Each month, the Visalia Times-Delta lets you know which Tulare County restaurants aced their inspections, as well as which ones need to make improvements. Only restaurants that offer meals and provide tables to their customers are included.
Restaurants with inspection scores between 90-99, which are the majority of scores, are not included in this report.
This report is based on the Tulare County Environmental Health Division report that was posted online on June 1, 2026.
Tulare County’s best restaurant inspections
The following two restaurants met all standards during their May inspections and no violations were found. Their scores are considered perfect.
Restaurants that did not pass inspection
The following four restaurants were found to have major or critical risk violations:
The Jalapeño Grill, 801 N. Elmwood Ave., Lindsay – Routine inspection on May 6. Inspection Score: 85.
Violations:
Mariscos El Picudo, 1318 E. Bardsley Ave., Tulare – Routine inspection on May 11. Inspection Score: 86.
Violations:
Taqueria El Sol De Jalisco, 124 Front St., Earlimart – Routine inspection on May 27. Inspection Score: 88.
Violations:
Denny’s, 1262 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville – Routine inspection on May 27. Inspection Score: 88.
Violations:
Keep in mind as you read
Remember some of the violations noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Broken refrigerators, chipped tiles, or missing paperwork may be included among the violations because they can be linked to germs, injury, or awareness.
For full restaurant inspection details, visit the Tulare County Division of Environmental Health’s restaurant inspections score website here. If you notice violations of state standards, you can file an online complaint here.
Critical risk factors inspectors look for range of factors, from a demonstration of knowledge, like possessing a food handler’s certificate, to protection from contamination by keeping contact surfaces sanitized and clean.
Other things inspectors look at include employee health and hygienic practices, preventing contamination by hand, time and temperature relationships, food from approved sources, and more. Some of the items inspectors check for are weighed more heavily than others, usually anywhere between two to four points.
Disclaimer: These inspection reports are from the Tulare County Retail Food Inspection Program, which inspects retail food facilities to ensure safe food handling practices, proper sanitation, and compliance with the California Health and Safety Code within the county.
Please note that follow-up inspections may not be included here.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 2 Tulare County restaurants ace May inspections, 4 fall short
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta | USA TODAY Network
