From Sept. 3 through Sept. 9, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found personal medication stored near food, raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat food and other health violations at restaurants.
Out of more than 40 businesses inspected, 15 scored below a 95, and 17 received perfect scores. During the seven days, Ol' Steakhouse Co. on Avalon Street scored the lowest with an 86.
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.
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. 3 through Sept. 9:
Sept. 3
Eight businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Belleeah's Apples & Treats: 6149 McArdle Road (100)
- Great American Cookies/Marble Slab Creamery: 4101 IH-69 Access Road (98)
- Wildcat Donuts: 14241 Northwest Blvd. (98)
The following scored below a 95:
- Carniceria Hidalgo: 2702 Dunbar St. (89)
- Inspectors found no certified food manager present, employees without food handler permits, a broken handwashing sink, a dirty outdoor grill, a dirty outdoor steamer, broken fan in walk-in cooler, dirty air conditioning vents, broken sink spray head, dirty floors in cutting room, dirty floors in outside cooking area, broken knives and pests present.
- Carniceria Hidalgo was last inspected in August and received an 88.
- Doc's Seafood and Steaks: 13309 S. Padre Island Drive (93)
- Inspectors found a toxic chemical bottle unlabeled, mold on drink nozzles, buildup on walk-in fans and insects present.
- Doc's was last inspected in January and received a 97.
- Ol' Steakhouse Co.: 4307 Avalon St. (86)
- Inspectors found food not separated/protected properly, no paper towels at handwashing sink, a missing mop sink, missing weatherstrip on door, dust buildup on air vents in walk-in cooler, missing kitchen floor tiles, buildup on ice machine lid, dust buildup in multiple areas, buildup in bulk containers, buildup on glass rack, improperly using utensils, personal items on prep station, flies and roaches.
- Ol' Steakhouse was last inspected August 2026 and received a 96.
- Pare Hangout Asian Cuisine: 13919 S. Padre Island Drive (93)
- Inspectors found raw chicken stored above vegetables, a toxic chemical bottle unlabeled and an employee not wearing a beard guard.
- Pare Hangout was last inspected in January and received an 89.
- Taqueria Jalisco No. 2: 2341 Horne Road (88)
- Inspectors found food stored on floor in freezer, improper use of handwashing sink, food not dated, food not labeled, grease buildup, dirty ceiling vents in kitchen, bowls stored inside potatoes, a dirty spatula stored on tortillas, personal drinks not stored away, employees not wearing hairnets and employees not wearing beard guards.
- Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in August and received a 90.
Sept. 4
Eleven businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Arandas In & Out: 5602 Old Brownsville Road (100)
- Bien Mérité Bakery and Restaurant: 3104 S. Alameda St. (100)
- Desserted Island Ice Cream: 100 E. White Ave. in Port Aransas (95)
- The Food Hut: 315 S. Alister St. in Port Aransas (100)
- Port A Creamery: 210 N. Alister St. in Port Aransas (100)
- Roasted Coffee Shop Inc.: 5535 Bonner Drive (100)
- Shaved Ice Co.: 315 Cut-Off Road in Port Aransas (100)
- Subway: 4101 Highway 77 L-7 (99)
- Tipsy Cadillac Room: 2521 Greenwood Drive (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Niko's Steakhouse: 5409 Saratoga Blvd. (91)
- Inspectors found personal medication stored near food, toxic chemicals stored improperly, food not dated, food not labeled, a reach-in cooler leaking, weatherstripping on door needing replacement, utensils improperly stored in dry goods, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use, employees not wearing beard guards, employees not wearing hairnets and personal drinks not stored away.
- Niko's was last inspected in June and received a 95.
- Pelican Lounge: 14330 S. Padre Island Drive (93)
- Inspectors found a toxic chemical bottle unlabeled, mold in ice machine, food not dated and food not labeled.
- Pelican Lounge was last inspected in January and received a 92.
Sept. 8
Thirteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Bill Miller Bar-B-Q: 4946 Ayers St. (100)
- Buffalo Wild Wings: 2001 S. Padre Island Drive (95)
- Burger King: 309 IH-37 (99)
- Domino's Pizza: 11217 Leopard St. (100)
- Muelle 37: 4918 Ayers St. (97)
- Pho D' Noodle House: 3403 S. Padre Island Drive (95)
- Pizza Hut: 7001 Yorktown Blvd. (100)
- Whataburger: 9402 Leopard St. (96)
- Wienerschnitzel: 3555 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet: 5274 S. Staples St. (94)
- Inspectors found food not dated, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use and pests present.
- Hibachi Grill was last inspected in March and received a 98.
- Mr. Crabby's: 1510 S. Padre Island Drive (91)
- Inspectors found a toxic chemical bottle unlabeled, mold buildup in ice machine, mold buildup in soda guns, food not labeled, wet stacked dishes and employees not wearing hairnets.
- Mr. Crabby's was last inspected in May and received a 96.
- Taqueria Express & Seafood No. 1: 4346 Ayers St. (91)
- Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored near food, employees not wearing gloves, employees not washing hands between tasks, food not dated and employees improperly using utensils.
- Taqueria Express & Seafood was last inspected in March and received an 88.
- Wildcat Donuts No. 2: 11217 Leopard St. (92)
- Inspectors found food not covered, pesticides in storage area and food not dated.
- Wildcat Donuts was last inspected in March and received a perfect score.
Sept. 9
Twelve businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Bubba's 33: 1921 S. Padre Island Drive (97)
- The BWB Restaurant: 7114 Saratoga Blvd. (97)
- El Ranchero Tortillas Factory: 3901 Carmen St. (100)
- Matcha Konomi: 110 Tarlton St. (100)
- Moe's-Texas Style BBQ: 4028 Weber Road (100)
- Radiant Nutrition: 3251 Baldwin Blvd. (100)
- Subway: 4128 S. Staples St. (99)
- Texas Roadhouse: 2029 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Alteño Taqueria: 2601 Ayers St. (91)
- Inspectors found food purchased from an unapproved source, food not covered, food not dated, grease buildup on equipment and kitchen walls, and employees washing dishes improperly, not wearing gloves, not washing hands between tasks and improperly using utensils.
- Alteño Taqueria was last inspected in June and received an 80.
- El Charro Restaurant: 4105 Agnes St. (87)
- Inspectors found raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat food, no paper towels at handwashing sink, mold in ice machine, food not dated, food not labeled, dirty vent in walk-in cooler, utensils used improperly, employees without beard guards and food stored on the floor in walk-in cooler.
- El Charro was last inspected in April and received an 86.
- Kiko's Mexican Food Restaurant & Cantina: 5514 Everhart Road (93)
- Inspectors found an employee touching lettuce without gloves, food not dated, food not labeled, cooks holding dirty rags on their waistbands and gnats.
- Kiko's was last inspected in February and received a 94.
- Surfing Crab: 6418 S. Staples St. (94)
- Inspectors found food not dated, food not labeled, dirty food contact surfaces and wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use.
- Surfing Crab was last inspected in October 2025 and received a 94.
John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Nueces County restaurant inspections for Sept. 3 to Sept. 9
