RED STAR TACO BAR
513 N 36TH ST #E, SEATTLE, WA 98103 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)
Inspection summary
RED STAR TACO BAR has been inspected 25 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since July 15, 2014. The most recent inspection, on February 17, 2026, found no infractions.
10 of 25 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 4 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.
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 15 times across 10 separate inspections, most recently on July 3, 2019. For example:
2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
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 December 14, 2023. For example:
4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on July 3, 2019. For example:
1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 16, 2022. For example:
0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
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 April 25, 2018. 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.
25 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 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
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 2000 - Proper reheating procedures for hot holding
- RED
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 1500 - Proper handling of pooled eggs
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- 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
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Return Inspection
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
5 infractions
- 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
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
6 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
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