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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameLA UNICA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Address1823 EAST ARBORS DR
STE 320
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 8/17/2026
Final Score @ Grade
96 A
General Comments

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes No No 6-301.11 Provide soap for handwashing at each handsink. -Pf Observed no soap at hand sink 1. CDI - PIC provided soap.
16 1.50 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized No No Yes 4-501.114 Maintain sanitizer at correct concentrations when being used to sanitize. -P Observed no sanitizer dispensing in dish machine 0ppm. PIC stated they have been having issues with this machine in inspections prior. PIC stated they will contact maintenance to perform a permanent fix to dish machine. Establishment shall use the 3 compartment sink for w/r/s until unit is properly dispensing sanitizer. EHS will arrive back on site within 3 days to verify sanitizer is dispensing at proper concentration. For more information please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: Sanitizing Solutions - https://youtu.be/ykP2mr9CtRg and How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY
20 1.50 Proper cooling time & temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.14(B) Quickly cool TCS foods that are prepared from room temperature ingredients. Food must be to 41F within 4 hours. -P. Observed tomatoes missing 4hour cooling window. PIC stated tomatoes began cooling at 10:30am. EHS temped tomatoes at 48F at 2:42pm. CDI - PIC voluntarily discarded. For more information, please visit: www.meckncgov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Cooling Food Safely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6x8b1ZVOxU .
22 0 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P Observed several items cold holding above in prep top (sour cream, lettuce, tamales, and pasteurized eggs). CDI - all items moved to WIC/WIF for rapid cooling. 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 .
23 0 Proper date marking & disposition Yes No 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). Observed several items without date marking in prep top (tomatoes, tamales, salsa, pasteurized eggs). CDI - PIC added correct date marking to all items. 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 Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs .
33 1 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes Yes No 3-501.15 Quickly cool foods. Use methods such as open/vented shallow pans, large ice baths and active stirring. Cold air must flow around product to remove the heat. -Pf Observed tomatoes in dense portions, stored in plastic containers missing cooling window in PU. Observed beef cooling in PU prepped today in tightly wrapped, dense portions with 45 min left not cooling fast enough. CDI - PIC voluntarily discarded tomatoes and moved items to WIF for rapid cooling. 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 Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU .
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 ground beef and whole beef thawing on counter above 41F. CDI - PIC moved items back to refrigeration to cool rapidly.
41 0 Wiping cloths: properly used & stored Yes No No 3-304.14(B) Hold in-use wiping cloths in properly concentrated sanitizer between uses. Observed wiping cloth in 0ppm solution. CDI - PIC remade sanitizer bucket at 50ppm chlorine.
56 0 Meets ventilation & lighting requirements; designated areas used Yes No No 6-403.11 (A)Areas designated for employees to eat and drink, shall be located so that food, equipment, linens, single service/use items are protected from contamination. Observed employee drink stored on in use cutting board. CDI - cutting board was moved to three compartment sink for w/r/s and employee beverage was moved to prevent contamination.