Refresqueria Rio Azul

5325 Telephone, Houston, TX 77087
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Nov 25, 2025
70
Score
Medium Risk

Refresqueria Rio Azul appears in inspection records five times, starting in 2023. The most recent report on file is from Nov 25, 2025. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.

Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around seven violations each.

When inspectors have written things up, “refrigerated storage” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Compared to other Houston restaurants (averaging 88), there's room to close the gap. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 25, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
Maintenance. walls / ceilings, including doors, windows, skylights, and similar closures, not maintained in good repair.
20-21.23(a)
Special requirements. manufactured food. all food manufactured, processed, or packaged in commercial food processing establishments or commissaries not labeled according to all applicable laws as defined in tfer 228.78 and 228.79.
20-21.01(b)(06)
Materials; general. single-service and single-use articles. single-service articles / single-use articles reused.
20-21.10(a)(05)
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)
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. (corrected on site)
20-21.20(a)(03)
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 maintained in good repair.
20-21.22(a)
70
Mar 19, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
6 minor violations. 4 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
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)
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”.
20-21.03(b)(10)b
Manual sanitizing. food-contact surfaces of all equipment and utensils not sanitized by immersion in a chlorine solution in a manner that complies with one of the following; 25 ppm at a minimum temperature of 120of for 10 seconds when ph is <=10, 50 ppm at a minimum temperature of 100of for 7 seconds when ph is <=10, 50 ppm at a minimum temperature of 75of for 7 seconds when ph is <=8, or 100 ppm at a minimum temperature of 55of for 10 seconds when ph is <=10. (corrected on site)
20-21.12(e)(02)
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)
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. (corrected on site)
20-21.21(d)
Cleaning equipment storage. after use, mops not placed in a position that allows them to air-dry without soiling walls / equipment / supplies. (corrected on site)
20-21.28(e)
74
Oct 31, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
Storage. facilities for the storage of knives, forks, and spoons shall be designed and used to present the handle to the employee or consumer. (corrected on site)
20-21.14(b)(03)
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)
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)
Backflow. an air gap between the water supply inlet and the flood level rim of the plumbing fixture / equipment / or nonfood equipment not at least twice the diameter of the water supply inlet and may not be less than 25 mm (1 inch). a backflow or backsiphonage prevention device installed on a water supply system shall meet american society of sanitary engineering (asse) standards for construction, installation, maintenance, inspection, and testing for that specific application and type of device. a backflow prevention device shall be located so that it can be serviced and maintained. a hose shall not be attached to a faucet unless a backflow prevention device is installed.
20-21.17(c)
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. openings to the outside not effectively protected against the entrance of rodents.
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)
70
Jun 10, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
6 minor violations.
View 6 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)
General. bulk food removed from original container not stored in a container identifying the food by common name.
20-21.03(a)(06)
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)
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 maintained in good repair.
20-21.22(a)
General. food establishment and all parts of the property used in connection with operations of the establishment not kept free of litter and items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment, such as equipment that is nonfunctional or no longer in use.
20-21.28(a)(01)
74
Dec 5, 2023
Routine Inspection (001)
7 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 7 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
General. bulk food removed from original container not stored in a container identifying the food by common name.
20-21.03(a)(06)
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)
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures. storage area / enclosure for refuse / recyclables / returnables not maintained free of items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment, such as equipment that is nonfunctional or no longer used, as specified in section 20-21.28(a)(03) / not maintained clean.
20-21.20(h)
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)
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)
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Refresqueria Rio Azul last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Refresqueria Rio Azul on file is from Nov 25, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Refresqueria Rio Azul?

Across the inspection record, “refrigerated storage” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Refresqueria Rio Azul.

How does Refresqueria Rio Azul compare to other restaurants in Houston?

Refresqueria Rio Azul most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Houston average of 88.

Has Refresqueria Rio Azul's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Refresqueria Rio Azul have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Refresqueria Rio Azul 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 Refresqueria Rio Azul inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Refresqueria Rio Azul is inspected around three times per year on average.