Dallas health inspectors had a busy stretch in late June, turning up cockroach problems at six food spots during a two-week inspection run from June 14 to 27. Out of 365 inspections citywide in that window, officials documented live roaches, droppings and a grab bag of other issues, including food held at unsafe temperatures and moldy items. No businesses were shut down on the spot during that period, but several were tagged for follow-up checks.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the six locations where inspectors found roach evidence were Neuhaus, Allende Seafood Bar & Grill, Murphy’s Restaurant & Lounge, Honeyberry Pancakes & Cafe, the Kroger on Preston Road and a Burger King on North Central Expressway. Inspectors noted roach droppings on a kitchen wall at Neuhaus and roaches near food on a prep line at Kroger, and at one cafe, an inspector spotted a roach on the wall behind a dishwasher. The Star-Telegram reports that several of the restaurants were later re-inspected and that inspectors completed 365 visits across the city between June 14 and 27.
How Dallas Scores Its Health Inspections
Per the City of Dallas Consumer Health Division, restaurants are graded on a 100-point scale that determines what happens next. Scores from 100 to 80 meet standards. A 79 to 70 earns a follow-up visit within 30 days. Scores from 69 to 60 require a recheck within 10 days. Anything 59 or below can lead to an immediate closure until problems are fixed. The city also requires that every food establishment provide a copy of its most recent inspection report to any customer who asks, so many violations end up as corrections and reinspections rather than instant shutdowns.
What Inspectors Say They Found
Roaches were not the only headache. During the same June inspection window, officials logged flies and several refrigerated foods held at unsafe temperatures at Bam’s BBQ Soulfood & Catering. At a Golden Chick, inspectors documented moldy cheese, raw chicken stored above lettuce and mold inside an ice machine. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram also notes that Murphy’s had cockroaches seen crawling on walls and that a Chicken Express location was cited for being out of sanitizer during its inspection. City records reviewed by reporters show there were no immediate closures tied to these issues during the June 14 to 27 period.
Health Risks And What Diners Can Do
Cockroaches can contaminate food and surfaces and leave behind allergens that can aggravate asthma, which is why even a few pests in a kitchen get public health officials' attention. The EPA recommends integrated pest management to prevent infestations and limit exposure to both insects and the chemicals used to control them.
Dallas rules give customers a bit of leverage. Diners can ask any restaurant for its most recent inspection report, and the city posts scores online so people can look up violation details themselves. Local coverage pulled the latest findings from city records, and those listings may change as follow-up inspections or enforcement actions are completed.
