From July 16 through July 22, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found gnat traps at a salad bar, mold in soda nozzles and other health violations at restaurants.
Out of more than 40 businesses inspected, 15 scored below a 95, and 18 received perfect scores. During the seven days, Hunan Express on Everhart Road scored the lowest with a 76.
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 July 16 through July 22:
July 16
Nine businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Concrete Street Amphitheater: 700 Concrete St. (100)
- Elizabeth's at the Art Museum: 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
- La Herradura Taqueria: 4701 Ayers St. (100)
- Neil's Urban Oven: 2422 Rand Morgan Road (97)
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 1115 S. Port Ave. (96)
The following scored below a 95:
- Brewster Street Ice House Southside: 5550 Holly Road (89)
- Inspectors found cheese sauce improperly reheated, bleach stored at handwashing sink, food not dated, food not labeled, dirty physical facilities and improper personal cleanliness.
- Brewster Street was last inspected in March and received a 94.
- El Charly Taqueria: 3002 S. Port Ave. (94)
- Inspectors found food not covered, food not dated, employees improperly using utensils, ice scooper stored improperly and the use of unapproved pest sprays.
- El Charly was last inspected in February and received a 90.
- La Hacienda Meat Market: 3002 S. Port Ave. (78)
- Inspectors found food not dated, food not labeled, toxic chemicals stored improperly, employees without food handler permits, no certified food manager, dirty handwashing sink, handwashing sink needing to be stocked up, personal drinks stored in ice machine, dirty freezer door screen, employees improperly storing scoopers, gnats, and employees improperly thawing meat.
- La Hacienda was last inspected in February and received an 87.
- Level Up Nutrition: 4701 Ayers St. (93)
- Inspectors found food not labeled, employees without food handler permits, three-compartment sink not set up and no thermometers in freezers and coolers.
- Level Up Nutrition was last inspected in March and received a 95.
July 17
Fourteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Barton St. Pub: 10618 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Clubhouse 7: 10506 S. Padre Island Drive (98)
- Double J Jerky: 9602 Leopard St. (100)
- Gorditas San Panchos: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive inside Corpus Christi Trade Center (97)
- Little Caesars Pizza: 10529 S. Padre Island Drive (99)
- Señor Mango: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive inside Corpus Christi Trade Center (98)
- Sonic: 3500 Ayers St. (100)
- Subway: 10529 S. Padre Island Drive (98)
- Wingstop: 10529 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Acapulco Restaurant & Bar No. 2: 4425 Weber Road (93)
- Inspectors found food being improperly cooled down, containers stacked on top of cheese, food not dated and food not labeled.
- Acapulco was last inspected in January and received a 94.
- Hunan Express No. 1: 5502 Everhart Road (76)
- Inspectors found employees improperly washing hands, employees not wearing gloves, food improperly separated/protected, food not dated, food not labeled, food not held at the proper temperature, dirty food surfaces, food cooled down improperly, dirty physical facilities and pests present.
- Hunan Express was last inspected in February and received an 89.
- JP Carne Belica: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive inside Corpus Christi Trade Center (94)
- Inspectors found food not dated and no consumer advisory poster provided for raw/undercooked food.
- This was the first inspection for JP Carne Belica.
- Sno Ball King: 2833 S. Padre Island Drive inside Corpus Christi Trade Center (93)
- Inspectors found no certified food manager present and employees eating food.
- Sno Ball King was last inspected in December 2025 and received a 91.
- Taqueria Jalisco No. 4: 5322 Everhart Road (88)
- Inspectors found an employee not wearing gloves while preparing a taco, no 2026 operating permit, no soap at handwashing sink, food not dated, food not labeled, a gap in the back door, mold buildup in ice maker and food not covered.
- Taqueria Jalisco was last inspected in March and received an 88.
July 20
Eight businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Baare BBQ: 7626 S. Staples St. (100)
- Black Monk Tavern: 5712 Gollihar Road (100)
- Dairy Queen: 11101 Leopard St. (96)
- Dewey's Beer Garden: 2302 Rodd Field Road (99)
- Hi-Ho Restaurant: 3703 Morgan Ave. (96)
- Shipley Do-Nuts: 1722 Rodd Field Road (96)
The following scored below a 95:
- K-BOB's Steakhouse: 14526 Northwest Blvd. (93)
- Inspectors found gnat traps at salad bar, toxic chemical bottle not labeled, dirty ice dispenser, dirty soda nozzles, dirty racks in coolers, employees not wearing beard guards and gnats.
- K-BOB's was last inspected in November 2025 and received a 93.
- Little Caesars Pizza: 4208 Ayers St. (85)
- Inspectors found food not labeled, toxic chemicals stored improperly, no certified food manager present, food not dated, dirty walls in front area, utensils stored improperly, employees not wearing hairnets and employees wearing jewelry.
- Little Caesars was last inspected in March and received an 89.
July 21
Five businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Cicis Pizza: 1502 Airline Road (95)
- Dokyo Dauntaun: 424 N. Chaparral St. (100)
- Donut World: 2317 Ayers St. (100)
- Shipley Do-Nuts: 5625 Saratoga Blvd. (100)
- Tannins Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant: 3855 S. Alameda St. (100)
July 22
Eleven businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- The Coffee Mugg: 4535 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Taylor Center Deli: 3636 S. Alameda St. (100)
- Trout Street Bar & Grill: 104 W. Cotter Ave. in Port Aransas (96)
- Virginia's on the Bay: 815 Trout St. in Port Aransas (96)
- Wendy's: 4105 Ayers St. (100)
- Wingstop: 6313 Wooldridge Road (100)
- 90° Cafe/Kanto: 7629 S. Staples St. (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- BierHaus: 522 E. Ave. G in Port Aransas (90)
- Inspectors found a toxic chemical bottle not labeled, mold on ice chute, food not dated, food not labeled, new weatherstripping needed for back door, employees not wearing hairnets and flies.
- This was the first inspection for BierHaus.
- Price's Chef: 1800 S. Alameda St. (88)
- Inspectors found food not labeled, employees without food handler permits, no certified food manager present, food not dated, ice scooper stored improperly and wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use.
- Price's Chef was last inspected in January and received a 91.
- Sip Yard: 123 W. Cotter Ave. in Port Aransas (93)
- Inspectors found a toxic chemical bottle not labeled, mold buildup in ice chute, mold buildup in margarita nozzles, mold buildup in soda nozzles, food not dated and food not labeled.
- Sip Yard was last inspected in November 2025 and received a 99.
- 7 Brew Coffee: 3245 S. Alameda St. (94)
- Inspectors found employees without food handler permits, no certified food manager present, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use and employees not wearing hairnets.
- 7 Brew Coffee was last inspected in January and received a perfect score.
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 July 16 to July 22
