TROPICAL CUISINE
3405 E HILLSBOROUGH AVE · TAMPA · Hillsborough County · FL 33610
Inspection Summary
Emergency Closure Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
33 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 9
12A-07-5High Priority – Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee serve food then cash out on register before returning to serve food again without washing hands in between glove changes. **Warning**
22-45-4High Priority – Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed Employee washing dishes with soap and water only no sanitizer. **Warning**
35A-02-7High Priority – Live, small flying insects found. Observed 1 fly in kitchen area. **Warning**
35A-09-4High Priority – Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed approximately 10 dead maggots behind trash can in men's bathroom next to kitchen door. **Warning**
35A-05-4High Priority – Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 1 live roach in men's bathroom next to kitchen door. Observed 3 live roaches inside dry food storage area inside kitchen. **Warning**
35A-04-4High Priority – Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 70 rodent droppings found in hallway closet next to kitchen door. Observed approximately 50 rodent droppings in closet inside of kitchen. Observed approximately 25 rodent droppings in dry food storage area inside of kitchen. **Warning**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sliced ham (65F – Cold Holding); sliced white cheese (64F – Cold Holding) located in sandwich cooler next to drink cooler. **Warning**
03B-01-6High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. mashed potatoes (127F – Hot Holding) yuca (100F – Hot Holding); cooked potatoes (127F – Hot Holding) **Warning**
29-42-4High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. **Warning**
Intermediate 6
31A-10-4Intermediate – Equipment drain line draining into handwash sink. Observed condensation hose connected to AC draining into Hand washing sink in back kitchen near 3 compartment sink. **Warning**
31A-11-4Intermediate – Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed pot in handwashing sink in back kitchen near 3 compartment sink. Employee removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-26-1Intermediate – No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. **Warning**
31B-03-4Intermediate – No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at Hand washing sink behind front counter, Hand washing sink in kitchen next to 3 compartment sink. **Warning**
53B-13-5Intermediate – Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Missing employee trainings for 5 employees, operator presented 1. **Warning**
02C-02-5Intermediate – Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed no date marking on food items in walk in cooler. **Warning**
Basic 18
32-02-4Basic – Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Observed women's bathroom door open. Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Observed women's and men's bathroom door not self-closing. **Warning**
14-05-4Basic – Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Observed cardboard lining the shelves next to hot box in kitchen. **Warning**
36-32-5Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed ceiling with water damage above 3 compartment sink. Observed hole in ceiling in women's bathroom. **Warning**
36-34-5Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling soiled with mold-like substance in dry food storage area. Observed AC vents throughout kitchen soiled with dust and mold-like substance. **Warning**
24-05-4Basic – Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Observed pans and pot lids on shelf next to hot box not inverted. **Warning**
24-08-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. Observed wet nesting on hotel pans across from 3 compartment sink underneath prep table. **Warning**
36-22-4Basic – Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed standing water inside of closet next to 3 compartment sink. **Warning**
36-73-4Basic – Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor throughout main kitchen soiled with an accumulation of debris. **Warning**
08B-47-4Basic – Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed lettuce, broccoli, and milk not stored at least 6 inches off the floor inside of walk in cooler. **Warning**
36-24-5Basic – Hole in or other damage to wall. Observed damage to lower wall near exit door in dry food storage area. **Warning**
10-08-5Basic – Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Observed ice scoop in contact with ice inside of ice machine inside of kitchen. **Warning**
22-08-4Basic – Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed microwave in dry food storage area soiled with grease and old food debris. **Warning**
23-03-4Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filters soiled with grease. Observed stoved, flat top grill and fryers soiled with grease and old food debris **Warning**
33-16-4Basic – Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
36-27-5Basic – Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall soiled with an accumulation of grease in kitchen next to stove equipment. **Warning**
42-01-4Basic – Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed wet mop not allowed to dry near kitchen entrance. **Warning**
21-12-4Basic – Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed wet wiping cloth stored on prep table in kitchen across from stove. **Warning**
02D-01-5Basic – Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed containers of rice, beans unlabeled in kitchen. Observed spices above hot box in kitchen not labeled. **Warning**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 10, 2026 2:21 AM.
Violation category totals
2 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
3 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
4 observation(s)
6 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
Inspection records and inspector observations reflect conditions documented by DBPR at the time of the inspection and may not reflect current conditions.