TACOS EL UNICO
2801 FIRESTONE BLVD, SOUTH GATE, CA 90280 · RESTAURANT (31-60) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
TACOS EL UNICO has been inspected 3 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since June 7, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 29, 2025, recorded 4 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Chemicals and toxic substances, Food temperature control and Food source, labelling and allergens.
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.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 29, 2025. For example:
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 15, 2025. For example:
PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 15, 2025. For example:
IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
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 September 29, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
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 once on June 7, 2024. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
About this data
These results come from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, 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.
3 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
4 infractions
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F029: # 29. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F029: # 29. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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