TAQUERIA EL CINCO DE MAYO INC (KC424)

Inspection summary

TAQUERIA EL CINCO DE MAYO INC (KC424) has been inspected 8 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since August 26, 2021. The most recent inspection, on May 7, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 5 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

• 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 4 separate inspections, most recently on May 7, 2026. For example: 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used

• 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 23, 2026. 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 once on May 7, 2026. For example: 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

• 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 once on July 12, 2024. For example: 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (54 to 56 degrees Celsius (C))

• 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 December 12, 2023. For example: 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

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.

• View the official Public Health – Seattle & King County disclosure site
• See all inspected facilities in King County
• How to read an inspection report