Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant
2891 E Broadway, Vancouver BC V5M 1Y9 · Food Service Establishment 1
Inspection summary
Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant has been inspected 15 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since February 14, 2020. The most recent inspection, on October 2, 2025, recorded 1 infraction.
5 of 15 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
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.
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 October 2, 2025. For example:
Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
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 December 20, 2024. For example:
All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
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 December 4, 2024. For example:
Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
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 18, 2023. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on July 18, 2023. For example:
An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
About this data
These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, 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.
15 inspections
- Routine
1 infraction
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Routine Follow-up
1 infraction
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine
3 infractions
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Manual dishwashing procedure is improper to remove contamination.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not cooled from 60°C to 21°C within two hours, and then from 21°C to 4°C within four hours.
- Potentially hazardous food is not cooled using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
1 infraction
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Hot and cold running water is not supplied in quantity and pressure to meet the needs of the premises.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Hot and cold running water is not supplied in quantity and pressure to meet the needs of the premises.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- Owner/Operator does not hold a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Employees are not washing hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Routine
2 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Request
11 infractions
- COVID-19 Safety Plan developed and in use
- COVID-19 Safety Plan contains the maximum number of patron count
- Maximum number of patrons that can be accommodated on the premises has been determined
- Maximum number of patrons allows for 2m separation between patrons of different parties at all times
- 2m separation maintained between patrons of different parties, except when partition in place
- Maximum number of patrons and staff on premises is monitored at all times
- Maximum of 6 patrons per table
- Operator assessed their premises and taken steps to prevent congregation of patrons near or outside their premises
- Physical devices or markers are used to assist patrons in maintaining physical distance
- Background music is no louder than the volume of normal conversation
- Reservation contact information is kept for 30 days: First name, last name, and phone number or email of at least one member of every party
- Routine
1 infraction
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
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