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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameEL TROPICO RESTAURANT
Address4335 N TRYON ST
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 7/1/2026
Final Score @ Grade
94 A
General CommentsOverall improvement noted and facility has done a lot of cleaning and organizing. Facility had labeled shelving in cold and dry storage for la chilanguita and la chonitas (MFUs).

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
8 0 Hands clean & properly washed Yes No No 2-301.14 (I) Wash hands after engaging in other activities that contaminate hands. -P- Observed PIC handle bleach to fill up sanitizer bucket and then begin to return to food prep. -CDI- EHS intervened, educated PIC on when to wash and PIC washed hands. -0-
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes No No 5-205.11 (B) A handwashing sink may not be used for purposes other than handwashing -Pf.- Observed food debris in handsink, indicating it was used for dumping. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper use of handsink and handsink was properly cleaned. -0-
15 1.50 Food separated & protected Yes No No 3-304.11 (A) Food shall only contact surfaces of properly cleaned and sanitized equipment and utensils. -P- Observed washed celery and cucumber lying on storage racks of bottom of prep unit. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper storage and items rewashed and placed in proper containers. 3-302.11 (A)(2) Separate types of raw animal foods from each other such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, and poultry during storage, preparation, holding, and display. -P.- Observed raw chicken outside of original packaging stored over raw whole muscle beef in WIF. -CDI- PIC corrected storage order. -1.5- For more information on food storage order please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation
23 3 Proper date marking & disposition Yes Yes No 3-501.17 (A) or (B) Date mark/label all TCS foods that are ready-to-eat once opened or prepared and are to be held for more than 24 hours. -Pf. Establish a date marking system consistent with 3-501.17 (A) or (B). Additional date marking system options are found in 3-501.17 (D)./3-501.18 Discard the food requiring date labels once time/temperature window has expired, if it has not been labeled, or if the label is incorrect. -P- The PIC should train and assign staff to monitor date marking to prevent the use of food products that are no longer in compliance with 3-501.17 (A), (B), or (C). Observed some items past date mark: 6/23-6/29: repollo, yuca, chicken taco filling, carne molida, lengua, andcanned chipotle peppers; some items missing date mark: cut cabbage, half and half, and pico de gallo; and some items improperly date marked: beans 6/29-7/6 (discard should be 7/5) and salsas in small RIC at FOH that were filled from larger containers in WIC date marked for today instead of original date mark. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded items past date mark and properly date marked other items. OVERALL IMPROVEMENT NOTED WITH DATE MARKING. CONTINUE TO MONITOR TO ENSURE ITEMS ARE PROPERLY DATE MARKED AND DISCARDED PAST 7 DAYS. **REPEAT** -3- For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs .
35 0 Approved thawing methods used Yes No No 3-501.13 (A), (B), (C) Use approved thawing methods for frozen food such as in a cooler at 41F or below, completely submerged under cold running water according to the Code, or as a part of the cooking process. -Pf- Observed raw beef thawing under running water at 85F and not submerged. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper thawing methods and that in EHS’ experience, water does not come out of faucets below 70F in Meck county in the warmer months and PIC placed items in WIC. -0-
38 1 Insects & rodents not present; no unauthorized animals No Yes No 6-501.111 Keep the premises free of insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed one crawling pest. **REPEAT** -1- **OVERALL IMPROVEMENT WITH PEST CONTROL** 6-501.112 Remove dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed a couple dead pests.
41 0.50 Wiping cloths: properly used & stored Yes Yes No 3-304.14(B) Hold in-use wiping cloths in properly concentrated sanitizer between uses. Observed 3 buckets of wiping cloths with no sanitizer. -CDI- PIC added chlorine to correct to 100ppm. **REPEAT** -0.5-
47 0 Equipment, food & non-food contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used No No No 4-501.12 Resurface or replace cutting surfaces that can no longer be effectively cleaned and sanitized. Observed cutting board with holes. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded items. 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. Observed water pooling in bottom of prep unit and lowboy cooler. -0-