GARCIA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
321 AUBURN WAY N, Auburn, WA 98002 · Restaurant (Seating 151-250)
Inspection summary
GARCIA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT has been inspected 14 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since January 19, 2018. The most recent inspection, on January 5, 2026, found no infractions.
6 of 14 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.
The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on July 14, 2025. For example:
2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 16, 2024. For example:
4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
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 14, 2025. For example:
1100 - Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
Equipment and utensilsLower risk
Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 14, 2021. For example:
3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
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.
14 inspections
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 1100 - Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
5 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
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