EL BORRACHO
1521 1ST AVE, SEATTLE, WA 98101 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)
Inspection summary
EL BORRACHO has been inspected 26 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since December 3, 2012. The most recent inspection, on June 10, 2026, found no infractions.
15 of 26 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.
The last 3 inspections in a row found no infractions. The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.
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.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 8 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on February 23, 2026. For example:
3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on September 4, 2024. For example:
2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 15, 2018. For example:
1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
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 May 15, 2018. For example:
3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
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 once on May 26, 2016. For example:
0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
About this data
These results come from Public Health – Seattle & King County, 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.
26 inspections
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 2600 - Compliance with valid permit; operating and risk control plans, and required written procedures
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
- BLUE
- 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
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