Dirty Dish List.Near Me
License No. 3500221|Public Food Service Establishment|Hardee County, FloridaInspected Jul 29, 2026
State of Florida Inspection Record

GARCIA'S TACO EXPRESS INC

1448 US HWY 17 N, WAUCHULA, FL 33873

State inspectors have documented 4 high-priority violations at GARCIA'S TACO EXPRESS INC over the past year. That's the kind that can make you sick. Consider the alternatives below. The trailing-year record shows 33 violations, including 4 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.

Serious
42.2
Trailing year of inspections
How this kitchen compares
Against WAUCHULA

Scores higher than 14% of the 29 inspected restaurants in WAUCHULA on the trailing-year record.

42.2
Lowest scoreCity median · 64.0Highest score
Against Hardee County

4 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Hardee County average of 2.2.

This kitchen4
County average2.2
Above county average
Computed from the trailing-year records of all inspected restaurants in the same city and county. Official State of Florida inspection data — scores calculated by this site.

The Inspection Record

8 inspections

Full available history. The score uses only the most recent 365 days — older visits are shown for context, not counted.

Visit 01 — Routine - Food
Jul 29, 2026
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Handwashing & employee habits
Repeat — 4th time

Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.

High-priority
Handwash sinks & supplies
Repeat — 4th time

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate×2
Advisories, date marking & labeling
Repeat — 2nd time

Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 6th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×2
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 7th time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Clean equipment storage
Repeat — 2nd time

Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.

Basic
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 7th time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic
License current & displayed

The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 02 — Routine - Food
Dec 19, 2025
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Raw-food separation & protection
Repeat — 4th time

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Handwash sinks & supplies
Repeat — 3rd time

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate×2
Advisories, date marking & labeling

Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.

Intermediate
Dishwashing facilities & test kits

Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 5th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×3
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 6th time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Clean equipment storage

Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.

Basic
Plumbing & backflow
Repeat — 2nd time

Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.

Basic
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 6th time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 03 — Routine - Food
Sep 2, 2025
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Raw-food separation & protection
Repeat — 3rd time

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Handwashing & employee habits
Repeat — 3rd time

Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.

High-priority
Pests & outer openings
Repeat — 2nd time

Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.

High-priority
Handwash sinks & supplies
Repeat — 2nd time

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 4th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×3
Hair restraints & clean clothes

Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.

Basic
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 5th time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Plumbing & backflow

Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.

Basic
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 5th time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 04 — Routine - Food
Nov 6, 2024
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Chemicals & toxic substances

Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.

High-priority
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 4th time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic×2
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 4th time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic×2
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 3rd time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 4th time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 05 — Routine - Food
Aug 29, 2024
Disposition
Follow-up inspection · Compliance recordedEmergency Order Callback Complied
Water source & pressure
Repeat — 2nd time

Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.

Intermediate
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 3rd time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic×2
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 3rd time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Compliance recorded on the Emergency Order of Closure of Aug 28, 2024 — Visit 06 in this ledger.
1 day between recordsElapsed time between records—not confirmed time closed.
Visit 06 — Routine - Food
Aug 28, 2024
Disposition
Emergency Order of ClosureEmergency order recommended
Emergency order on this visit
Pests & outer openings

Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.

High-priority×3
Approved & safe source

Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.

High-priority×2
Raw-food separation & protection
Repeat — 2nd time

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Handwashing & employee habits
Repeat — 2nd time

Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.

High-priority
Water source & pressure

Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.

Intermediate
Floors, walls & ceilings
Repeat — 2nd time

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic×3
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 3rd time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
Non-food surfaces dirty
Repeat — 2nd time

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 07 — Routine - Food
Nov 8, 2023
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Raw-food separation & protection

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Handwashing & employee habits

Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.

High-priority
Handwash sinks & supplies

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 2nd time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 2nd time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
Personal belongings

Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 08 — Routine - Food
Jul 25, 2023
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Equipment & surface condition

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×3
Dirty food-contact surfaces

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
Non-food surfaces dirty

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
Garbage & premises

Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.

Basic
Floors, walls & ceilings

Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
What the violations mean

Violation categories, explained

22 violations · 11 categories

Every violation on this record falls into one of the state's standardized categories. Here is what each category covers and why inspectors check for it — in plain English, with the trailing-year count for this kitchen.

Hands must be washed and gloves changed at the required moments — after touching the floor, raw food, or anything unclean — and eating, drinking, or smoking is not allowed in food areas. Hands are the most common way pathogens reach food.

On this record, the category appears in 1 of the 2 trailing-year inspections. The written details for each entry are in the state inspection documents linked above.

† Item numbers refer to the State of Florida’s standardized inspection form; the same item recurring across visits indicates an unresolved problem. Severity groupings and the sanitation score are explained in How it works.
Check our work

The inspection record above comes straight from the state's files.

Dirty Dish List is built from public inspection data published by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The inspection dates, dispositions, and violations on this report card mirror what the state has on file for License No. 3500221 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.

License on file
3500221
Inspected
Jul 29, 2026
Scoring
Trailing-year aggregate — How it works
Official State of Florida inspection records Opens myfloridalicense.com — the state's public inspection search
Official State of Florida inspection data — scores calculated by this site
Dirty Dish List.

Official inspection data, translated for the people who eat here.

SOURCE: STATE OF FLORIDA
No accounts. No ads. No ratings to game.
BROWSE BY AREA
County → · City → · ZIP →
© 2026 Dirty Dish ListCreated by Michael MancusoSite design by Cobblestone Creative
AboutContact & correctionsHow inspections workSource DataTermsPrivacy