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Tex-Mex · New York City, NY

Taco Express

251-14 Hillside Avenue

Last inspected Jul 9, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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A Grade

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Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

5 inspections

Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

Jul 9, 2026

A Grade

Official score: 5 · Understand this area’s scale

1 recorded violation

criticalCode 06CContamination

Official wording

Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

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

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Jul 9, 2026 · Original Source

Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

Apr 14, 2025

A Grade

Official score: 13 · Understand this area’s scale

4 recorded violations

minorCode 09CCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.

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 10FCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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 06CContamination

Official wording

Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

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
minorCode 10HContamination

Official wording

Single service article not provided. Single service article reused or not protected from contamination when transported, stored, dispensed. Drinking straws not completely enclosed in wrapper or dispensed from a sanitary device.

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

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Apr 14, 2025 · Original Source

Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

Feb 4, 2025

Violations cited

Official score: 39 · Understand this area’s scale

6 recorded violations

criticalCode 03AFood source and labeling

Official wording

Food, prohibited, from unapproved or unknown source, home canned or home prepared. Animal slaughtered, butchered or dressed (eviscerated, skinned) in establishment. Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing. ROP food prepared on premises transported to another site.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
criticalCode 06BEmployee health and hygiene

Official wording

Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.

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
minorCode 10AFacility maintenance

Official wording

Toilet facility not maintained or provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle or self-closing door.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode 10FCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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 02GFood temperature

Official wording

Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.

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 02BFood temperature

Official wording

Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.

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

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Feb 4, 2025 · Original Source

Administrative Miscellaneous / Re-inspection

Dec 20, 2023

Violations cited

2 recorded violations

minorCode 19-10Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

Failure to display required signage about plastic straw availability

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues
minorCode 20-06Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

Current letter grade or Grade Pending card not posted

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dec 20, 2023 · Original Source

Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

Dec 20, 2023

A Grade

Official score: 5 · Understand this area’s scale

2 recorded violations

minorCode 10HContamination

Official wording

Single service article not provided. Single service article reused or not protected from contamination when transported, stored, dispensed. Drinking straws not completely enclosed in wrapper or dispensed from a sanitary device.

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
minorCode 10FCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dec 20, 2023 · Original Source

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