Tienda Rio Lempa
Last inspected: Nov 5, 2025
78
Score
Inspectors have visited Tienda Rio Lempa five times, with records going back to 2024. Tienda Rio Lempa was last inspected on Nov 5, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around five violations across recent inspections versus roughly eight violations before.
“Using chemicals for sanitization” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Tienda Rio Lempa's latest score of 78 falls below the Houston average of 88. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 5, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
5 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 5 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.
(corrected on site)
20-20(c)
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. 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
Toilet room. toilet facility / vestibule, not kept clean / not in good repair / not free of objectionable odors.
20-21.18(c)
Food establishment failed to maintain on premises a certificate of completion of the food handler course for each food employee.
20-53(g)
78
Feb 25, 2025
Reinspection (002)
4 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 4 violations
General. container of food not stored a minimum of 6 inches above the floor.
20-21.03(a)(02)
Materials; general. single-service and single-use articles. single-service articles / single-use articles reused.
(corrected on site)
20-21.10(a)(05)
Containers. in containers designed with drains, drain plugs not in place at all times, except during cleaning.
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)
82
Feb 24, 2025
Routine Inspection (001)
12 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 12 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)
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.
(corrected on site)
20-21.01(b)(06)
Special requirements. frozen desserts. all frozen desserts such as ice cream, soft frozen desserts, soft serves, ice milk, slush, noncarbonated fruit-flavored frozen desserts, frozen carbonated beverages, snow cones, sherbets, and their related mixes not meeting the standards of quality established for the products by applicable laws and regulations.
(corrected on site)
20-21.01(b)(05)
General. container of food not stored a minimum of 6 inches above the floor.
20-21.03(a)(02)
General. contamination event. food establishment without written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
(corrected on site)
20-21.07(a)(03)
Materials; general. single-service and single-use articles. single-service articles / single-use articles reused.
20-21.10(a)(05)
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)
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)
Toilet fixtures. toilet fixture not kept clean / not in good repair.
20-21.18(d)
Hand-washing sink installation. hand-washing sink not accessible to employees at all times.
20-21.19(a)
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)
Containers. in containers designed with drains, drain plugs not in place at all times, except during cleaning.
20-21.20(a)(03)
55
Jul 5, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
4 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 4 violations
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)
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)
Prohibited storage area. food equipment / utensils / laundered linens / single-service and single-use articles shall not be stored in locker rooms / toilet rooms / vestibules / garbage rooms / mechanical rooms / under sewer lines that are not shielded to intercept potential drips / under open stairwells / under other sources of contamination is prohibited except that laundered linens and single-service and single-use articles that are packaged or in a facility such as a cabinet may be stored in a locker room.
(corrected on site)
20-21.14(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)
82
Jan 3, 2024
Routine Inspection (001)
5 minor violations. 1 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)
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)
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)
General. plumbing not sized / installed / maintained according to applicable laws.
20-21.17(a)
Food employee failed to successfully complete a food handler training course within 60 days of employment.
20-53(f)
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tienda Rio Lempa last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tienda Rio Lempa on file is from Nov 5, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tienda Rio Lempa?
Across the inspection record, “using chemicals for sanitization” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Tienda Rio Lempa.
How does Tienda Rio Lempa compare to other restaurants in Houston?
Tienda Rio Lempa most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is lower than the Houston average of 88.
Has Tienda Rio Lempa's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Tienda Rio Lempa have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Tienda Rio Lempa 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 Tienda Rio Lempa inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tienda Rio Lempa is inspected around three times per year on average.
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