El Cantenario Restaurant
Last inspected: Nov 19, 2025
86
Score
Public records show four inspections at El Cantenario Restaurant stretching back to 2025. The latest inspection on file is from Nov 19, 2025. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near three violations per visit.
“Applicability of article” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.
That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Houston restaurants. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 19, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
3 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 3 violations
8-304.11(k) the permit holder shall notify customers that a copy of the most recent establishment inspection report is available upon request by posting a sign or placard in a location in the food establishment that is conspicuous to customers or by another method acceptable to the regulatory authority.
20-20(c)
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
Storage. glasses and cups not stored inverted / other stored utensils not covered or inverted, wherever practical.
20-21.14(b)(03)
86
Mar 21, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Mar 20, 2025
Routine
6 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Applicability of article; compliance; penalty for violation; variances, etc. permit holder / person in charge of the food establishment / mobile food unit not in compliance in accordance with provisions of article ii concerning food storage / food preparation / food display / training of employees in basic food safety principles including allergy awareness / not ensuring that food and conditional employees are informed of their responsibility to report information regarding health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food / not ensuring written procedures and plans are developed by the food establishment are maintained / implemented.
20-19(d)
General. contamination event. food establishment without written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
20-21.07(a)(03)
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)
Toilet fixtures. toilet tissue not provided at each toilet at all times.
(corrected on site)
20-21.18(d)
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.
20-21.19(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
Mar 14, 2025
Routine
12 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 12 violations
Applicability of article; compliance; penalty for violation; variances, etc. permit holder / person in charge of the food establishment / mobile food unit not in compliance in accordance with provisions of article ii concerning food storage / food preparation / food display / training of employees in basic food safety principles including allergy awareness / not ensuring that food and conditional employees are informed of their responsibility to report information regarding health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food / not ensuring written procedures and plans are developed by the food establishment are maintained / implemented.
20-19(d)
General. contamination event. food establishment without written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
20-21.07(a)(03)
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)
Grease traps. grease trap not located to be easily accessible for cleaning / operation / maintenance.
20-21.17(d)
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)
Toilet fixtures. toilet tissue not provided at each toilet at all times.
20-21.18(d)
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.
20-21.19(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)
Controlling pests, generally. the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to eliminate their presence within the physical facility and its contents and on the contiguous land or property under the control of the permit holder by using appropriate methods of pest control, such as trapping devices or other means of pest control as specified under section 20-21.27 of this code.\r\n
20-21.21(a)(03)
Construction. walls, including nonsupporting partitions / wall coverings / ceilings, of walk-in refrigerating units / food preparation areas / food storage areas / food display areas / equipment-washing areas / utensil-washing areas not light-colored / smooth / nonabsorbent / easily cleanable except for ceilings over areas used only for beverage preparation and/or service. concrete or pumice blocks used for interior wall construction in these locations shall be finished and sealed to provide an easily cleanable surface except in dry storage areas.
20-21.23(b)
Signs clearly stating that smoking is prohibited within not conspicuously posted at every entrance to a public place.
21-244(b)
\"no smoking\" signs or the international \"no smoking\" symbol not clearly and conspicuously posted in a public place where smoking is prohibited
(corrected on site)
21-244(a)
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Cantenario Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Cantenario Restaurant on file is from Nov 19, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Cantenario Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “applicability of article” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Cantenario Restaurant.
How does El Cantenario Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Houston?
El Cantenario Restaurant most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is about the same as the Houston average of 88.
Has El Cantenario Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Cantenario Restaurant have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at El Cantenario 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.
Nearby Restaurants