TROPICAL CUISINE

Name: TROPICAL CUISINE
Address: 3405 E HILLSBOROUGH AVE, TAMPA, FL, 33610, US
Rating: 78

3405 E HILLSBOROUGH AVE, TAMPA, FL 33610

License #3918267

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

78 Grade C / 100

Mixed Health Record

How is this score calculated? →

Quick take

TROPICAL CUISINE in TAMPA currently holds an InspectFL Health Score of 78 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 7, 2026. Across those visits, inspectors documented 58 total violations — 6 critical, 14 major, 38 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
[23-24-4] Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed walk in cooler handle is soiled at time of inspection.
[36-36-4] Ceiling tile missing. Observed hole and water damage to ceiling in front of back door at time of inspection.
[36-73-4] Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor soiled in kitchen around equipment at time of inspection.
[10-08-5] Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Observed ice scoop handle in ice at time of inspection.
[10-01-5] In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed scoop handle in bulk dried rice at time of inspection.
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed sides of kitchen equipment are soiled at time of inspection.
[33-16-4] Open dumpster lid. Observed dumpster lid open at time of inspection.
[36-50-4] Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Hoods soiled at time of inspection.
[36-27-5] Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed soiled wall behind burners on cooks line at time of inspection.
[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.

Emergency order recommended
[03B-01-6] Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. mashed potatoes (127F - Hot Holding) yuca (100F - Hot Holding); cooked potatoes (127F - Hot Holding)
[10-08-5] Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Observed ice scoop in contact with ice inside of ice machine inside of kitchen.
[11-26-1] No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.
[12A-07-5] Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee serve food then cash out on register before returning to serve food again without washing hands in between glove changes.
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filters soiled with grease. Observed stoved, flat top grill and fryers soiled with grease and old food debris
[33-16-4] Open dumpster lid.
[42-01-4] Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed wet mop not allowed to dry near kitchen entrance.
[53B-13-5] Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Missing employee trainings for 5 employees, operator presented 1.
[29-42-4] Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
[08B-47-4] Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed lettuce, broccoli, and milk not stored at least 6 inches off the floor inside of walk in cooler.
[02D-01-5] Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed containers of rice, beans unlabeled in kitchen. Observed spices above hot box in kitchen not labeled.
[22-45-4] Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed Employee washing dishes with soap and water only no sanitizer.
[24-05-4] Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Observed pans and pot lids on shelf next to hot box not inverted.
[21-12-4] Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed wet wiping cloth stored on prep table in kitchen across from stove.
[14-05-4] Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Observed cardboard lining the shelves next to hot box in kitchen.
[36-27-5] Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall soiled with an accumulation of grease in kitchen next to stove equipment.
[31A-10-4] Equipment drain line draining into handwash sink. Observed condensation hose connected to AC draining into Hand washing sink in back kitchen near 3 compartment sink.
[36-73-4] Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor throughout main kitchen soiled with an accumulation of debris.
[32-02-4] Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Observed womens bathroom door open. Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Observed womens and mens bathroom door not self-closing.
[22-08-4] Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed microwave in dry food storage area soiled with grease and old food debris.
[35A-09-4] Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed approximately 10 dead maggots behind trash can in mens bathroom next to kitchen door.

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Community pulse