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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameTAQUERIA NUMBER 1
Address3619 E. INDEPENDENCE BV
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 3/20/2026
Final Score @ Grade
87 B
General CommentsFor re-inspection, call 980-314-1620

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
2 0 Certified Food Protection Manager Yes No No 2-102.12 (A) PIC shall demonstrate knowledge by being a certified food protection manager. Observed no CFPM present at start of inspection. -CDI- PIC with CFPM arrived after start of inspection.-0- For more information on becoming a certified food protection manager please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety
8 0 Hands clean & properly washed Yes No No 2-301.12 (A),(B) Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. Follow the cleaning procedure to adequately wash your hands. Use warm water, soap, scrub 10 to 15 seconds, rinse, and immediately follow the cleaning procedure with thorough hand drying method (ex. Disposable Paper Towel). -P- Observed food employee wash hands for less than 20 seconds. -CDI- EHS educated food employee on proper handwashing procedure and food employee properly rewashed hands. -0- For more information on handwashing, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training video at the following web link, https://youtu.be/BH6CLGrH10M . 2-301.14 (F) Wash hands during food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination, and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks. -P- Observed food employee handling raw meat and then touch clean pan handle to reheat items. -CDI- EHS educated food employee on when to wash and food employee moved item to dishpit to be W/R/S and 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 spray bottles and cloths stored on handsink at FOH. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper use of handsink and items were relocated. 6-301.14 Post a handwash sign at each handsink. Observed no handwashing signs at bathroom handsinks. -CDI- EHS provided signage. -0-
15 3 Food separated & protected Yes Yes No 3-302.11(A)(1) Separate raw animal foods from ready-to-eat foods and washed/unwashed fruits and vegetables. -P- Observed raw bacon commingled with RTE ham and hot dogs in prep unit -CDI- PIC corrected storage order. **REPEAT** -3- For more information on food storage order please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation 3-302.11(A)(8) Separate unwashed produce from ready-to-eat foods. Observed unwashed tomatoes, cilantros and peppers over RTE salsa, curtido and washed tomatillos. For more information on food storage order please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation
16 3 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized Yes Yes No 4-501.114 Maintain sanitizer at correct concentrations when being used to sanitize. -P- Observed sanitizer at 3-comp sink at 10 ppm. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on how to prepare sanitizer and concentration corrected to 50ppm. **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: Sanitizing Solutions - https://youtu.be/ykP2mr9CtRg and How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY 4-601.11(A) Equipment food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. -Pf.- Observed food debris on dishes stored as clean. -CDI- PIC moved items to dishpit to be W/R/S. PIC stated some items not in use. Remove any items not in use or ensure they are stored clean. 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 , How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY , and Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces https://youtu.be/av1Rbh-lh08 .
20 0 Proper cooling time & temperatures Yes No No 3-501.14(A) Quickly cool cooked foods within 2 hours from 135F to 70F; and within a total of 6 hours from 135F to 41F. -P.- Observed rice prepared prior day at 49F. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded items. -0- 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 Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU .
21 3 Proper hot holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16(A)(1) Maintain TCS foods in hot holding at 135F or above. -P- Observed items hot holding below 135F. Refer to temperature chart. -CDI- PIC reheated items above 165F. **REPEAT** -3- 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 .
22 0 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes No No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P- Observed crema above 41F. Observed crate of eggs sitting out at ambient air at 51F. Observed black beans in WIC between 44-45F. -CDI- PIC placed crema and eggs in WIC to cool back down and voluntarily discarded black beans. -0- 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 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 flauta meat date marked 3/13-3/19. Observed menudo and res date marked 3/8. Per PIC, items had been pulled from freezer prior day. Observed shredded mozzarella cheese and queso fresco in RIC with no date marks. Per PIC, items opened today. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper date marking and ensuring to date mark items once they are pulled from freezer and PIC properly date marked items. **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 .
33 0 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes No 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 rice prepared prior day above 41F that did not meet cooling parameters. Observed individual sauces prepared today in prep unit cooling down. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper cooling methods and rice voluntarily discarded and individual sauces placed on ice bath in WIC to facilitate rapid cooling. -0- 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 .
37 1 Food properly labeled: original container No Yes No 3-302.12 Label all working containers of food (oils, spices, salts, flour, sugar) except food that is easy to identify such as dry pasta. Observed no label on 2 squeeze bottles. Observed 2 large containers with no labels. **REPEAT** -1-
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 cloths stored in sanitizer concentration at 10ppm chlorine sanitizer. -CDI- PIC corrected to 50ppm. -0-
43 0 In-use utensils: properly stored No No No 3-304.12 (B) In-use utensils for food that is not TCS must be stored with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed. Observed small plastic ramekins being used in spices with no handles. Ensure items with handles are used in these containers and that the handles are not touching the food. 3-304.12 (C ) Store in-use utensils on a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment. The utensils and storage surface must be cleaned and sanitized every 4 hours. Observed tongs being stored on oven handle. -CDI- EHS educated PIC on proper storage of these items and items were relocated. -0-
44 0 Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried & handled Yes No No 4-903.11 (B) After cleaning and sanitizing, clean equipment and utensils shall be stored in a self-draining position that allows air drying and covered or inverted. Observed wet stacking and standing water in some dishes stored as clean. -CDI- PIC moved items to dishpit to be W/R/S. -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 2 cutting boards with multiple deep cuts in need of replacement due to no longer being smooth and easily cleanable. 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. Observed lowboy freezer at FOH with ice buildup, items in freezer starting to defrost and ambient air at 38F. Repair or replace. -0- 4-101.17 (A) Wood and wood wicker may not be used as a food contact surface. Observed large wooden spoon being used for meat. 4-101.19/4-202.16 Non FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other FOOD soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a CORROSION-RESISTANT, nonabsorbent, and SMOOTH material. NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES shall be free of unnecessary ledges, projections, and crevices, and designed and constructed to allow easy cleaning and to facilitate maintenance. Observed heavily rusted shelving at BOH above prep sink where clean pots are stored.
49 0 Non-food contact surfaces clean No No No 4-601.11(C ) Keep non food contact surfaces of equipment clean to avoid build up of dust, food residue or debris.4-602.13 Non food contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned frequently to preclude accumulation of soil residues. Observed NFCS of thermometer and bottom half of blender in need of cleaning. Observed dust buildup on vents and vent covers of ice machine. Increased and more thorough cleaning frequency recommended. -0-
55 0 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean No No No 6-101.11/6-201.11 Floors, walls and ceilings shall be designed, constructed, and installed so they are smooth and easily cleanable. Floors shall be non-absorbent in areas subject to moisture./6-501.11 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. Observed small holes in flooring underneath stove near handsink. Observed baseboard coming off of wall in same area. Repair. -0-