El Castillo Taqueria
9735 Old St Augustine Rd Unit 18, Jacksonville, FL 32257 · Permanent Food Service · License 2614496
What drove the grade
Live, small flying insects found.
How the score was calculated
- Starting score100
- Violations at the Jul 21 routine inspection12 high priority (1 fixed on the spot), 5 intermediate (1 fixed on the spot, 1 repeat), 7 basic; all violations together cost 70 at most-70
- Administrative complaint on Jul 21, now extension grantedCounts in full until a follow-up finds the problems fixed-20
- Safety score10
Our own summary of the public record, not an official state rating. How grades work · Report an error
Inspection history
1 inspection · 4 visitsRoutine inspection
- 3rd follow-up visitOct 23, 2026 Extension granted
Some problems still weren't fixed, but the owner was working on them, so the inspector allowed more time and will come back again.
1 violation still not corrected:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat was still cited
Intermediate1
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
Manager out of country, will be back Wednesday per person in charge. Unsure status of plan application.
More time given
- 2nd follow-up visitSep 21, 2026 Extension granted
Some problems still weren't fixed, but the owner was working on them, so the inspector allowed more time and will come back again.
1 violation still not corrected:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat was still cited
Intermediate1
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
At callback no change. Operator sent plans to incorrect email address. Operator showed plans that she sent. Operator is going to resend. Time needed for receiving and approval.
More time given
- 1st follow-up visitJul 22, 2026 Extension granted
Some problems still weren't fixed, but the owner was working on them, so the inspector allowed more time and will come back again.
1 violation still not corrected:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat was still cited
Intermediate1
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
Operator needs more time to submit plans.
More time given
- First visitJul 21, 2026 Administrative complaint
Serious or repeated problems led the inspector to recommend formal action by the state, which can include fines.
24 violations found:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat the inspector cited
High priority12
Code 01, Approved source; food safe and unadulterated: Food prepared in a private home.
See stop sale. Per person in charge desserts to include tres leches, churros, cheesecake made at home.
Administrative complaint
Dented/rusted cans present.
See stop sale. One can of beans in kitchen with sharp dent coming to point.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse.
Bacon in meat cutting section of grocery side at 54°F. Ambient temperature of unit 57°F during inspection. Person in charge states was in unit overnight. See stop sale. Also, raw shell eggs stored in open air produce section of grocery side at 54-55°F ambient. Soup cooling on counter overnight per person in charge at 74°F. Soup cooling overnight in large pan in reach in cooler at 46°F. Pork belly in warmer overnight per person in charge at 94°F. Picked pig ears and rinds with instructions to keep refrigerated on label at room temperature at 75°F. Person in charge states has been on counter for 4 days.
Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source.
Per person in charge desserts to include tres leches, churros, cheesecake made at home.
Code 03, Food out of temperature: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41°F.
Bacon in meat cutting section of grocery side at 54°F. Ambient temperature of unit 57°F during inspection. Person in charge states was in unit overnight. See stop sale. Also, raw shell eggs stored in open air produce section of grocery side at 54-55°F ambient. Picked pig ears with instructions to keep refrigerated on label at room temperature at 75°F. Person in charge states has been on counter for 4 days. Salsa held at room temperature in containers at bar at 47°F. Recommend holding on time. Person in charge time marked during inspection, began filling out time paperwork.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135°F.
Pork belly in warmer overnight per person in charge at 94°F.
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within 6 hours.
Soup cooling on counter overnight per person in charge at 74°F. Soup cooling overnight in large pan in reach in cooler at 46°F.
Code 07, Unwrapped or hazardous food re-served: Time/temperature control for safety food re-served to customers.
Observed salsa made in house with ingredients that render it time/temperature control for safety reserved to guests in squeeze bottles delivered between tables.
Administrative complaint
Code 08, Food protection and cross-contamination: Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce.
In grocery side, raw shelled eggs stored over produce. In reach in cooler in main kitchen, observed raw beef stored over cooked beans. In reach in freezer in meat side raw chicken no longer commercially packaged stored over raw beef.
Displayed food not properly protected from contamination.
Bread bulk for customer self service not properly protected, has unhinged lid that exposes entire pan to potential contamination when in use.
Code 35, Insects, rodents, pests and animals: Live, small flying insects found.
Three flying insects in kitchen area around bag of raw peppers. Two flying insects around self service bread in grocery side of establishment.
Code 50, Current license displayed: Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
Establishment observed preparing, serving, or selling food to customers with an expired license. License expired 6.1.26. Person in charge renewed during inspection.
Fixed on the spot
Intermediate5
Code 02, Labeling, date marking and consumer advisory: Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory.
Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Per person in charge serves eggs cooked to order, may be served undercooked. No consumer advisory on site. Inspector emailed to operator, person in charge printed and posted.
Fixed on the spot
Juice packaged in the establishment that has not been specifically processed to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the presence of pathogens not bearing a warning label.
Orange juice squeezed in house and canned on site has no warning label.
Code 31, Handwash sinks and supplies: Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing.
Observed employee fill pan at hand wash sink in kitchen.
Repeat violation
Code 41, Chemicals and toxic substances: Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled.
Several spray bottles with yellow chemical unlabeled in kitchen area.
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Establishment has added ice machine in hallway past bar in dining room with no access to hand wash sink along path.
Basic7
Code 02, Labeling, date marking and consumer advisory: Label on a food item prepared and packaged onsite for customer self-service does not include product identity/description, date product was packaged and name and address of the establishment that prepared and packaged the food.
Sour cream, lard packaged in house for customer self service missing minimum labeling requirements.
Code 06, Food properly thawed: Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner.
Meat thawing in standing water with no running water, person in charge turned on water.
Fixed on the spot
Code 08, Food protection and cross-contamination: Food stored on floor.
Observed buckets of lard stored on floor in meat cutting section.
Code 14, Food-contact surfaces designed and maintained: Wood food-contact surface not properly sealed.
Storage shelves used for food in storage area off of bar wooden, unsealed.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer.
Reach in freezer glass two door in server area off of main kitchen with heavy ice accumulation. Also, meat reach in freezer in meat cutting area with heavy ice accumulation.
Code 32, Restrooms: Bathroom facility in disrepair.
Restrooms in grocery side out of order, not utilized per person in charge, blocked off from customer access. Restrooms in restaurant side accessible.
Code 36, Floors, walls, ceilings and ventilation: Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair.
Tiles cracked and covered molding missing in main kitchen near hand wash sink/ triple sink. One tile cracked and missing in meat section of grocery side.
Reading this report
Priority levels
- High priority The problems most likely to make someone sick directly.
- Intermediate Could lead to a high-priority problem if not fixed.
- Basic Best practices and general upkeep.
Terms in the inspectors’ reports
- Time/temperature control for safety food
- Food that has to be kept hot, at 135°F or above, or cold, at 41°F or below, to stay safe: meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, cooked rice and beans, cut melons and the like.
- Food-contact surface
- Anything food touches, such as cutting boards, utensils, counters and the inside of ice machines.
- Stop sale
- An order that the food can’t be sold or served.
- Ambient temperature
- The air temperature inside a cooler or holding unit, rather than the food’s own.