Los Portales Mexican Grill
Last inspected: Dec 18, 2025
67
Score
Inspectors have visited Los Portales Mexican Grill 12 times, with records going back to 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 18, 2025. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near four violations per visit.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
The city-wide average sits at 81, which Los Portales Mexican Grill's 67 doesn't quite reach. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 18, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
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. Open gallon of milk in cooler operator not sure date is was open but says under 7 days.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener in kitchen has build up on blade.
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine deflector plate soiled with dark mold like substance.
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Top exterior of dishwasher soiled with build up.
16-21-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups near soda station and behind bar wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach in freezer interior near cookline soiled with old food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-16-4
67
Apr 24, 2025
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Mar 24, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Interior of lid of covered container of lard in dry storage area has a build up of mold like substance. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-07-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bottle of Windex stored with bag in box soda next to bar, bottle moved. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of standing reach in freezer next to hand wash station on cook line, employee began to clean during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station at bar, employee corrected during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach under steam well on make line in kitchen, employee cleaned up and discarded roach during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Back interior of oven next to hand wash station on cook line.
22-08-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Box of to go trays on floor by men's bathrooms, box moved. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed bell peppers over containers of cut lettuce in walk in cooler. Unwashed heads of lettuce and unwashed limes stored over cut onions in walk in cooler. Employee corrected during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
50
Feb 25, 2025
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 7 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
41
Jan 16, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 15, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. 5 employees came back into the kitchen after eating in the dining room, put on gloves, and began to prepare food and handle clean equipment without washing hands first. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-15: Employee handled soiled dishes with bare hands then handled clean dish coming out of the dish machine in ware washing area. **Admin Complaint**
12A-16-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 3 live roaches along wall where the wall meets the walk in cooler, above kick plate, employees began to kill and clean up during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-15: Approximately 5 live roaches along wall of make line and prep area in kitchen, behind reach in coolers, prep tables, and soda machine with ice bin. **Admin Complaint**
35A-05-4
74
Jan 14, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. 5 employees came back into the kitchen after eating in the dining room, put on gloves, and began to prepare food and handle clean equipment without washing hands first. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Cooked chicken dated 1/7 in walk in cooler Shredded queso cheese date 1/6 in standing reach in cooler in prep area, 2 containers.
01B-24-5
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 3 live roaches along wall where the wall meets the walk in cooler, above kick plate, employees began to kill and clean up during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. pork (46F - Cold Holding) sitting out on rack next to cook line, per employee pork has been sitting out for less then 1 hour, pork placed in reach in cooler. raw chicken (44F - Cold Holding); raw beef (44F - Cold Holding) sitting uncovered in ice bath on rack next to cook line, per employee items have been sitting out for less then 1 hour, employee added more ice and covered. cut lettuce (46F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (46F, 47F - Cold Holding) in large plastic covered containers in walk in cooler, per manager door to walk in cooler has been consistently open for several hours, items unstacked and lids removed. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. queso cheese sauces (109F - Hot Holding) in steam well on make line in kitchen, per employee cheese was heated on stove and placed in well 1 hour ago, cheese moved to stove to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. cut lettuce (58F - Cooling, after 35 minutes 56F) packed in deep plastic tightly covered container in walk in cooler, lettuce removed and ice added and lid removed. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 5 employees preparing food in kitchen without any proof of training and all have been working over 1 year at establishment.
53B-02-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors under equipment on cook line. Also walls behind cook line have a build up of debris.
36-73-4
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. On shelve by cook line in kitchen,employee corrected during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
14-45-4
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. 3 food handlers eating in preparation area in kitchen, all employees moved to dining area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-02-4
Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. On rack at bar area by hand wash station.
14-20-4
32
Feb 2, 2024
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw sewage/waste water on ground of establishment. Pool of brown water outside by door behind bar, per manager employees where cleaning off equipment outside.
28-13-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. shredded queso cheese (47F - Cooling over 6 hours) in large plastic, covere, stacked bus tub in walk in cooler, per employee cheese was made the previous day without any additional preparation. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. raw beef (47F - Cold Holding) in overfilled container on rack in ice bath on cook line, per employee beef was taken out of cooler approximately 3 hours prior, employee put have of the beef from the top of the container into reach in cooler in prep area.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. shredded queso cheese (47F - Cooling over 6 hours) in large plastic, covere, stacked bus tub in walk in cooler, per employee cheese was made the previous day without any additional preparation.
03D-06-5
High 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. 1 employee rubbed hair with hands near cook line, then handled clean plates without washing hands between tasks.
12A-25-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Bags of chicken nuggets stored under containers of raw beef, removed from original packaging, in standing reach in freezer next to dish machine, chicken removed. Cooling pans of refried beans stored under raw beef in standing reach in freezer in prep area, refried beans removed and placed in ice baths. Also raw shrimp stored over cut cucumbers in bottom section of reach in cooler on cook line, shrimp moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. shredded queso cheese (47F - Cooling over 6 hours) in large plastic, covere, stacked bus tub in walk in cooler, per employee cheese was made the previous day without any additional preparation. salsa (66F - Cooling, after 1 hour 65F) in large deep covered containers sitting out on prep table, second temp taken inside walk in cooler, employee began to move salsa into reach in freezer.
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda nozzles of soda machine in prep area in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler/reach in freezer interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of standing reach in freezer next to dish machine in kitchen.
22-16-4
32
Aug 10, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In the walk in cooler, raw chicken on shelf over pork and steak. Operator relocated the raw chicken to the bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. On the main cook line, cut tomatoes, beef, chicken, sausage, and steak stored on time as public health control not discarded at the end of the 4 hour limit at 2:30pm. Operator removed and discarded the products, replaced new food items on the cook line and properly time marked the container. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. On the main cook line, cut tomatoes, beef, chicken, sausage, and steak stored on time as public health control not discarded at the end of the 4 hour limit at 2:30pm. Operator removed and discarded the products, replaced new food items on the cook line and properly time marked the container. **Corrective Action Taken**
03F-04-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle of windex on dry storage shelf with container of honey. Operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener on the prep line has old food debris on the blade. Yellow cutting board by the three compartment sink has build up of food residue staining. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items stored on shelf with point of sale and telephone over single service packets of ketchup. **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf at the entrance to the kitchen and at the three compartment sink, clean containers stacked while wet. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Flip top reach in cooler on the main cook line has a torn cooler door gasket.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife stored between prep table and standup reach in cooler. Operator relocated the knife. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Employee hand wash signage at sink next to bulk ice dispenser broken and missing half the signage.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Base of the standup reach in freezer door gaskets has build up of mold like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Opened employee Gatorade on the top shelf over food to be served to customers. Operator relocated the Gatorade. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Two wet wiping cloths stored on the bar counter not in solution.
21-12-4
33
Feb 2, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 5 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
21
Nov 21, 2022
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Sep 7, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Los Portales Mexican Grill last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Los Portales Mexican Grill on file is from Dec 18, 2025. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Los Portales Mexican Grill?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Los Portales Mexican Grill.
How does Los Portales Mexican Grill compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Los Portales Mexican Grill most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Los Portales Mexican Grill's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Los Portales Mexican Grill have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Los Portales Mexican Grill means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Los Portales Mexican Grill inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Los Portales Mexican Grill is inspected around four times per year on average.
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