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El Rey Mexican & Bar

2624 GERSTNER MEMORIAL DR LAKE CHARLES, LA 70601

Combined report: 2 permit areas
(kitchen)
Mexican
Safe Bite Grade F Failing 04/14/2026
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Safe Bite Grade is independently calculated by Safe Bite Report based on public LDH inspection data. Not an official health department grade. Grade based on latest inspection cycle through 04/14/2026. Previous inspection history affects the grade. How we calculate.

Grade History
Current Safe Bite Grade: F
04/14/2026 Routine
3 critical -100 points F
11/12/2025 1st Follow-Up
3 critical -112 points F
11/03/2025 Routine
10 critical -505 points F
05/20/2025 Routine
6 critical -400 points F
Inspection — 04/14/2026
Safe Bite Grade: D
Critical Repeat ~1.15× illness risk = 20 pts × 1.5 (repeat) 04/14/26

A current state food safety certificate is not held by the owner or a designated employee of the establishment. [Repeat]

Safe Bite Analysis Management control failure (indirect)

A missing food safety certificate means the person in charge may not have been trained to identify and prevent food safety hazards. Research shows that restaurants with certified managers have fewer critical violations.

Critical Corrected ~1.7× illness risk = 40 pts × 0.5 (corrected) 04/14/26

Working containers of chemicals are not labeled. [Corrected]

Safe Bite Analysis Chemical poisoning (bleach, degreaser, sanitizer)

Unlabeled chemical containers are a recipe for accidental poisoning. When a bottle of concentrated bleach or degreaser isn't labeled, it can easily be mistaken for water, cooking oil, or another ingredient.

Critical ~2.2× illness risk = 50 pts 04/14/26

Hot water is not provided to all fixtures| equipment| and nonfood equipment as required.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella E. coli (indirect — via inadequate cleaning)

Without hot water, staff can't effectively wash their hands or clean equipment. Cold water doesn't dissolve grease or activate soap as effectively, reducing the ability to remove pathogens from hands and surfaces.

Non-Critical Corrected 0 pts 04/14/26

Soiled linens are not kept in clean | non-absorbent receptacles or clean washable laundry bags. [Corrected]

1st Follow-Up — 11/12/2025 (9 days later)
Safe Bite Grade: D — Weighs on Current
Critical Repeat Corrected ~6.0× illness risk = 80 pts × 1.5 (repeat) × 0.5 (corrected) 11/12/25

Employee did not wash hands and exposed portions of arms at appropriate time. [Corrected][Repeat]

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Hepatitis A Shigella Salmonella STEC

Unwashed hands are the #1 way restaurant workers spread Norovirus — which causes half of all food poisoning outbreaks. An infected worker can carry billions of virus particles; it only takes a few to make you sick.

Critical Repeat Corrected ~1.3× illness risk = 30 pts × 1.5 (repeat) × 0.5 (corrected) 11/12/25

Employee was drinking in a food preparation or other area where food equipment, utensils or other items requiring protection were stored. [Corrected][Repeat]

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella (via saliva/hand contamination)

Employee beverages in food preparation areas create contamination risk through spills and through hand-to-mouth-to-food contact. An infected employee's drink can become a transmission vehicle.

Critical Repeat ~1.15× illness risk = 20 pts × 1.5 (repeat) 11/12/25

A current state food safety certificate is not held by the owner or a designated employee of the establishment. [Repeat]

Safe Bite Analysis Management control failure (indirect)

A missing food safety certificate means the person in charge may not have been trained to identify and prevent food safety hazards. Research shows that restaurants with certified managers have fewer critical violations.

