Restaurant Roundup: Taco Shop Temporarily Closed after a dozen health violations, busy spot stays spotless
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - A taco restaurant on the east side of town has been temporarily shut down after health inspectors discovered numerous violations during a routine inspection. The closure is the latest in a concerning pattern of noncompliance at the location.
Meanwhile, one of the area's busiest restaurants continues to impress inspectors with its commitment to cleanliness and food safety.
Nacos Tacos Closed Pending Re-Inspection
Nacos Tacos on North Academy Boulevard was temporarily closed after failing its routine health inspection for the fourth time in the past five years.
Inspectors documented 12 violations during the latest visit. Among the most serious concerns, employees were observed handling raw meat and then touching cooked food while wearing the same gloves, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
The inspection also found food items that were nearly a month past their expiration dates, as well as meat being stored at unsafe temperatures.
When we visited the restaurant, the doors were locked, although the lights were on and at least a couple of people appeared to be inside. We knocked multiple times but were unable to speak with anyone.
Nacos Tacos passed its re-inspection Friday, June 26th.
Restaurants Earning Top Scores
Several local restaurants received high marks from health inspectors this week, including:
- Bada Japanese Restaurant on Janitell Road
- Main Street Tavern in Security-Widefield
- Bubba's 33 on Constitution Avenue
Among the standout performers was Bubba's 33, which management says is the busiest location in the company.
Despite the high volume of customers, the restaurant has maintained exceptional standards for organization, cleanliness, and food safety.
“Three times per day, we’re going through checking out food quality, our sanitation, our food holding temperatures," Rob Auw with Bubba's 33 explained.
While many restaurants employ only a few certified food managers, this location has 18 on staff, helping ensure food safety standards are consistently met.
The restaurant's attention to detail extends beyond cleanliness! Customers can expect a menu featuring sweet pizza sauce with a perfectly crisp crust, fries seasoned to perfection, and an incredible frickle (AKA fried pickle).
Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards at your favorite restaurant to know the kitchen inside is clean.
Reminder: all of our high and low-scoring restaurants are based on routine health inspections conducted by the El Paso County Health Department.
Click here for a look at all the most recent health inspection scores.
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