How many health inspections has EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL had?

EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL has had 19 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.

Has EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL ever been shut down?

No, EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL has no emergency closures on record.

What are the most common violations at EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL?

The most frequently cited violations at EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL are: Proper hand/arm washing, Consumer advisory, Time as control.

What does Florida violation V08 (Proper hand/arm washing) mean?

TECHNIQUE FAILURE: Improper handwashing technique leaves pathogens on hands even when a handwashing attempt is made. Studies show 95% of people wash hands incorrectly — most don't scrub for 20 seconds or miss fingertips, thumbs, and between fingers. Incomplete washing creates a false sense of security while still transferring E. coli, Norovirus, and Salmonella to food. Correct technique requires: wet hands with clean warm water, apply soap, lather and scrub for 20+ seconds covering all surfaces including fingertips/nails/between fingers/back of hands, rinse thoroughly, dry with single-use towel. Use towel to turn off faucet. Do NOT use hand sanitizer as substitute for handwashing.

What does Florida violation V28 (Water supply) mean?

WATER CONTAMINATION: Non-potable water used in food establishment can contain: E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Legionella, lead, nitrates, and chemical contaminants. Contaminated water affects every operation — handwashing, cooking, ice making, cleaning, and sanitizing. A single water supply failure can cause community-wide outbreaks affecting hundreds. Legionella in water systems causes Legionnaires' disease (10% fatality). All water must be from an approved potable source. Hot and cold water must be available under pressure. Ice must be made from potable water and protected from contamination. Private wells must be tested annually. Backflow prevention devices required on all fixtures. If water supply is interrupted, cease operations until restored and verified safe.

What does Florida violation V31 (Clean multi-use utensils) mean?

BACTERIAL BIOFILM: Improperly cleaned multi-use utensils develop bacterial biofilms within 24 hours. These biofilms protect pathogens (Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli) from routine sanitizing — requiring physical scrubbing to remove. Each use of a contaminated utensil transfers pathogens to food. Improperly cleaned cutting boards harbor 200x more bacteria than a toilet seat. Clean and sanitize all multi-use utensils using the 3-compartment sink method: Wash in hot soapy water (110°F minimum), rinse in clean water, sanitize in approved solution (50-100 ppm chlorine or 200-400 ppm quaternary ammonium for 30 seconds), air dry. Or use properly functioning commercial dishwasher. Clean utensils at least every 4 hours during continuous use.

EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL

4165 9 ST SW STE 107, Vero Beach, FL 32968-4879

Indian River County · Permanent Food Service · Owner: EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL INC · License: SEA4105362

EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL in Vero Beach, FL has 19 inspections on record with 157 total violations (8.3 per inspection) and 0 emergency closures.

19Inspections

157Violations

0Closures

Data current as of June 20, 2025

Inspection History (19)

Jun 20, 2025 — Routine - Food· 5 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Dec 13, 2024 — Routine - Food· 7 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V03 Employee health reporting

V05 Handwashing procedures

V14 Food contact surfaces

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Jul 22, 2024 — Routine - Food· 6 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate Violations

V29 Proper sewage disposal

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V50 Adequate lighting

V51 Premises clean

Jan 9, 2024 — Complaint Full· 1 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

Jan 5, 2024 — Routine - Food· 3 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V21 Time as control

Aug 29, 2023 — Routine - Food· 12 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V06 Handwashing facilities

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V11 Food in good condition

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

V25 Allergen awareness

Intermediate Violations

V32 Proper sanitizing

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Feb 9, 2023 — Routine - Food· 10 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V09 No contamination

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V16 Proper cooking temps

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

Jul 25, 2022 — Routine - Food· 8 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Feb 7, 2022 — Routine - Food· 9 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V36 Proper ventilation

Aug 11, 2021 — Routine - Food· 12 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V40 Wiping cloths usage

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jan 4, 2021 — Routine - Food· 10 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V10 Approved food source

V14 Food contact surfaces

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Aug 26, 2020 — Routine - Food· 4 violations · Call Back - Complied

High Priority Violations

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

Aug 24, 2020 — Routine - Food· 20 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V12 Shell stock requirements

V21 Time as control

V23 Chemical properly stored

V24 Toxic substance control

V28 Water supply

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V36 Proper ventilation

V38 Waste properly disposed

V40 Wiping cloths usage

V41 Toilet facilities

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jun 23, 2020 — Complaint Partial· 0 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.

May 1, 2020 — Routine - Food· 10 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

V12 Shell stock requirements

V16 Proper cooking temps

V21 Time as control

V22 Consumer advisory

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

V40 Wiping cloths usage

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Aug 29, 2019 — Routine - Food· 13 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

V16 Proper cooking temps

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V31 Clean multi-use utensils

Basic Violations

V53 Outer openings protected

Jan 31, 2019 — Routine - Food· 18 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V03 Employee health reporting

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

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

V33 Proper cooling equipment

V35 Single-use items

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

Jul 11, 2018 — Routine - Food· 9 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority Violations

V02 Employee health policy

V08 Proper hand/arm washing

V16 Proper cooking temps

V22 Consumer advisory

V23 Chemical properly stored

Intermediate Violations

V35 Single-use items

Basic Violations

V51 Premises clean

V53 Outer openings protected

Feb 8, 2018 — Food-Licensing Inspection· 0 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.

How Does This Facility Compare?

EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL has had 0 emergency closures, compared to the Indian River County average of 0.10 closures per facility. It has averaged 8.3 violations per inspection vs. the county average of 4.97.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many health inspections has EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL had?: EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL has had 19 inspections according to Florida DBPR records.
Has EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL ever been shut down?: No, EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL has no emergency closures on record.
What are the most common violations at EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL?: The most frequently cited violations at EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL are: Proper hand/arm washing, Consumer advisory, Time as control.

Nearby Establishments

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27 inspections · 271 violations

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DAVILA'S PIZZA

4125 9 ST SW #102, Vero Beach

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ONIKU HIBACHI

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SAVORES #2

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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: June 20, 2025 | Our methodology | Editorial standards | Report an error

This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with EL TAPATIO MEXICAN GRILL.