Tropical Cuisine

3405 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610

Passed · May 7, 2026 Directions
64
Poor BiteKarma score 64 out of 100
How the BiteKarma score works

Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.

At a glance

  • Last inspected May 7, 2026: passed with 5 violations.
  • Passed 4 of 7 graded inspections since 2024.
  • Keeps coming up: Food protection, cross-contamination, cited 4 times, plus 18 other repeat issues.
  • #94 in Tampa's Hall of Shame, among the lowest BiteKarma scores in the city.
  • 9 critical violations in the last two years.

Inspection history 7 visits

  1. 2026
  2. Passed May 7

    Routine Inspection

    5 violations
    • Minor Floors, walls, ceilings and attached equipment properly constructed and clean; rooms and equipment properly vented
    • Minor In use food dispensing utensils properly stored
    • Minor Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • Minor Non-food contact surfaces clean
    • Minor Garbage and refuse; premises maintained
  3. 2025
  4. Failed Sep 17

    Callback Reinspection

    14 violations, 1 critical
    • Critical Food protection, cross-contamination
    • Minor Plumbing installed and maintained; mop sink; water filters; backflow prevention
    • Minor Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • Minor Hand wash sinks, hand washing supplies and hand wash sign
    • Minor Storage/handling of clean equipment, utensils; air drying
    • Minor Food management certification valid / employee training verification
    • Minor Wiping cloths; clean and soiled linens; laundry facilities
    • Minor Cleaning and maintenance equipment
    • Minor Non-food contact surfaces clean
    • Minor Employee health knowledge; ill/symptomatic employee present
    • Minor Original container: properly labeled, date marking, consumer advisory
    • Minor Bathrooms
    • Minor Floors, walls, ceilings and attached equipment properly constructed and clean; rooms and equipment properly vented
    • Minor No presence or breeding of insects/rodents/pests; no live animals; outer openings protected
  5. Passed Sep 17

    Callback Reinspection

    13 violations, 1 critical
    • Critical Food protection, cross-contamination
    • Minor Food management certification valid / employee training verification
    • Minor Storage/handling of clean equipment, utensils; air drying
    • Minor Wiping cloths; clean and soiled linens; laundry facilities
    • Minor Original container: properly labeled, date marking, consumer advisory
    • Minor Bathrooms
    • Minor Plumbing installed and maintained; mop sink; water filters; backflow prevention
    • Minor Hand wash sinks, hand washing supplies and hand wash sign
    • Minor Non-food contact surfaces clean
    • Minor Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • Minor Cleaning and maintenance equipment
    • Minor Employee health knowledge; ill/symptomatic employee present
    • Minor Floors, walls, ceilings and attached equipment properly constructed and clean; rooms and equipment properly vented
  6. Failed Sep 16

    Routine Inspection

    19 violations, 6 critical
    • Critical Time and temperature control for safety foods
    • Critical Hands washed and clean, good hygienic practices, eating/drinking/smoking
    • Critical Employee health knowledge; ill/symptomatic employee present
    • Critical Hand wash sinks, hand washing supplies and hand wash sign
    • Critical Food protection, cross-contamination
    • Critical Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • Minor Wiping cloths; clean and soiled linens; laundry facilities
    • Minor Original container: properly labeled, date marking, consumer advisory
    • Minor Non-food contact surfaces clean
    • Minor Garbage and refuse; premises maintained
    • Minor Floors, walls, ceilings and attached equipment properly constructed and clean; rooms and equipment properly vented
    • Minor Food-contact and nonfood-contact surfaces designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located
    • Minor Cleaning and maintenance equipment
    • Minor Storage/handling of clean equipment, utensils; air drying
    • Minor Food management certification valid / employee training verification
    • Minor Bathrooms
    • Minor In use food dispensing utensils properly stored
    • Minor No presence or breeding of insects/rodents/pests; no live animals; outer openings protected
    • Minor Plumbing installed and maintained; mop sink; water filters; backflow prevention

Nearby

BiteKarma scores around Tropical Cuisine, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.

  1. 51 Momo Authentic Caribbean Cuisine 300 ft
  2. 86 Nick's Gyros and Subs 300 ft
  3. 77 3 Guys Caribbean Restaurant 300 ft
  4. 95 Dunkin' 350 ft
  5. 90 Kfc 0.1 mi