Cocina La Morenita

130 S 75Th St, Houston, TX 77011
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Nov 2, 2025
78
Score
Low Risk

Going back to 2023, Cocina La Morenita has five inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Nov 2, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near six violations per visit across recent inspections.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “refrigerated storage”, showing up two times.

Restaurants in Houston average 88, so Cocina La Morenita trails the local norm. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 2, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
5 minor violations. 4 corrected on site.
View 5 violations
Cross contamination. except as specified in subitem c of this item, food not protected from cross contamination by separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding and display from: raw ready to eat foods including other raw animal food such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish or other raw ready to eat food such as vegetables; cooked ready to eat foods. frozen, commercially processed and packaged raw animal food may be stored or displayed with or above frozen, commercially processed and packaged, ready to eat food. (corrected on site)
20-21.02(b)(01)
General. container of food not stored a minimum of 6 inches above the floor. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(a)(02)
Refrigerated storage. methods for rapid cooling. approved methods for rapid cooling not utilized. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(b)(03)
Dispensing utensils. no suitable dispensing utensils provided for employees / consumers during pauses in food preparation / dispensing. (corrected on site)
20-21.05(f)
General. plumbing not sized / installed / maintained according to applicable laws.
20-21.17(a)
78
May 14, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 4 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
General. the internal temperature of time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food not maintained at 41°f (05°c) or below or 135°f (57°c) or above at all times, except as otherwise provided in this article or unless a packaged product is so labeled as exempted and approved by the appropriate state or federal health authority. (corrected on site)
20-21.02(a)(01)
General. washed / cooked food being stored before service, not protected against cross-contamination from food requiring washing / cooking.
20-21.03(a)(04)
Refrigerated storage. date marking of ready to eat foods. time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) / ready to eat food opened / prepared / packaged and held refrigerated for more than 24 hours not clearly marked to indicate “time food is opened / prepared” and “disposition date”. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(b)(10)b
Hair restraint. while handling food or utensils, food employees not wearing effective hair restraints and clothing that covers body hair to prevent the contamination of food or food-contact surfaces. an effective hair restraint means any cap / hat / hair net made of fabric / cord / plastic / paper that effectively covers and holds hair in place. the use of effective hair restraints also applies to any exposed scalp or facial hair where there is the potential for contamination of food or food-contact surfaces. an effective hair restraint shall also be used in the partial or complete absence of scalp hair to preclude touching of the scalp and returning to food handling without hand-washing. facial hair restraints are not be required when facial hair is well-groomed and trimmed. (corrected on site)
20-21.08(f)
Hand-washing sink supplies. hand-washing sink or group of adjacent hand-washing sinks not provided with individual, disposable towels / a continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel / a hand-drying device providing heated air or a hand-drying device that employs an air-knife system that delivers high velocity, pressurized air at ambient temperatures. (corrected on site)
20-21.19(c)
Floors. floors and floor coverings of all food preparation, food storage, utensil-washing areas, walk-in refrigerating units, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and toilet rooms shall be maintained in good repair.
20-21.22(a)
Special ventilation. ventilation hoods / ventilation equipment not equipped with effective / easily removable / easily cleanable filters located adjacent to the intake openings / intake and exhaust openings of the ventilation system when ventilation may result in the disposition of particulate matter or liquids within the ventilation system.
20-21.25(b)(03)
70
Aug 9, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
6 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
General. the internal temperature of time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food not maintained at 41°f (05°c) or below or 135°f (57°c) or above at all times, except as otherwise provided in this article or unless a packaged product is so labeled as exempted and approved by the appropriate state or federal health authority. (corrected on site)
20-21.02(a)(01)
General. washed / cooked food being stored before service, not protected against cross-contamination from food requiring washing / cooking. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(a)(04)
Plumbing fixture installation. plumbing fixtures, including compartment type utensil-and-food sinks, hand-washing sinks and mop or utility sinks, not installed to preclude splashes from running down mounting surfaces behind and adjacent to the fixture. acceptable installation methods include a liquid tight seal between fixture and mounting surface, insertion into a precut counter, table or cabinet with a perimeter seal or any other effective method. all materials used shall be safe, smooth, impervious and easily cleanable.
20-21.10(m)
Cleaning frequency. nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment not cleaned as often as is necessary to keep the equipment free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles, and other debris.
20-21.11(a)(07)
Toilet room. toilet room not provided with tight-fitting / self-closing / solid doors, which shall be closed except during cleaning or maintenance except that this requirement does not apply to a toilet room that is located outside a food establishment and does not open directly into the food establishment such as a toilet room that is provided by the management of a shopping mall or stadium-type facilities.
20-21.18(c)
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means.
20-21.21(b)
74
Feb 5, 2024
Reinspection (002)
6 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Refrigerated storage. date marking of ready to eat foods. time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) / ready to eat food opened / prepared / packaged and held refrigerated for more than 24 hours not clearly marked to indicate “time food is opened / prepared” and “disposition date”. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(b)(10)b
Temperature measuring device, food. no temperature measuring device provided to assure attainment / maintenance of proper internal / holding refrigerated temperature of time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food.
20-21.04(i)
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means. (corrected on site)
20-21.21(b)
Attachments. light fixtures / vent covers / wall-mounted fans / similar equipment not including decorative items attached to walls and ceilings not easily cleanable / not maintained in good repair / not kept clean.
20-21.23(g)
Sanitation poster not conspicuously posted in area accessible to all employees / not conforming to all requirements.
20-26(c)
Food employee failed to successfully complete a food handler training course within 60 days of employment.
20-53(f)
74
Dec 21, 2023
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
Cross contamination. except as specified in subitem c of this item, food not protected from cross contamination by separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding and display from: raw ready to eat foods including other raw animal food such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish or other raw ready to eat food such as vegetables; cooked ready to eat foods. frozen, commercially processed and packaged raw animal food may be stored or displayed with or above frozen, commercially processed and packaged, ready to eat food. (corrected on site)
20-21.02(b)(01)
Temperature measuring device, food. food temperature measuring devices accurate to ±02°f in the intended range of use not provided / not used to assure attainment and maintenance of proper internal cooking, holding, or refrigeration temperatures of all time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food if the thermometers are scaled only in fahrenheit. if the thermometers are scaled in celsius or dually scaled, they shall be accurate to ±01°c in the intended range of use. a temperature measuring device with a suitable small-diameter probe that is designed to measure the temperature of thin masses not provided / not readily accessible to accurately measure the temperature in thin foods, such as meat patties and fish fillets.
20-21.04(i)
Using chemicals for sanitization. when using chemicals for sanitization, a test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration of the solution in parts per million or milligrams per liter not provided and used.
20-21.12(g)
Hand-washing signage. sign / icon / poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands not provided at all hand-washing sinks used by food employees / not clearly visible to food employees.
20-21.19(g)
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means. (corrected on site)
20-21.21(b)
Sanitation poster not conspicuously posted in area accessible to all employees / not conforming to all requirements.
20-26(c)
\"no smoking\" signs or the international \"no smoking\" symbol not clearly and conspicuously posted in a public place where smoking is prohibited
21-244(a)
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cocina La Morenita last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Cocina La Morenita on file is from Nov 2, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Cocina La Morenita?

Across the inspection record, “refrigerated storage” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Cocina La Morenita.

How does Cocina La Morenita compare to other restaurants in Houston?

Cocina La Morenita most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is lower than the Houston average of 88.

Has Cocina La Morenita's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cocina La Morenita have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Cocina La Morenita 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 Cocina La Morenita inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Cocina La Morenita is inspected around three times per year on average.