TAQUERIA EL SEMENTAL
9600 16TH AVE SW, SEATTLE, WA 98106 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)
Inspection summary
TAQUERIA EL SEMENTAL has been inspected 3 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since October 29, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 15, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 15, 2026. For example:
1600 - Proper cooling procedure
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 3, 2025. For example:
2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk
Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.
Recorded 2 times on July 3, 2025. For example:
4700 - Garbage, refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
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 once on September 15, 2026. For example:
4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
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.
3 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 4700 - Garbage, refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
- RED
- 4700 - Garbage, refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
- RED
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
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