Ramona’s Taco, a longtime West Side taquería, was hit with a score of 86 after a June 15 food-safety inspection that uncovered rodent droppings and a stack of other sanitation problems, leaving some regulars rattled and the owner vowing to clean house. The inspection turned up 17 demerits and triggered a mandatory recheck by the city. The owner told reporters that fumigators are already on the job and that the restaurant will take a short summer break to make repairs and do a deep cleaning.
What inspectors found
According to Metro Health, the June 15 inspection cited 17 demerits, including rat feces, cooking equipment coated in built-up grease and uncovered food in a freezer. The department gave Ramona’s Taco an 86 and ordered a reinspection to verify that the problems are fixed. Those findings are listed in the city’s inspection reports for that week.
Owner, customers react
In an interview with KSAT, owner Doña Ramona said she has hired fumigators and even let reporters step behind the kitchen door to see the work in progress. One longtime customer, who said they had just placed an order before reading the report, called the findings “f---ing nasty.” KSAT’s review of earlier inspection records also showed that the last time the taquería scored above a 90 was in April 2024.
How bad is an 86?
Per Metro Health’s scoring guide, an 86 falls in the B range, described as “Acceptable to Marginal.” The guide lists 100–90 as an A, 89–80 as a B and 79 or lower as a C, meaning the taquería needs fixes but was not shut down on the spot.
What’s next
Doña Ramona told KSAT she plans to close the taquería for a few weeks later this summer to finish repairs and give the space a thorough scrub after fumigation. Metro Health will return for a reinspection to determine whether the violations have been corrected before the restaurant is cleared to operate as usual. For now, some neighbors and loyal customers say the report has shaken confidence in a neighborhood staple while the shop works through its to-do list of violations.
