Nueces County restaurant inspections for Sept. 10 to Sept. 23

From Sept. 10 through Sept. 23, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found gloves stored inside a shrimp container on a cook line, food exposed to mold and other health violations at restaurants.

Out of more than 100 businesses inspected, 16 scored below a 95, and 46 received perfect scores. During the 14 days, Las Milpas on Port Avenue and Brewster Street Icehouse on the Island on Leeward Drive scored the lowest with an 86 each.

The health district describes a food establishment as a place that sells or serves food to the public. These establishments, which can include bars, hotels, apartments, schools and food trucks, must get an annual permit and be inspected by the health district.

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Inspections are based on a demerit system in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The inspection report checks for 47 different violations.

Here's how businesses scored from Sept. 10 through Sept. 23:

Sept. 10

Eight businesses were inspected. The following received perfect scores:

• Donut Palace: 2033 Airline Road
• Subway: 5441 Everhart Road
• Taco Bell: 14601 Northwest Blvd.
• Treasure Island Golf & Games: 14041 S. Padre Island Drive
• Wednesdays Coffee Co.: 2134 Waldron Road
• 1st and 10 Sports Bar: 3403 S. Padre Island Drive

The following scored below a 95:

• El Olvido Hacienda: 14617 Northwest Blvd. (94)
  • Inspectors found no certified food manager present, employees without food handler permits, grease buildup behind flat grill and suppression lines, food not dated, food not labeled and no thermometers in refrigerators or freezers.
  • El Olvido Hacienda was last inspected in October 2025 and received a 90.
• Little Manila Lumpia House: 2124 Waldron Road (91)
  • Inspectors found rice stored under raw chicken, food not dated, food not labeled, dirty vent hoods, grease buildup, ceiling tiles needing replacement, holes in walls and food stored on the floor.
  • Little Manila was last inspected in March and received a 91.

Sept. 11

Four businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Eirinis Gyros & More: 4223 S. Alameda St. (97)
• El Potro Mexican Restaurant No. 2: 6085 Weber Road (96)
• El Vago Burgers & BBQ No. 2: 322 N. Staples St. (100)
• Pauly's Beer Garden: 4301 S. Alameda St. (98)

Sept. 14

Eleven businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Asian Garden: 10501 Leopard St. (96)
• Banda's Seafood: 4934 Gollihar Road (100)
• Fired Up Nutrition: 10501 Leopard St. (98)
• Lou's Landmark Saloon: 5101 Leopard St. (100)
• Pelican's SnoBalls: 1290 FM 43 (100)
• Pizza Hut: 10702 Leopard St. (96)
• Rigatoni's Italian Restaurant: 10501 Leopard St. (100)
• Snapka's Drive Inn: 4434 Weber Road (98)
• Whataburger: 4126 S. Staples St. (100)

The following scored below a 95:

• Tacos Jalisco: 10733 Leopard St. (92)
  • Inspectors found food not labeled, dirty racks in refrigerators, dirty shelves, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use and no thermometers in refrigerators or freezers.
  • Tacos Jalisco was last inspected in October 2025 and received an 89.
• Taqueria El Alteño No. 3: 4928 Gollihar Road (91)
  • Inspectors found food stacked without lids, toxic chemicals stored near food, food not dated, food not labeled and employees not wearing beard guards.
  • Taqueria El Alteño was last inspected in March and received a 91.

Sept. 15

Twenty businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Bell'Aroma Cafe: 711 N. Carancahua St. (100)
• Big Bowl Korean BBQ: 6410 Weber Road (98)
• Birrieria Los Toros: 6410 Weber Road (100)
• Czech-Mex Bakery & Cafe: 711 N. Carancahua St. (100)
• Fried Fork: 711 N. Carancahua St. (100)
• Gyro Express: 711 N. Carancahua St. (100)
• It'll Do Saloon: 4125 Gollihar Road (100)
• La Jaivita No. 1: 3202 Prescott St. (100)
• McDonald's: 11202 Leopard St. (99)
• Pizza Hut: 6537 S. Staples St. (100)
• Schlotzsky's: 5805 Weber Road (100)
• Schlotzsky's: 11326 Leopard St. (99)
• Subway: 711 N. Carancahua St. (100)
• Taco Bell: 11328 Leopard St. (99)
• W&B Chinese Cuisine: 711 N. Carancahua St. (97)

