A routine health inspection at La Chula Mexican Grill on September 11 found several health code violations. Inspectors cited the Nashville restaurant for cockroach activity and improper food temperatures, resulting in a low health score. Health officials ordered the restaurant to correct the violations within ten days.
Please note that the score mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on September 11, and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.
Highlights
- La Chula Mexican Grill scored low during a health inspection on September 11.
- The restaurant was reported for several health code violations, including incorrect food storage temperature and cockroach activity.
- The eatery has been asked to correct the violations within 10 days before the follow-up.
La Chula Mexican Grill
- When: Thursday, September 11, 2025
- Where: 2209 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217
- Score: 75
Inspectors first noted the absence of paper towels at the hand sink in the warewashing area. The health inspectors observed that the cactus in the walk-in cooler had a white, mold-like substance growing on it. Inspectors found no chlorine in the dish machine after several test cycles.
Inspectors found partially cooked chicken wings at room temperature under a prep table near the kitchen hand sink. It had a temperature reading of 92°F. The person in charge claimed they were taken out 20 minutes ago to cool, but the temperature was noted to be too low for that timeline.
Cooked chicken was found at 115°F, kept at room temperature under the flat-top grill in the kitchen. The person in charge stated it had been cooked 40 minutes ago and was being cooled.
As a corrective action, health inspectors trained the person in charge to properly cool cooked chicken by placing it in the cooler instead of leaving it out under the grill.
Mozzarella cheese in the reach-in cooler on the main line next to the steam table was measured at 45°F, and cut lettuce in the same cooler was reading 51°F, as per the report. The person in charge stated the items were placed in the cooler around 10 AM.
Multiple flies were observed in the warewashing area. Three dead cockroaches were also found inside a non-operational one-door cooler on the main line. A knife was found stored between the doors of the reach-in cooler, an area that is not cleaned regularly.
A more detailed report on the inspection is available online.
Follow-up Inspection
The health inspectors have instructed La Chula Mexican Grill to correct the violations in 10 days. The eatery must address these violations to avoid the suspension of its food permit during the reinspection. Management holds the right to request a hearing regarding the inspection report within 10 days of the inspection date.
