PAPA JOE'S CUBANS

Name: PAPA JOE'S CUBANS
Address: 9520 E MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, TAMPA, FL, 33610, US
Rating: 77.4

9520 E MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, TAMPA, FL 33610

License #3911941

🌴 Cuban/Caribbean ℹ️ Categories are auto-assigned based on restaurant names and may not be 100% accurate

77.4 Grade C / 100

Mixed Health Record

How is this score calculated? →

Quick take

PAPA JOE'S CUBANS in TAMPA currently holds an InspectFL Health Score of 77.4 out of 100 — a C grade — a noticeable pattern of violations across recent inspections. This restaurant has 4 inspections on record from Florida DBPR, with the most recent inspection on May 5, 2026. Across those visits, inspectors documented 34 total violations — 5 critical, 7 major, 22 minor.

Inspection data quality

What’s powering this page

Official source: DBPR

Inspection coverage

100%

Imported observations

Coverage note

Inspector notes shown when available

InspectFL reorganizes public DBPR inspection records into a page you can actually scan. When imported inspector observations are available, they appear inline. Otherwise, the page falls back to violation categories plus the official DBPR record.

What you’ll see here

•Imported DBPR observations appear directly inside inspection entries when available.
•When note coverage is missing, the official violation record still stays visible.

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DBPR

*Scores are calculated by InspectFL based on public DBPR inspection data and are not official state ratings.

Inspection timeline

Inspection History

Read the newest inspection first, then scan for patterns. Repeated high-priority findings matter more than one isolated bad day.

Critical Major Minor

Inspector notes are being added across all restaurants. Some inspections may only show violation codes until notes are available.

Inspection Completed - No Further Action
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed stained cutting boards in kitchen at time of inspection.
[51-11-4] Carbon dioxide tank not adequately secured. Observed carbon dioxide tank near soda fountain not secured at time of inspection.
[33-11-4] Missing drain plug at dumpster. Observed missing drain plug at dumpster at time of inspection. Dumpster is shared in strip mall location.
[06-01-5] Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed pork butt in prep sink without running water. Operator turned water on during inspection.
[08A-05-6] Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over shredded cheese. Operator moved eggs to lower shelf.
[41-15-5] Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed sani bucket tested 200ppm+. Operator diluted solution. Testing at 100ppm.

Emergency order recommended
[02C-04-5] Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Observed roast pork in reach in cooler next to 3 door freezer dated 09-09, per employee was moved from freezer to thawed yesterday 09-17
[03A-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sliced ham (44F - Cold Holding), employee moved to freezer for rapid cooling.
[14-09-4] Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting board on sandwich reach in cooler with cut marks and no longer cleanable.
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed multiple sandwich press throughout kitchen soiled with old food debris
[33-19-4] Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. Observed old food debris on ground around dumpster
[51-11-4] Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tank by soda machine not secured by chains.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting board on reach in sandwich cooler soiled with food debris.
[12B-07-4] Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink sitting on top of bottled water underneath front counter. Observed employee drink sitting on top of drain board of 3 compartment sink.
[21-12-4] Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed wet wiping cloth on prep table near sandwich press.
[08B-43-4] Food stored in a room/shed that is not fully enclosed. Observed reach in freezer hard cut salami, smoked ham.
[36-37-5] Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Throughout kitchen area.
[41-17-4] Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed purple liquid in spray bottle underneath 3 compartment sink. Observed clear liquid in spray bottle underneath 3 compartment sink.
[35A-04-4] Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 20 rodent droppings on the side of reach in cooler in back area. Observed approximately 20 rodent droppings underneath 3 compartment sink. Observed approximately 100 rodent droppings underneath stairwell in back storage area with coolers. Observed 2 rodent droppings in dining area by large mirror Observed approximately 25 rodent droppings upstairs with single service cups and drinking straws
[25-05-4] Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed box of drinking straws on floor in upstairs in dry storage area.
[16-37-1] No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.

Community reaction

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