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Food Service · Louisville, KY

El Vaquero

161 Outer Loop Ste 108

Last inspected Apr 6, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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A Grade

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SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

7 inspections

Regular

Apr 6, 2026

A Grade

Official score: 94 · Understand this area’s scale

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Apr 6, 2026 · Original Source

Regular

Apr 6, 2026

A Grade

Official score: 94 · Understand this area’s scale

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Apr 6, 2026 · Original Source

Followup

Aug 4, 2025

A Grade

Official score: 100 · Understand this area’s scale

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Aug 4, 2025 · Original Source

Regular

Jul 28, 2025

C Grade

Official score: 81 · Understand this area’s scale

10 recorded violations

criticalCode 6Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

Inspector’s notes

Employee drinks improperly stored inside reach-in coolers, and next to customer food.

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
criticalCode 8Handwashing

Official wording

HANDS CLEAN AND PROPERLY WASHED

Inspector’s notes

Employee handling taco shells and cheese without washing hands after having handled raw meat.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
minorCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

Adequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible

Inspector’s notes

Hand sink being used for purposes other than hand washing.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
minorCode 15Other

Official wording

Food separated and protected

Inspector’s notes

Raw eggs stored over cheese.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
criticalCode 21Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

TCS food not maintained at 5°C (41°F) or below. Cooler holding chicken and steak at 55 degrees F. (Discarded) Cooler holding pico, sour cream and various items at 50 degrees F. (Discarded)

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
criticalCode 29Chemicals

Official wording

TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED

Inspector’s notes

Toxic items not labeled.

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
minorCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used and stored

Inspector’s notes

Cloths in use not stored in sanitizing solution.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used

Inspector’s notes

Lining walk-in freezer shelving with cardboard. Condensation build-up inside reach-in cooler.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 56Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean

Inspector’s notes

Outer openings not protected against entry of pests.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
criticalCode 58Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS AND ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

Presence of insects. Presence of roaches.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Jul 28, 2025 · Original Source

Regular

Oct 29, 2024

A Grade

Official score: 97 · Understand this area’s scale

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Oct 29, 2024 · Original Source

Followup

Feb 29, 2024

A Grade

Official score: 99 · Understand this area’s scale

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Feb 29, 2024 · Original Source

Regular

Feb 23, 2024

C Grade

Official score: 85 · Understand this area’s scale

3 recorded violations

criticalCode 53Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

SEWAGE AND WASTEWATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

Inspector’s notes

Sewage and waste water not disposed of in an approved manner. (No plumbing waste pipe connected to dishwashing rinse sink.)

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
criticalCode 13Contamination

Official wording

FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, AND UNADULTERATED

Inspector’s notes

Food and/or ice adulterated or contaminated. (Raw steak stored with and contaminated by raw chicken.) (Discarded) (Raw steak stored with and contaminated by raw chorizo.) (Discarded) (House made salsa and cut tomatoes dated 2/13.) (DIscarded)

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
criticalCode 6Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

Inspector’s notes

Improper storage of employee food/drinks. (Personal drink stored above cutting board and food storage.)

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

Official record from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Feb 23, 2024 · Original Source

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