activity insi…
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.
Disclaimer: All data reflects official state records at time of publication. Facilities may have since corrected cited violations, resolved enforcement actions, or changed ownership.
Editor: All content reviewed and verified by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with Tropical Cuisine. How we collect and verify this data.