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Carteret County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NamePLAZA MEXICO RESTAURANT
Address140 FAIRVIEW DR
 
City/State/ZIP
EMERALD ISLE NC 28594
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyCarteret
Inspection Date 4/7/2026
Final Score @ Grade
91 A
General Comments-90 restaurant seats and 12 bar seats counted during inspection. -Walked septic field and observed damaged lids but no obvious signs of failure. -TPHC no longer being used. -Next routine inspection will be between 1 July and 31 October 2026. -Strongly recommend scheduling an education visit prior to next inspection.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes Yes No 5-205.11 - Using a Handwashing Sink: Maintain access to handsinks. Handsinks may only be used for handwashing. Pf -Air freshener and pen in rear handwash sink. *CDI. Items moved. 6-301.14 - Handwashing Signage: sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands shall be provided at all handwashing sinks. -Signs missing from handwashing sink. *REPEAT **NO POINTS TAKEN
15 3 Food separated & protected Yes Yes No 3-302.11 - Packaged and Unpackaged Food - Separation, Packaging, and Segregation: Food shall be protected from cross contamination by separation during storage, preparation, holding, and display. P -Raw burger, and raw steak directly above RTE sauces, and vegtables. -Unwashed produce(heads of lettuce, avacodos) in the walk in cooler was directly over ready to eat foods (shredded lettuce, diced tomato). -Unwashed produce (peppers) directly above milk, and RTE sauces in walk in cooler. *CDI. Coolers reorganized. 3-304.15(A) - Gloves, Use Limitation: Discard gloves after a task is complete or any time they are damaged or soiled. P -Food employee was preparing food and touched another employee on the back, reached into his pocket and then continued to prepare food with no glove change. -Employee was handling soiled equipment, scrubbing pots and then reached into his pocket, wiped the surface of a prep table with a rag that was resting on his shoulder and then put cleaned and sanitized equipment away. *CDI. Employees changed gloves and washed hands. Education provided to PIC. **3.0 POINTS TAKEN
16 0 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized Yes Yes No 4-601.11(A) - Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils: Equipment food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. Pf -Dishes on the prep line had accumulation of food debris and splatter on them. *CDI. Moved to dish pit. **REPEAT ***NO POINTS TAKEN
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16 - Potentially Hazardous Food (Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food), Hot and Cold Holding: Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. P -Prep top was left open and the following food temperatures were measured: Diced tomato-45, sour cream-45, pico-46. *CDI. Prep top closed and foods cooled to 41. *REPEAT ***1.5 POINTS TAKEN
28 1 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes Yes No 7-102.11 - Common Name: Label working containers of chemical with common name. Pf -Chlorine sanitizer was in a green bucket with an unreadable label. *CDI. Relabeled. 7-204.11 - Sanitizers, Criteria: Chemical sanitizers used on food contact surfaces shall not exceed concentrations of 200ppm for chlorine or 400ppm for quaternary ammonia. P -Sanitizer on cook line bleached out the testing strips and was above the readable range of 400ppm. *CDI. Sanitizer remade with appropriate concentration. *REPEAT *1.0 POINTS TAKEN
38 1 Insects & rodents not present; no unauthorized animals No Yes No 6-202.15 - Outer Openings, Protected: Outer openings of a food establishment shall be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by solid, self-closing, tight fitting doors; closed, tight-fitting windows; and filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors, walls, and ceilings. -There is a large gap under the kitchen/rear door due to water damage on the door and missing weather stipping. *REPEAT 6-202.16 - Exterior Walls and Roofs, Protective Barrier: Perimeter walls and roofs of a food establishment shall effectively protect the establishment from the weather and the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals. -The siding of the establishment has several large holes. -There is missing/damaged J- channel on the rear corner of the buildings exterior and the siding is damaged and separating, creating large gaps. *1.0 POINTS TAKEN
