By: Robert Dewey | [email protected]

Manhattan, KS

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant

2605 STAGG HILL RD
MANHATTAN, KS 66502
785-539-7272

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services conducted a Follow-up Inspection on 3/3/2020. As a result of that inspection, and due to the severity of the specific violations the El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant was cited as being, “Out of Compliance” with Kansas food safety regulations. During this inspection a total of 8 violations were found.

The restaurant was inspected on January 7, 2020 with 13 violations cited by the Department. During the first Follow-up Inspection on January 21, 2020, El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant was cited for 2 violations.

The inspector made the following comments in support of the violations found during the inspection:

• Employee in the ware washing area, is scraping off food debris from utensils/drinking glasses, placing them in the 3 compartment sink, then placing them in a dish washer rack and running the utensils through the dishwasher. He then, without taking his gloves off or washing his hands, touched the drinking glasses and began stacking them wet. Corrected on Site: KDA111 provided education to person in charge, who in turn, translated to the employee. Employee removed hands and washed his hands.
• In the Walk-in cooler, there are 5ea of 5 gallon plastic cylinder shaped containers of Salsa, temperature ranging from (48′-60′), date marked 3/3. Person in charge said it was made around 10:30a-11a. Time now: 3:32p. The ingredients are from room temperature canned tomatoes, canned jalapeno’s and dry spices. (did not cool in 4 hrs). Corrected on Site: discarded salsa. NOTE: other items made yesterday and before are all below 41′. KDA111 provided education and person in charge elected to store canned tomatoes and jalapeno’s in the Walk-in Cooler. **REPEAT P Violation**
• In the Walk-in cooler, there are containers of Taco sauce, green salsa, enchilada sauce and salsa, all below 41’F without date mark when made. Person in charge said they were made on Sunday, 3/1. Corrected on Site: date marked accordingly. **REPEAT Pf Violation**
• There are fried tortilla chips being stored in a food grade 55 gallon barrel with at least (4) gaping splits extending from the bottom to 1/3 up the sides. Corrected on Site: tortillas moved to a pan, 55 gallon barrel discarded. **NEW Pf Violation**
• On the clean utensil storage rack, there is a stainless steel pan with adhesive debris on the outside of the container stacked inside another stainless steel container. There is another stainless steel container with a dried tomato seed stuck to the outside of the container. Corrected on site: returned to ware washing to be cleaned. **NEW Pf Violation**
• There is no soap at the hand washing sink in the ware washing area. Corrected on Site: soap put in a small orange bowl, placing it on the sink. NOTE: no soap available to put in wall mounted dispenser. **NEW Pf Violation**
• No paper towels or other hand drying provisions at the kitchen cook/serve area hand washing sink. Corrected on Site: paper towels replenished. **NEW Pf Violation**
• Sitting on a kitchen prep table, a bottle of rubbing alcohol is being stored above open mesh bags of raw onions. (NO leakage detected) Corrected on Site: Alcohol bottle removed and relocated. **NEW P Violation**

Abbreviations used by inspectors:

AVB- An Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB) is a backflow prevention device used in plumbing to prevent backflow of non-potable liquids into the drinking water system
BOH- Back of the House
CFSM- Certified Food Safety Manager
COS- Corrected on-site during inspection
FCS- Food contact surface
PIC- Person-in-charge
PHF- Potentially Hazardous Foods
RIC- Reach in cooler
RTE- Ready to Eat
WIC- Walk-in cooler