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EL QUETZAL

3211 BEACON AVE S, SEATTLE, WA 98144 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)

Inspection summary

EL QUETZAL has been inspected 36 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since December 19, 2011. The most recent inspection, on July 13, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

16 of 36 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 13 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on July 13, 2026. For example: 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used

  • 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 11 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on January 26, 2023. For example: 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 8 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on February 16, 2016. For example: 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities

  • 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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on December 28, 2023. For example: 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

  • 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 January 26, 2023. For example: 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled

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.

36 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  11. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  13. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  15. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  16. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  17. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  19. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  20. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  21. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  22. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  23. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  24. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  26. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  27. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  28. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  29. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  30. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  31. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  32. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  33. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from RTE food
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  34. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  35. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0500 - Proper methods used to prevent bare hand...
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  36. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED

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