39 0 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display No No No 3-305.14 - Food Preparation: During preparation unpackaged food shall be protected from environmental sources of contamination. -Hard taco shells stored on top shelf of prep line with no cover and no overhead protection. 3-305.11 - Food Storage: Store food in a clean, dry location, not exposed to contamination. Keep at least 6 inches above the floor. -Sausage and other unrecognizable foods were stored under a leaking condenser in the walk in freezer and were covered in ice crystals. *NO POINTS TAKEN
41 0 Wiping cloths: properly used & stored No No No 3-304.14 - Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation: Hold in-use wiping cloths in sanitizer between uses. -Wiping cloth was observed being used to wipe surfaces and kept on the counter. -Employees holding wiping cloths on their person (over shoulder, in pocket) were observed using the wiping cloths to wipe surfaces. *NO POINTS TAKEN
44 0.50 Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried & handled No Yes No 4-901.11(A) - Equipment and Utensils, Air-Drying Required: Air dry equipment and utensils after cleaning and sanitizing. -Observed dishes actively being stacked without drying. -Multiple food containers were stacked while wet and failed to dry completely. *REPEAT **0.5 POINTS TAKEN
45 0 Single-use & single-service articles: properly stored & used No No No 4-903.11 - Equipment, Utensils, Linens, and Single-Service and Single-Use Articles: Store single-use and single-service articles in a clean dry location. -Lean-to/shed with little environmental protection was being used to store napkins and single service cups (opened box) behind establishment. *NO POINTS TAKEN
47 1 Equipment, food & non-food contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used No Yes No 4-501.11 - Good Repair and Proper Adjustment: Equipment shall be maintained in good repair. -Gaskets torn on main prep cooler. -Gasket missing from walk in freezer. -Walk in freezer is freezing over. -Gasket torn on single door prep cooler. -Delaminating finish on reach in cooler shelves. -Walk in freexer door is rusted through. *REPEAT 4-502.11 (A) - Good Repair and Calibration: Utensils shall be maintained in good repair. -Multiple chipped dishes observed. *1.0 POINTS TAKEN
49 0 Non-food contact surfaces clean No No No 4-602.13 - Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils: Non-food contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned at a frequency to prevent accumulation of soil residue. -Fire suppression system has accumulation of grease. -Standing water in single door reach in prep cooler. *NO POINTS TAKEN
52 0 Sewage & wastewater properly disposed No No No 5-403.12 - Other Liquid Wastes and Rainwater: Condensate drainage and other nonsewage liquids and rainwater shall be drained from point of discharge to disposal in an approved manner. -Mop sink behind building is full of rain water and not draining.
54 0 Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained No No No 5-502.11 - Frequency: Refuse, recyclables, and returnables shall be removed from the premises at a frequency that will minimize the development of objectionable odors and other conditions that attract or harbor insects and rodents. -Equipment, old Christmas trees, and other unused items behind establishment need to be removed.
55 1 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean No Yes No 6-501.12 - Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions: All physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean and by methods that prevent contamination of food products. -Heavy grease buildup on the floors around cooking equipment. -Food on walk in cooler floor with a foot print on it. 6-501.11 - Repairing: Floors, walls, and ceilings including the attachments such as soap and towel dispensers; light fixtures; and heat/ac vents shall be maintained in good repair. -Floors have large pits, missing and cracked tiles throughout. -Baseboards have eroded from water damage. -Coving was removed in kitchen. *REPEAT **1.0 POINTS TAKEN ***The floors are effectively uncleanable and will need to be repaired.
56 0 Meets ventilation & lighting requirements; designated areas used No Yes No 6-303.11 - Intensity: The light intensity shall be at least 10 foot candles in walk-in refrigeration units and dry storage areas, 20 foot candles in warewashing, handwashing, toilet rooms and self-service areas, and at least 50 foot candles in areas where food is handled. -5 foot candles measures in walk in freezer. *REPEAT 6-501.110 - Using Dressing Rooms and Lockers: Lockers or other suitable facilities shall be provided for the orderly storage of employees' clothing and other possessions. -2 cell phones were observed on the prep line shelf with microwave, equipment, and utensils. *NO POINTS TAKEN