EL JALAPENO
4960 SOUTHARD ST · LAKE WORTH · Palm Beach County · FL 33463
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
16 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 7
41-07-4High Priority – Container of medicine improperly stored. Bottle of burn medication stored above flip top cooler, discussed with operator who removed medication. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-25-4High Priority – Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee itched hair with hand and after without washing hands employee handled container of cooked steak, discussed with operator employee washed hands.
12A-29-4High Priority – Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee washed dirty dishes and after without washing hands handled clean and sanitized utensils. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
22-45-4High Priority – Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee rinsed off bowl and after without sanitizing bowl placed it to dry, discussed with operator proper dish washing procedures.
08A-05-6High Priority – Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in cooler raw shell eggs stored directly above cooked beef, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. **Corrected On-Site**
03E-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. In steam table cooked shredded beef (154F – Reheating) per operator product finished reheating final reheating temperature did not reach 165F, discussed with operator who moved product back to flat top to reheat to 183F. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table cooked steak (133F – Hot Holding) per operator steak prepared on flat top stove and hot held in steam table, discussed with operator hot holding, operator moved product back to flat top to reheat to 187F. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Intermediate 4
12A-03-4Intermediate – Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands in three compartment sink, discussed with operator who educated employee.
03D-15-4Intermediate – Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. In large metal pot cooked chicken (106F – Cooling) at 9:25 since 9:00 to 105F at 9:20, at this current rate of cooling product will not reach 70F within 2 hours discussed with operator to move product to cooler to chill. In reach in cooler cut lettuce (47F – Cooling) at 9:20 since 9:00 to 47F at 9:40, at this current rate of cooling product will not reach 41F within 4 hours, discussed with operator to move to another cooler to allow for faster cooling. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-09-4Intermediate – Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand washing sink filled with dishes and non accessible, discussed with operator who cleared sink. **Corrected On-Site**
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. New employee Marleni morales started 1 week ago has no employee health reporting agreement or food handler certificate, discussed with operator.
Basic 5
35A-03-4Basic – Dead roaches on premises. In kitchen approximately 3 dead roaches under three compartment sink. In kitchen approximately 2 dead roaches under dry dry storage rack, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize areas. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08B-38-4Basic – Food stored on floor. In kitchen large pots of cooked chicken, cooked cow tongue, bag of lettuce and multiple sauce bottles, discussed with operator to remove products from floor.
29-08-4Basic – Plumbing system in disrepair. Exterior water drain leaking water on to ground, discussed with operator to repair.
22-16-4Basic – Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of reach in cooler soiled with accumulation of soiled debris, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize.
21-09-4Basic – Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Multiple soiled wet cloths used to wipe cutting boards, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize properly with clean cloths.
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 20, 2026 4:57 PM.
Violation category totals
3 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
3 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 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.