Raw chicken found sitting in sink at Columbus taqueria. July’s food safety scores

Food inspectors visited over 60 Muscogee County restaurants, lounges, and other establishments during July. Among the establishments inspected, 27 earned perfect scores, with 30 also receiving an “A”. Three establishments earned a “B.”

No Muscogee County restaurant scored a “C” and required a follow-up inspection in July.

Taqueria Tapatios, 7042 Moon Road, Suite C, scored an 85 on their July food inspection. The list of their violations were:

• Black and pink residue on the chute of the ice-producing machine. 
• Multiple items in reach-in the cooler, including refried beans and raw chicken (marinating cut), without date marking. 
• Raw chicken breasts are sitting in the sink in the kitchen.
• Two measuring cups were stored in a large container of sugar, with their handles submerged in the sugar.
• Raw shrimp stored in a single-use white plastic chorizo container.
• Fruit flies in the main kitchen.

How the grading system works

Restaurants receive one of four letter grades that are assigned based on how many points are deducted from 100:

• “A” grades mean food safety is excellent and is achieved by receiving 90-100 points. 
• “B’s” are issued when there is “satisfactory compliance” with the business receiving 80-89 points. 
• “C’s” mean there is marginal compliance and are applied to scores between 70-79.
• “U’s” represent unsatisfactory compliance and are applied to scores of 69 or less.

Establishments that receive a “C” or “U” food safety grade will have at least one additional routine inspection added in twelve months, according to state law. Earning a B grade does not constitute a follow-up inspection.

Residents can find information on all health inspections on the Georgia Department of Health’s online portal.

Restaurants receiving B grades and their violations

• C Town Wings, 3473 N. Lumpkin Rd.
• Observed raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat sauces walk-in cooler of the main kitchen area. 
• Observed facility lacking the most current inspection posted.
• Taqueria Tapatios, 7042 Moon Rd. Ste. C
• Wasabi Sushi and Bar, 5413 Whittlesey Blvd. Unit 500
• Observed two containers of chicken cold held above 41 degrees F in the walk-in cooler.

Restaurants receiving A grades

• Burger King #12465, 3101 Gentian Blvd
• Checkers, 2453 Wynnton Rd.
• China Star, 3709 Gentian Blvd
• Churches Chicken #2108, 6001 Miller Rd
• Clean Eatz, 3500 Massee Ln Ste. A.
• Cook Out, 3189 Manchester Expy
• El Carrizo, 3721 Macon Rd.
• Ezell’s Catfish Cabin, 4001 Warm Springs Rd.
• Fountain City Coffee, 1007 Broadway
• JB’s Dream Deli, 6361 Talokas Ln. suite C180
• Jersey Mike’s Subs, 6901 Ray Wright Way Ste L 
• Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers, 6409 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Lucky Dragon, 5120 F Warm Springs Rd.
• Mabella, 6835 Midland Commons Blvd.
• New Garden, 1403 B Warm Springs
• Olive Garden, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. #5
• Plucked Up Chicken and Biscuits, 1208 1st Ave. 
• Ramos Italian Pizzeria Restaurant, 1607 South Lumpkin Rd.
• Sarku Japan, 3131 Manchester Expy. 9F
• Shark’s Fish & Chicken, 1810 Wynnton Rd. 
• Snacks Chabelita, 4475 Warm Springs Rd. Ste.  3
• Starbucks Coffee Company, 6783 Veterans Pkwy
• Terry Ho’s Quick Kitchen, 7830 Veterans Pkwy. Ste. E
• That’s My Dog, 2001 South Lumpkin Rd. Ste. 1
• Twist Skillit, 1415 10th Ave Ste A-1
• Uptown Vietnam Cuisine, 1250 Broadway Ste. A
• Waffle House, 6390 Flat Rock Rd.
• Wing Stop, 3201 Macon Rd.
• Wings Cafe, 2911 Airport Trwy.
• Zaxby’s, 7626 Schomburg Rd.

Perfect food safety scores

• 11th and Bay Southern Table, 1050 Bay Ave.
• B. Merrell’s, 6835 Midland Commons Blvd Ste. H, I, J
• Big Mama Vietnam Kitchen, 5300 Sidney Simmons Blvd Unit 14
• Chicken Salad Chick, 2511 Airport Trwy 
• Droolnolie’s (mobile and base), 3709 Gentian Blvd. 1Ste. 0
• First Watch, 6875 Ray Wright Way
• Funk Fondue - Frozen In Time, 6865 Midland Commons Blvd.
• It’s Flippin Sweet, 3022 Clarabelle St.
• J’ Junior’s BBQ (Base and Mobile), 1112 18th Ave
• JL Japanese Express, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. Unit L4
• Johnny’s New York Style Pizza & Subs, 6770 Veterans Pkwy. Ste. D
• Main Squeeze Juice Company, 2521 Airport Trwy Bldg 100-A
• Midtown Coffee House, 1342 13th St. 
• Mrs. Traci’s Lemonade, 900 Front Ave
• Nori Japan, 3515 Victory Dr.
• Papa John’s Pizza, 6381 Milgen Rd. Ste.  6
• Pit Stop, 1634 13th Ave
• Pita Mediterranean Street Food, 6475 Gateway Rd.
• Poke Sun, 6835 Midland Commons Blvd Bldg. 2
• Ray’s Quick Stop, 211 13th St. Ste. 112
• Smokey Pig, 1617 11th Ave
• Subway Sandwiches, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd Ste 1130
• Taco Bell, 4348 Buena Vista Rd.
• Taqueria and Snacks La Texana, 3318 Victory Dr.
• The Buzz Board, 900 Front Ave
• Wendys, 5585 Whittlesey Blvd. Bldg. 11
• Zaxby’s, 6190 Bradley Park Dr

This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.