Select your filters and click the Search button to search for data, or click Clear to clear all filters
 
Logo Main Menu
Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
Select your filters and click the Search button to search for data, or click Clear to clear all filters
 
  
 

Premises Information

Return to Inspections
NameTACOS EL GORDO
Address3619 E INDEPENDENCE BV
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Premise Type3 - Mobile Food
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 1/16/2026
Final Score @ Grade
95.50 A
General CommentsEHS observed some items reheating at steam table. PIC stated they had been reheating for about 15-20 minutes at time of arrival. Items were observed between 75-103F. EHS not able to get 2nd temperature due to MFU having to close due to no cold holding. EHS educated PIC on best practice of reheating on flat top or range. EHS OBSERVED ICICLES BELOW UNIT INDICATING THAT MFU WAS LIKELY NOT TAKEN BACK TO COMMISSARY PRIOR DAY OR THIS MORNING TO DUMP WATER AND FILL IT UP** **ENSURE MFU IS RETURNING TO COMMISSARY DAILY WHEN OPERATING TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE** During inspection, water had stopped working. When boss arrived, he showed EHS how water had to be turned back on at valves beneath handsink but food employees were not able to demonstrate this prior to boss arriving. When water was turned back on at valves, it leaked on to ground beneath handsink. No water should be leaking on to the ground. Ensure all food employees are knowledgable on operating water until repairs can be made. Inspection completed at Cashion’s at 19733 Statesville Rd Cornelius, NC.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
3 1 Management, food & conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities & reporting Yes No No 2-103.11(O) Ensure food employees are informed of their responsibility to report required symptoms, illnesses and exposure. -Pf- Observed EHP that had been signed by some food employees but PIC present had not signed it. -CDI- EHS provided updated copy and it was signed at time of visit. -1- For more information on employee health policy, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety
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 food employee adjusting piping below handsink and begin to return to food prep without washing hands. -CDI- EHS intervened, educated food employee on when to wash and food employee washed hands. 2-301.14 (I) Wash hands after engaging in other activities that contaminate hands. -P- Observed food employee wash hands and not use a barrier to turn off the faucet thus recontaminating hands. -CDI- EHS educated food employee on using a barrier and food employee properly rewashed hands. -0-
15 0 Food separated & protected Yes No No 3-304.15(A) Discard gloves after a task is complete or any time they are damaged or soiled. -P- Observed food employee handle piping below handsink and begin to return to food prep without changing gloves. -CDI- EHS intervened, educated food employee on when to discard gloves and gloves were discarded. -0-
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures No No Yes 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P- Observed all items in prep unit above 41F. Refer to temperature chart. Observed ambient air of unit at 44F. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded items. **FACILITY VOLUNTARILY CLOSING UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. NO OTHER COLD HOLDING EQUIPMENT ON UNIT APART FROM LOWBOY FREEZER** **MCHD CLOSED ON 1/19/26. PIC TO SEND VIDEO TO EHS ONCE REPAIRS ARE MADE PRIOR TO FACILITY REOPENING AND EHS TO MAKE OSV NEXT WORKING DAY** **3 DAY VERIFICATION REQUIRED** -1.5- For more information, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Safe Food Temperatures https://youtu.be/tXP09IK-1TQ .
40 1 Personal cleanliness Yes Yes No 2-402.11 Use head coverings, beard guards and clothing to restrain body hair from contacting exposed food, equipment, and utensils. Observed food employee engaging in food prep with no protective head covering. -CDI- Food employee placed appropriate head covering on head. **REPEAT** -1-
42 0 Washing fruits & vegetables No No No 3-302.15 Wash fruits and vegetables prior to use. Observed heads of unwashed lettuce on MFU. Per permit conditions, This MOBILE FOOD UNIT is prohibited from the processing of raw animal food and washing of vegetables based on its insufficient prep table/sink space and operation is limited to cooking and assembly of pre-prepared foods. -0-
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 in need of replacement due to multiple deep cuts and no longer being smooth and easily cleanable. -0-
51 1 Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices No No Yes 5-205.15 Maintain a plumbing system in good repair. Observed water draining slowly at handsink. Observed water valves that needed to be turned off and on beneath handsink in order to continuously operate running water on MFU. When valve is turned on, water beneath handsink is leaking on to ground. Must repair so that no water is leaking on the ground. **10 DAY VERIFICATION REQUIRED** **MUST ENSURE ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES KNOW HOW TO OPERATE WATER UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE** 5-303.12 A cap and keeper chain, closed cabinet, closed storage tube, or other APPROVED protective cover or device shall be provided for the water inlet. Observed no cover on water inlet and water outlet cover was hanging but not secured. Ensure cover is secured at all times. -0-