Non-Critical Repeat Corrected 0 pts 11/12/25

Moist cloths used for wiping spills on food contact surfaces are not stored in approved chemical sanitizer between uses. [Corrected][Repeat]

Non-Critical Repeat 0 pts 11/12/25

Outside receptacles for garbage, etc. did not have tight fitting lids, doors, or covers. - Plug [Repeat]

Inspection — 11/03/2025
Safe Bite Grade: F
Critical Corrected 10 pts × 0.5 (corrected) 11/03/25

Ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food prepared on premises, and held under refrigeration, was not disposed of after 7 days. [Corrected]

Critical ~6.0× illness risk = 80 pts 11/03/25

Employee did not wash hands and exposed portions of arms at appropriate time.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Hepatitis A Shigella Salmonella STEC

Unwashed hands are the #1 way restaurant workers spread Norovirus — which causes half of all food poisoning outbreaks. An infected worker can carry billions of virus particles; it only takes a few to make you sick.

Critical ~1.3× illness risk = 30 pts 11/03/25

Employee was drinking in a food preparation or other area where food equipment, utensils or other items requiring protection were stored.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella (via saliva/hand contamination)

Employee beverages in food preparation areas create contamination risk through spills and through hand-to-mouth-to-food contact. An infected employee's drink can become a transmission vehicle.

Critical ~1.15× illness risk = 20 pts 11/03/25

A current state food safety certificate is not held by the owner or a designated employee of the establishment.

Safe Bite Analysis Management control failure (indirect)

A missing food safety certificate means the person in charge may not have been trained to identify and prevent food safety hazards. Research shows that restaurants with certified managers have fewer critical violations.

Critical ~6.0× illness risk = 80 pts 11/03/25

Raw animal foods with different cooking temperature requirements are not separated to prevent cross contamination during storage, preparation, or display.

Safe Bite Analysis Salmonella Campylobacter STEC Allergens

Cross contamination transfers dangerous bacteria from raw meat, dirty surfaces, or contaminated items to food that's ready to eat. Since that food won't be cooked again, any bacteria transferred will be consumed.

Critical ~2.2× illness risk = 50 pts 11/03/25

Food contact surfaces and utensils are not clean to sight and touch. - Can opener

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Listeria Salmonella E. coli

Cutting boards, slicers, prep tables, and utensils that aren't clean become vehicles for spreading bacteria and viruses between food items. A dirty slicer used for deli meat is a classic Listeria transmission pathway.

Critical ~3.0× illness risk = 60 pts 11/03/25

The 3 compartment sink is not used in proper sequence to wash, rinse and sanitize.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella Listeria E. coli

The 3-compartment sink process (wash, rinse, sanitize) is designed to eliminate bacteria from utensils and equipment. Skipping steps or doing them out of order means utensils may look clean but still carry infectious organisms.

Critical ~4.0× illness risk = 70 pts 11/03/25

An approved sanitizer is not being used during manual or mechanical warewashing.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella Listeria E. coli

Cleaning removes visible dirt, but only sanitizing kills the invisible bacteria and viruses that cause food poisoning. Without sanitizer, surfaces that look clean can still spread Norovirus, Salmonella, and Listeria.

Critical ~1.7× illness risk = 40 pts 11/03/25

Working containers of chemicals are not labeled.

Safe Bite Analysis Chemical poisoning (bleach, degreaser, sanitizer)

Unlabeled chemical containers are a recipe for accidental poisoning. When a bottle of concentrated bleach or degreaser isn't labeled, it can easily be mistaken for water, cooking oil, or another ingredient.

Critical ~4.0× illness risk = 70 pts 11/03/25

Ready to eat, potentially hazardous food prepared on premises and held for more than 24 hours is not date marked.

Safe Bite Analysis Listeria monocytogenes

Without proper date marking, ready-to-eat food can be kept too long under refrigeration. Listeria — which kills about 1 in 5 people it seriously infects — grows slowly even in the fridge and reaches dangerous levels after 7 days.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Floors are not clean. - Walk-in cooler

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Moist cloths used for wiping spills on food contact surfaces are not stored in approved chemical sanitizer between uses.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Bulk containers are not properly labeled.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Food is not stored six (6) inches off the floor.

