TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN
1212 E JEFFERSON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98122 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)
Inspection summary
TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN has been inspected 28 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since July 30, 2013. The most recent inspection, on May 5, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
12 of 28 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Pests and Food temperature control.
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.
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 15 times across 13 separate inspections, most recently on May 5, 2026. For example:
4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
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 8 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on May 5, 2026. For example:
3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
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 November 7, 2019. For example:
1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on February 2, 2023. 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 July 30, 2013. For example:
3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
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.
28 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
- BLUE
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- BLUE
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
5 infractions
- 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled.
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
- RED
- 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
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