BLUE PLATE TACO
1515 OCEAN AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 · RESTAURANT (61-150) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
BLUE PLATE TACO has been inspected 5 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since December 22, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 18, 2025, recorded 6 infractions.
None of the 5 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 18, 2025. For example:
PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 24, 2025. For example:
FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 24, 2024. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded once on September 18, 2025. For example:
NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded once on September 18, 2025. For example:
IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
About this data
These results come from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
5 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- 2 points
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
7 infractions
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F027: # 27. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F038: # 38. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F025: # 25. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS AND HAIR RESTRAINTS
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F037: # 37. ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
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