Rat droppings at Taqueria Food Patrol previously busted with roaches

MERCEDES, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In this week’s Food 4 Thought, the Food Patrol is exposing dirty secrets kitchens don’t want you to see. We got rats and mountains of proof they left behind.

While one taqueria has some of the most egregious violations, we stopped at a previous Top Performer to see how business is going since we surprised them and spoiler alert, someone tried to steal their sticker!

We checked in with March 2023 Top Peformer Blanquita’s #2 at 190 N. Oscar Williams Road in San Benito.

Business has been booming for them due to their Top Performer status.

"It’s been really good, it helped out a lot, we wanna thank you guys for doing the report, it picked up a lot, we’ve been really blessed," said Owner Martin Morin Sr.

Blessed with a successful business and support from the customers, making Blanquitas a staple restaurant.

Last year, Morin told the Food Patrol he is handing the keys over to his son Martin Jr., when he is ready.

“If he wants it he can take over, I’m ready to retire," Morin said.

Retirement is on the back burner but kindness is cooking all the time.

Martin’s humble heart had him greeting and saying farewell to guests he treats like family.

However, we did have to address something we noticed on the way in, the Top Performer sticker was gone. Martin had to move it to a safe space because someone tried to steal it.

Whether customers walk past the sticker or spot it on the door, it all means the same, quality, care and commitment to the Food Patrol's mission to keep it clean.

That was que rico! Now it's que asco time!

The Food Patrol headed to Mi Taqueria Rio Bravo at 3010 E. Mile 11 in Mercedes and were shocked at the violations.

Roaches, flies and hair was found in the refrigerators along with cross-contamination.

Gladys Gutierrez, the owner's daughter and employee, invited the Food Patrol to come back and promised to clean up.

We decided to give them 27 days to clean up, which they did, sort of.

The squished roach stuck to the fridge door is gone, the hair is gone and they fixed the cross-contamination issues.

But we found the most disgusting violation of all, rat poop.

We didn't only find a few droppings, the entire crawlspace between the wall and kitchen was covered in rat droppings.

Gutierrez admitted rats have been a problem and said they do fumigate in hopes of getting it taken care of.

They showed us the pest control paperwork from April 9 and Gutierrez called her dad, Luis Gutierrez to see what we found.

We went outside to look for any clues on how the critters were coming in and found chew marks and a trail of poop.

When he showed up, we showed him the dropping and the holes.

Luis said he would still have the restaurant open the next day even if the rats were not cleaned up because the inside was clean.

The Food Patrol told Luis if they got it cleaned in the next 24 hours to send pictures and we would go back.

You’re part of the Food Patrol! When you see dirty habits, please send us photos/videos and a copy of the complaint you filed to your local health department to News@KVEO.COM