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EL TACO DE ORO

303 ST. PATRICK ST OTTAWA ON K1N 5K4 · Food Safety

Official record from Ottawa →

Inspection summary

EL TACO DE ORO has been inspected 7 times by Ottawa Public Health since September 27, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 30, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.

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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 30, 2026. For example: Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.

  • 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 July 30, 2026. For example: Racks, shelves or pallets used for food storage must be designed to protect the food from contamination and must be readily cleanable.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 6, 2026. For example: The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.

  • 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 March 6, 2026. For example: Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded once on March 6, 2026. For example: Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.

About this data

These results come from Ottawa Public Health, 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.

7 inspections

  1. Required

    3 infractions

    • All equipment, utensils and multi-service articles that are used for food preparation in the food premise are of sound and tight construction, in good repair and suitable for their intended use.
      • All the equipment, utensils and multi-service articles used in the food premise must be kept in good repair.
    • Racks, shelves or pallets used for food storage must be designed to protect the food from contamination and must be readily cleanable.
      • Provide racks, shelves or pallets designed to protect the food from contamination.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
      • Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 4°C (40°F) or lower.
  2. Required

    7 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
      • Maintain records of all pest control measures that are undertaken in the premise.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The floor or floor coverings must be tight, smooth and non-absorbent.
      • The walls and ceilings of rooms and passageways must be readily cleaned and must be maintained in a sanitary condition.
    • Mechanical dishwashers are constructed, designed and maintained to provide clean wash water at the proper temperature, and a sanitizing rinse.
      • Provide a mechanical dishwasher constructed, designed and maintained to provide a sanitizing rinse using a clean chlorine solution of not less than 100 parts per million.
    • Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
      • Sanitize utensils in a clean chlorine solution of not less than 100 parts per million of available chlorine at a temperature not lower than 24°C for at least 45 seconds.
    • The equipment used for refrigeration or hot-holding of potentially hazardous foods contains accurate indicating thermometers that can be easily read.
      • Provide refrigeration units with accurate indicating thermometers that may be easily read.
      • Provide hot-holding units with accurate indicating thermometers that may be easily read.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
      • Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 60°C or higher.
  3. Required

    4 infractions

    • All equipment, utensils and multi-service articles that are used for food preparation in the food premise are of sound and tight construction, in good repair and suitable for their intended use.
      • All the equipment, utensils and multi-service articles used in the food premise must be kept in good repair.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the breeding of pests.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
  4. Follow-up

    0 infractions

  5. Required

    1 infraction

    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
  6. Follow-up inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Routine inspection

    2 infractions

    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept free from materials and equipment not regularly used in the room.

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