The following scored below a 95:

• The Anchor Beach Bar & Grill: 15202 Windward Drive (89)
  • Inspectors found raw beef stored above raw seafood, toxic chemicals not labeled, pink mold in ice machine, buildup in bar nozzles, mold on back wall near walk-in cooler, new weatherstripping needed on walk-in cooler door, no hot water at outside bar and gnats.
  • The Anchor was last inspected in June and received an 88.
• Feliz Amanecer: 4551 Violet Road (89)
  • Inspectors found a plate stored on ready-to-eat rice, toxic chemicals stored improperly, threshold needed on back door, three-compartment sink incorrectly set up, cheese bowl stacked on ready-to-eat lettuce, employees improperly using utensils and employees improperly thawing meats.
  • Feliz Amanecer was last inspected in March and received an 88.
• Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant: 6601 Everhart Road (87)
  • Inspectors found food not dated, food not labeled, WD-40 stored with food items, grease buildup on fryer and fryer pipes, knife stored between cutting board and hot well, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use, an employee eating inside kitchen area and employees not wearing hairnets.
  • Golden Crown was last inspected in February and received an 86.
• Linda's Restaurant: 4033 Gollihar Road (87)
  • Inspectors found employees not wearing gloves when handling ready-to-eat food, food not covered, food stored improperly in walk-in cooler, sausage not being held at the proper temperature, food not dated, food not labeled, utensils stored improperly and wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use.
  • Linda's was last inspected in May and received an 88.
• Little Caesars Pizza: 11262 Leopard St. (91)
  • Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored improperly, no certified food manager present, employees without food handler permits, food not dated, food not labeled, buildup on equipment, employees wearing jewelry and employees not wearing beard guards.
  • Little Caesars was last inspected in April and received a 98.

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Sept. 16

Thirteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Coastline Cafe: 707 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
• Eddie's Tavern: 1305 Airline Road (95)
• El Muelle de San Blas: 920 Louisiana Ave. (100)
• Grimaldi's Pizzeria: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive (99)
• Hermanos Solis Restaurant No. 1: 3514 Baldwin Blvd. (100)
• McDonald's: 7522 S. Staples St. (100)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 5701 Everhart Road (98)
• Shoreline Sandwich Co.: 901 Leopard St. inside Nueces County Courthouse (98)
• Step Up Nutrition: 5315 Everhart Road (100)
• Subway: 6901 S. Padre Island Drive (99)
• The Terrace: 707 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
• Topsy Krett BBQ: 4709 Kostoryz Road (96)

The following scored below a 95:

• Las Milpas: 3036 S. Port Ave. (86)
  • Inspectors found food not covered, food not dated, food not labeled, employees without food handler permits, light needing replacement in back area, no covered trash can in women's restroom, dust on air conditioning vents, dirty coolers, dirty refrigerators, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use, employees without beard guards and no thermometers in reach-in coolers.
  • Las Milpas was last inspected in February and received an 88.

Sept. 17

Fifteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Fika: 4411 S. Alameda St. (100)
• Gates Donut Shop: 4417 S. Alameda St. (100)
• McDonald's: 4101 Leopard St. (100)
• Oasis Grill & Bar: 4425 S. Alameda St. (99)
• South Texas Icehouse Bar & Grill: 6601 Everhart Road (96)
• Starbucks: 3329 Leopard St. (100)
• Subway: 3701 Leopard St. (100)
• Subway: 2741 S. Staples St. (97)
• Taqueria Banda: 8081 Leopard St. (97)
• Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco No. 3: 8151 Leopard St. (96)
• Thai Sticky Rice: 14902 Trinity River Drive (97)
• Tower of Pizza: 14902 Trinity River Drive (100)
• Whole Fried Chicken: 7629 S. Staples St. (97)