Non-Critical Corrected 0 pts 11/03/25

Ice dispensing utensils were not stored in a clean protected location. [Corrected]

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

A sanitizer test kit is not provided to accurately measure the concentration in mg/L or parts per million of sanitizing solution provided.

Non-Critical Corrected 0 pts 11/03/25

In use food utensils are not stored with the handles above the top of the food. [Corrected]

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Employees’ personal care items are stored where food equipment, utensils, linens, single service items or single use items may be contaminated.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Hand wash lavatory is not accessible

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Soap and/or paper towels are not provided for use at the hand wash lavatory.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

The hand wash lavatory is used for purpose other than hand washing.

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Outside receptacles for garbage, etc. did not have tight fitting lids, doors, or covers. - Plug

Non-Critical 0 pts 11/03/25

Outside waste receptacles were not kept closed.

Inspection — 05/20/2025
Safe Bite Grade: F
Critical ~8.0× illness risk = 90 pts 05/20/25

Food stored for cold-holding and service was not held at a temperature of 41 °F or below.

Safe Bite Analysis Listeria Salmonella B. cereus C. perfringens

Food held above 41°F enters the 'danger zone' where bacteria multiply rapidly. Listeria can grow even under refrigeration — above 41°F, growth accelerates dangerously. This is one of the most common causes of foodborne outbreaks.

Critical ~4.0× illness risk = 70 pts 05/20/25

An approved sanitizer is not being used during manual or mechanical warewashing.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella Listeria E. coli

Cleaning removes visible dirt, but only sanitizing kills the invisible bacteria and viruses that cause food poisoning. Without sanitizer, surfaces that look clean can still spread Norovirus, Salmonella, and Listeria.

Critical ~2.2× illness risk = 50 pts 05/20/25

Hot water is not provided to all fixtures, equipment, and nonfood equipment as required.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella E. coli (indirect — via inadequate cleaning)

Without hot water, staff can't effectively wash their hands or clean equipment. Cold water doesn't dissolve grease or activate soap as effectively, reducing the ability to remove pathogens from hands and surfaces.

Critical ~8.0× illness risk = 90 pts 05/20/25

Food stored for cold-holding and service was not held at a temperature of 41 °F or below.

Safe Bite Analysis Listeria Salmonella B. cereus C. perfringens

Food held above 41°F enters the 'danger zone' where bacteria multiply rapidly. Listeria can grow even under refrigeration — above 41°F, growth accelerates dangerously. This is one of the most common causes of foodborne outbreaks.

Critical ~2.2× illness risk = 50 pts 05/20/25

Hot water is not provided to all fixtures, equipment, and nonfood equipment as required.

Safe Bite Analysis Norovirus Salmonella E. coli (indirect — via inadequate cleaning)

Without hot water, staff can't effectively wash their hands or clean equipment. Cold water doesn't dissolve grease or activate soap as effectively, reducing the ability to remove pathogens from hands and surfaces.

Critical ~2.2× illness risk = 50 pts 05/20/25

The air gap between the water supply inlet and the flood rim of the plumbing fixture or equipment is not at least twice the diameter of the water supply inlet. - Ice Machine

Safe Bite Analysis Waterborne pathogens Chemical contaminants

Without proper air gaps, contaminated water can be sucked back into the clean water supply through backsiphonage. This means water used for food preparation, ice, or drinking could become contaminated.

Non-Critical 0 pts 05/20/25

Lighting intensity in areas where employees are working with unpackaged potentially hazardous food, or knives, slicers, grinders, etc. is not at least 50 foot candles.

Non-Critical 0 pts 05/20/25

Ventilation hood systems are not provided in sufficient number/capacity.

Official Inspection Reports

Louisiana Department of Health

04/14/2026 kitchen Latest
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11/12/2025 kitchen
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11/03/2025 kitchen
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05/20/2025 bar
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05/20/2025 kitchen
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