El Tiempo Cantina
Last inspected: Sep 29, 2025
74
Score
El Tiempo Cantina, located at 3130 Richmond in Houston, TX, had a moderate risk inspection on 2025-09-29 with a score of 74. This inspection identified six minor violations, including issues with cross-contamination prevention, inadequate refrigeration thermometers, and equipment not maintained in good repair. Across six scored inspections, El Tiempo Cantina has primarily received medium-risk ratings.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Sep 29, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
6 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 6 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)
Refrigerated storage. refrigeration facilities. each mechanically refrigerated facility storing time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food shall be provided with numerically scaled indicating thermometer, accurate to 3°f if scaled in fahrenheit only. . recording thermometers, accurate to 3°f if scaled in fahrenheit only, may be used in lieu of indicating thermometers. thermometers that are scaled in celsius or dually scaled in celsius and fahrenheit shall be designed to be easily readable and accurate to ±(1.05°c) in the intended range of use.
(corrected on site)
20-21.03(b)(01)
Materials; general. all equipment and utensils not maintained in good repair.
20-21.10(a)
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)
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)
Special ventilation. cooking equipment not provided with a ventilation hood / not installed in the manner required by all applicable laws. this subsection does not apply to microwave ovens / electric convection ovens of approved types / electric rice cookers / ovens of approved types.
20-21.25(b)(05)
74
May 20, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 7 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.
(corrected on site)
20-19(d)
General. food stored in locker rooms / dressing rooms / garbage room / mechanical rooms / toilet room / vestibule / under open stairwell / other sources of contamination.
20-21.03(a)(03)
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
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)
Materials; general. all equipment and utensils not maintained in good repair.
20-21.10(a)
Wiping cloths. moist cloths used for cleaning nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment such as counters, dining table tops and shelves not clean / not rinsed frequently in one of the sanitizing solutions permitted in section 20-21.12(e)(02) through (06) of this code / used for no other purpose. these cloths shall be stored in the sanitizing solution between uses.
(corrected on site)
20-21.11(c)(03)
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)
70
Mar 6, 2025
Complaint (003)
14 minor violations. 5 corrected on site.
View 14 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)
Refrigerated storage. methods for rapid cooling. approved methods for rapid cooling not utilized.
20-21.03(b)(03)
General. bulk food removed from original container not stored in a container identifying the food by common name.
(corrected on site)
20-21.03(a)(06)
Hand wash procedure. food employees not cleaning their hands in a handwashing lavatory or approved automatic handwashing facility. employees may not clean their hands in a sinks used for food preparation or utensil or equipment washing, or in a service sink or a curbed cleaning facility used for the disposal of mop water and similar liquid waste.
(corrected on site)
20-21.08(b)
Materials; general. multi-use equipment and utensils not designed, constructed and repaired with safe materials, including finishing materials / not corrosion-resistant and nonabsorbent / not smooth, easily cleanable and durable under conditions of normal use.
20-21.10(a)
Wiping cloths. moist cloths used for cleaning nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment such as counters, dining table tops and shelves not clean / not rinsed frequently in one of the sanitizing solutions permitted in section 20-21.12(e)(02) through (06) of this code / used for no other purpose. these cloths shall be stored in the sanitizing solution between uses.
(corrected on site)
20-21.11(c)(03)
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)
Hand-washing sink supplies. supply of hand-cleansing liquid / powder / bar soap not available at each hand-washing sink or group of two adjacent hand-washing sinks.
20-21.19(c)
Containers. containers stored outside the establishment / dumpsters / compactors / compactor systems / receptacles / waste handling units for refuse / recyclables / and returnables not provided with tight-fitting lids / doors / covers, not kept covered when not in actual use. in containers designed with drains, drain plugs shall be in place at all times, except during cleaning.
20-21.20(a)(03)
Controlling pests, generally. effective measures intended to eliminate the presence of rodents, flies, cockroaches, and other insects on the premises not utilized.
20-21.21(a)
Removing dead or trapped birds / insects / rodents / other pests. dead or trapped birds / insects / rodents / other pests not removed from control devices and the premises at a frequency that prevents the accumulation or attraction of pests and minimizes exposure to decomposing remains.
20-21.21(d)
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)
Labeling of materials. working containers used for storing poisonous / toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers taken from bulk supplies not clearly / individually identified with the common name of the material.
(corrected on site)
20-21.27(b)
Sanitation poster not conspicuously posted in area accessible to all employees / not conforming to all requirements.
20-26(c)
50
Jan 8, 2025
Reinspection (002)
3 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 3 violations
Hot storage. time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food in hot storage not being held at 135°f (57°c) or above.
(corrected on site)
20-21.03(c)(02)
Toilet fixtures. toilet room not provided with at least one covered waste receptacle.
20-21.18(d)
Hand-washing sink maintenance. hand-washing sink / soap dispenser / hand-drying device/ related fixtures not kept clean / not in good repair.
20-21.19(d)
86
Aug 2, 2024
Complaint (003)
9 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 9 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)
Cooking time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) foods. consumer advisory (disclosure). when animal food such as beef / eggs / fish / lamb / milk / pork / poultry / shellfish are served or sold raw / undercooked / without otherwise being processed to eliminate pathogens either in ready to eat form or as an ingredient in another ready to eat food (except as specified in items (03) and (08) of this subsection) not including a description of the animal-derived foods, such as \"oysters on the half shell (raw oysters)\", \"raw-egg caesar salad\", and \"hamburgers (can be cooked to order) / identification of the animal-derived foods in a menu or other listing by asterisking them to a footnote that states that the items are served raw or undercooked or contain (or may contain) raw or undercooked ingredients.
20-21.04(c)(06)
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)
Materials; general. all equipment and utensils not maintained in good repair.
20-21.10(a)
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)
Containers. garbage / recyclables / returnables / refuse not kept in durable / easily cleanable / insect-proof and rodent-proof containers that do not leak and do not absorb liquids. plastic bags and wet-strength paper bags may be used to line the containers, and they may be used for storage inside the food establishment.
20-21.20(a)(01)
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)
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 kept clean.
20-21.22(a)
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)
64
Jan 22, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
2 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 2 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. at least 10 foot candles (110 lux) of light not provided at a distance of 30 inches (75 cm) above the floor in walk-in refrigeration units / dry food storage areas / other areas and rooms during periods of cleaning.
20-21.24(a)
90
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