The following scored below a 95:

• Brewster Street Icehouse on the Island: 15241 Leeward Drive (86)
  • Inspectors found toxic chemicals improperly stored, a dirty drink dispenser station on first floor, food not dated, food not labeled, employees improperly using utensils, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use, personal drinks without lids, employees not wearing hairnets, gloves stored inside a shrimp container on the cook line and record not kept of dates on oysters.
  • Brewster Street was last inspected in July and received a 90.
• Hester's Cafe Six Points: 1714 S. Alameda St. (92)
  • Inspectors found toxic chemicals not labeled, food not dated, food not labeled, sanitizer solution concentration not reading properly and employees not wearing beard guards.
  • Hester's was last inspected in March and received a 93.

Sept. 18

Four businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• El Buen Amaya: 3154 Morgan Ave. (100)
• IHOP: 5202 S. Padre Island Drive (96)
• The Island Cafe: 301 S. Alister St. in Port Aransas (95)
• McDonald's: 2222 S. Staples St. (100)

Sept. 21

Nine businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Blossom Sips Nutrition: 4043 Ayers St. (100)
• Church's Texas Chicken: 2901 Ayers St. (100)
• Church's Texas Chicken: 5149 Weber Road (97)
• Domino's Pizza: 5845 Weber Road (96)
• Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q: 6101 S. Padre Island Drive (97)
• Sonic: 13913 Northwest Blvd. (97)
• Subway: 5127 Weber Road (99)
• Wendy's: 15038 Northwest Blvd. (96)

The following scored below a 95:

• Taqueria Guadalajara: 10341 Leopard St. (88)
  • Inspectors found an employee preparing tacos without gloves, toxic chemicals not labeled, food not dated, food not labeled, a dirty fan blowing toward uncovered food, dirty shelves, employees having dirty rags hanging from waist and food not covered.
  • Taqueria Guadalajara was last inspected in August 2025 and received a 97.

Sept. 22

Fourteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:

• Dunkin': 6093 Saratoga Blvd. (100)
• Jersey Mike's Subs: 1813 Ennis Joslin Road (98)
• Jersey Mike's Subs: 4938 S. Staples St. (97)
• Luciano's Italian Restaurant: 1821 S. Alameda St. (95)
• Marble Slab Creamery: 4938 S. Staples St. (100)
• MOD Pizza: 4938 S. Staples St. (95)
• Papa Johns Pizza: 4037 Saratoga Blvd. (97)
• Papi Chulo's Mexican Restaurant: 4861 Saratoga Blvd. (97)
• Saigon's Civet Cafe: 2222 Airline Road (100)
• Subway: 5626 Leopard St. (100)
• Whataburger: 602 S. Padre Island Drive (100)

The following scored below a 95:

• El Jalisco Grill: 1813 Ennis Joslin Road (90)
  • Inspectors found raw eggs stored above lettuce, food not dated, food not labeled, door sweeps needed on doors, dirty vents in reach-in cooler, wet dishes stacked, employees improperly using utensils, employees not wearing hairnets and employees not wearing beard guards.
  • El Jalisco Grill was last inspected in February and received a 92.
• House of Meats: 3114 Holly Road (92)
  • Inspectors found food exposed to mold buildup, food not dated and food not labeled.
  • House of Meats was last inspected in August and received a 98.
• The Tavern: 1402 Rodd Field Road (94)
  • Inspectors found a toxic chemical not labeled, mold in ice machine, buildup on nozzles and gnats.
  • The Tavern was last inspected in March and received a 97.

Sept. 23

Three businesses were inspected. The following received perfect scores:

• Donut Palace: 14602 Compass St.
• El Tapatio: 14601 S. Padre Island Drive
• Kilates Coffee Roasting Co.: 14254 S. Padre Island Drive

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at [e-mail].

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Nueces County restaurant inspections for Sept. 10 to Sept. 23