La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 2, 2026
100
Score
La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant has been inspected 11 times since 2023. The most recent visit was on Feb 2, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around four violations each.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
Compared to the broader Orange Park restaurant scene, where the average is 73, this is a stronger showing. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 2, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 23, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
43
Aug 14, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
52
Apr 9, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Open case of swai stored over open case of churros in walk in freezer. Manager rearranged products to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Ground beef on counter in kitchen at 127F. Per manager, beef set on counter approximately one hour prior. Manager voluntarily discarded ground beef. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Wiping cloth solution in service station tested at 200+ppm chlorine. Employee remade solution to 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade with debris hanging in prep room. Interior of three nozzles on service station soda machine are soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice observed in hand wash sink in service station.
31A-11-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered receptacle in ladies restroom. **Repeat Violation**
32-12-6
Basic - Food stored on floor. Buckets of lettuce on the floor in the beer cooler.
08B-38-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee handwashing sign in men's restroom at the main hand wash sink. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe at ice machine is leaking.
29-11-4
43
Jul 2, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
67
Mar 18, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 16, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 8 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 19 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Observed refried beans in large container on shelf in kitchen. Per operator, beans prepared 2.75 hours prior. Temperature taken at 119F. Operator moved beans to walk in freezer, temperature taken approximately 30 minutes later at 106F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-01-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored above raw fish in reach in cooler at back of kitchen. Employee moved products to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee with gloved hands place raw chicken in a pan, then with same gloved hand place raw beef in the same pan. Employee then went to handwash sink, rinsed gloved hand with plain water and dried gloved hands with a paper towel. Operator spoke to employee. Employee removed gloves and properly washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket in kitchen and in the bar tested at 200+ppm chlorine. Operator remade solutions to 50ppm chlorine and 100ppm chlorine respectively. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-15-5
Intermediate - 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. No proof available. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk in reach in cooler in kitchen, per operator opened 5 days prior has no date marking. Operator added correct open date to container of milk. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Evidence of feeding stray/wild animals - food/water bowls provided outside. Observed a bowl of chicken and a bowl of milk food bowls at dumpster area.
35A-11-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Observed refried beans in large container on shelf in kitchen. Per operator, beans prepared 2.75 hours prior. Temperature taken at 119F. Operator moved beans to walk in freezer, temperature taken approximately 30 minutes later at 106F.
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager. Manager on duty, Eddie C. without proof of food handler training.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener at prep table has debris. Interior of soda nozzles on Coke and Coke Zero on soda machine in service station have accumulation of debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink at prep table in kitchen has a storage shelf in front of the sink making it inaccessible.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. All employee food handler training is expired and approximately 10 missing training. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Multiple buckets of food on the floor in walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Left dumpster lid is open. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cooked taco bowls/shells stored on shelf in kitchen are not covered. Employees added covering to shells. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Utensils in poor condition. Rubber spatula on utensil rack behind steam table has pieces of rubber missing on food contact surface. Ice scoop in bar has piece of metal missing near the handle and the scoop has pitted, no longer smooth and easily cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-12-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine at the back exit and in the service station deflector plate has black mold-like substance. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered waste receptacle available in women's restroom. **Repeat Violation**
32-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Wet nesting observed on stacked pans in dish room and stacked plastic cups at service station.
24-08-4
17
Jul 27, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Jul 26, 2023
Complaint Full
8 critical violations. 3 major violations. 14 minor violations.
View 25 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored above raw beef in reach in cooler in kitchen. Employee rearranged items to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. No time mark noted for cheese sauce being held under time control. Operator marked correct time. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of window cleaner stored over bag in box sodas in storage closet behind the bar. Operator moved chemical to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Outside threaded faucet near back exit has a splitter attached with no vacuum breakers present. Also, vacuum breakers absent on splitter at mop sink. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
29-34-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket at prep area tested at 200+ppm chlorine. Employee remade solution to 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Observed beef at 106F in large pot at room on shelf in kitchen. Operator states beef began cooling at approximately 12:30pm. At approximately 2:45, beef placed in walk in freezer. At 4:45pm, beef at 77F.
03D-01-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly observed in front of dry storage racks.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Current license expired June 1, 2023. Operator renewed license during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener at prep table has accumulation of debris.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink next to ice machine by back exit has towels stored in the sink. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - 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. No proof available. Provided and discussed DBPR Form HR 5030-103 with operator. **Repeat Violation**
11-26-1
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents/walls/floors soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vent above soda machine in service station is dusty.
36-34-5
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered waste receptacle provided in women's restroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed: 3 dead roaches in light shield in women's restroom 1 dead roach in light shield in men's restroom 1 dead roach in light shield above soda machine in service station 1 dead roach in light shield in prep area Employees discarded all dead roaches during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee backpack stored over clean dishes on storage rack in dish room. Employee moved to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Buckets of sauces stored on the floor in walk in cooler. Also, bags of ice for beverages stored on the floor in walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Walk in disrepair on left wall under three compartment sink.
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Underplating around soda machine nozzles in service area is soiled. Underplating of margarita machine at the bar area is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Operator closed dumpster lid. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Two employee open beverages stored in reach in cooler in kitchen on top shelf above customer food.
12B-13-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Case of single-service cups on the floor by the office.
25-05-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Prepared tortilla shells stored in stacks on prep table shelf with no covering. Operator covered all with foil cover. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed green peppers stored above prepared, cooked chicken in sauce. Operator moved to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
Basic - Utensils in poor condition. Two rubber spatulas hanging on utensil rack in kitchen have rubber pieces missing from the spatulas. Operator removed both. **Corrected On-Site**
14-12-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interiors of both ice machines have a black mold-like substance.
22-20-5
11
May 22, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
23
Jan 23, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
20
Frequently Asked Questions
When was La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant on file is from Feb 2, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant.
How does La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Orange Park?
La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Orange Park average of 73.
Has La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant is inspected around four times per year on average.
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