Mecklenburg County health inspectors found some troubling conditions inside several Charlotte-area restaurants during August.

Violations ranged from moldy food and improper handwashing to pest activity, dirty equipment, unsafe food temperatures, and numerous other documented food safety concerns.

Several restaurants also received repeat violations. One Ballantyne restaurant was temporarily suspended after inspectors found widespread temperature-control problems.

Here are the 10 lowest restaurant health inspection scores reported in Mecklenburg County during August 2026, ranked from least bad (#10) to worst (#1):

#10 – Tied – Snooze AM Eatery #604 (90 / A)

4425 Sharon Rd., Suite S170, Charlotte, NC 28211

Inspected Aug. 14, 2026

Inspectors found problems involving food temperatures, cooling procedures, spoiled produce, and employee food handling.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed moldy peppers in WIC and slimy tomatoes in pancake prep during inspection.”
• “Observed employee handle shredded cheese with the same pair of gloves they donned while cracking raw shell eggs.”
• “Observed various items in under grill unit holding above 41F during inspection.”
• “Observed sauce made with tomatoes thawing at room temperature during inspection.”

#10 – Tied – Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen (90 / A)

150 N. College St., Suite 1000, Charlotte, NC 28202

Inspected Aug. 12, 2026

Inspectors documented repeat temperature-control problems along with dirty equipment and improper food handling.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed employee handle phone with gloved hands, then go to prepare food with the same gloves.”
• “Observed slicer heavily soiled with old food debris.”
• “Observed grape/ onion sauce holding above 41F at grill station.”
• “Observed pasta, Alfredo sauce, farro, goat cheese, macaroni and rice in prep top/ low RI 2 holding above 41F.”
• “Observed grape/ onion sauce held for over 7 days.”

Inspectors noted this was the restaurant’s seventh consecutive inspection with a cold-holding violation.

#8 — Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant (88 / B)

3503 David Cox Rd., Charlotte, NC 28269

Inspected Aug. 11, 2026

Inspectors found repeat cold-holding problems, improper food storage, flies, and unsafe thawing practices.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed food employee work with raw stake, change gloved with out handwashing and then prepare RTE items.”
• “Observed raw stake stored above RTE TCS items and raw vegetables in WIC.”
• “Observed canned tomatoes on counter at 72F throughout entire inspection.”
• “Observed spinach dip on counter at 73F.”
• “Observed beef and pork thawing on counter.”
• “Observed flys throughout preparation arias and several flys out side back door surrounding trash.”

Inspectors said the restaurant had cold-holding violations during five consecutive inspections.

#7 — The Imperial Treasure Ballantyne (88 / B)

14815 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28277

Inspected Aug. 31, 2026

The restaurant received an immediate suspension after inspectors found its walk-in cooler and TCS foods above required temperatures.

Observed violations included:

• “EHS observed walk in cooler and all TCS items inside unit above 41F during inspection.”
• “EHS observed ambient temperature at 51F.”
• “EHS observed no active managerial control during inspection.”
• “EHS observed raw eggs, raw shrimp, and beef being stored over RTE items in WIC.”
• “EHS observed multiple containers stacked on top of each other with sticker residue and food debris.”
• “EHS observed numerous containers of spices and flours throughout kitchen without any labeling.”
• “EHS observed numerous containers stacked as clean with water still present on interior surface of container.”

The inspection report states the facility received an “immediate suspension.” Inspectors planned to return after repairs were completed.

#6 — Las Meras Tortas (87 / B)

14601 Statesville Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078

Inspected Aug. 27, 2026

Inspectors cited the restaurant for handwashing, food storage, cooling, temperature-control, and pest-related concerns.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed food employee wash hands and not use a barrier to turn off the faucet.”
• “Observed food employee wash hands without using hand soap.”
• “Observed food employee washing hands at prep sink.”
• “Observed raw chicken stored over unwashed vegetables in WIC.”
• “Observed raw shelled eggs stored in container with cooked meat in lowboy cooler.”
• “Observed food debris on dishes stored as clean.”
• “Observed multiple items in prep cooler and WIC above 41F.”
• “Observed crawling pests on walls and on top of lowboy cooler.”

Inspectors also found improperly cooled foods and raw meat thawing in water measured at 86°F.

#5 — Le Kebab Grill (86 / B)

350 E. McCullough Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262

Inspected Aug. 21, 2026

Inspectors found moldy food, improper handwashing, questionable food sourcing, temperature problems, and repeat food-storage violations.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed PIC with no CFPM.”
• “Observed food handler wash hands, turn faucet off with bare hands.”
• “Observed 1 pan of raw cauliflower in 2 door RIC with visible mold.”
• “Also observed 1 bag of frozen bread with visible mold in standing RIF.”
• “Observed WIF storing, out of original packaging, raw chicken above raw lamb.”
• “Also observed ground meat stored above fully cooked chicken in RIF.”
• “Observed stuffed grape leaves and cooked chicken thighs prepared yesterday in WIC above 41F.”
• “Observed flip top with ambient temperature of 54F.”
• “Observed an inconsistent date marking system throughout facility.”
• “Observed tomato slices date marked 8/13 and grape leaves date marked 8/14, both exceeding the 7 day t/t window.”

Inspectors also reported that some prepared foods came from a local food truck rather than an approved wholesale food supplier.

#4 — Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar of Ballantyne (85 / B)

15105 John J. Delaney Dr., Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28277

Inspected Aug. 26, 2026

Inspectors found repeat problems involving food storage, dirty equipment, refrigeration, date marking, pests, and sanitation.

Observed violations included:

• “EHS observed food debris and scouring pad in hand sink at beginning of inspection.”
• “EHS observed salmon being stored behind RTE pork in lowboy cooler.”
• “EHS observed food contact surfaces of pans stored as clean with food debris present.”
• “EHS observed multi use utensils such as robo coupe soiled with food debris.”
• “EHS observed interior of ice machine soiled with black residue.”
• “EHS observed all TCS items inside unit above 41F.”
• “EHS observed date marking out of compliance throughout facility.”
• “EHS observed sauce bottles on cold make line and dry items throughout storage without proper labels.”
• “EHS observed large amount of fruit flies throughout facility, specifically in dish area.”
• “EHS observed numerous pans, stored as clean, with water present on interior of pans while being stacked.”

Inspectors said this was the second time the restaurant received full points for date-marking violations.

#3 — Fiesta Patria Mexican Restaurant (85 / B)

3635 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd., Suite 506, Charlotte, NC 28216

Inspected Aug. 5, 2026

Inspectors documented numerous food-safety violations involving management, cooling, sanitation, food temperatures, and raw food storage.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed PIC unable to adequately demonstrate knowledge.”
• “Observed no PIC with CFPM at time of inspection.”
• “Observed hand sink located in dish washing area with no paper towels or alternative to dry hands.”
• “Observed facility serving raw shrimp in ceviche cooked with lime.”
• “Observed raw shell eggs being stored above RTE spinach and RTE pre-cooked meats.”
• “Observed the only working container of chlorine sanitizer at 0ppm.”
• “Observed chemical dishwashing machine dispensing 0ppm.”
• “Observed 4 third pans of queso, 1 pan of cooked poblanos, 2 pans of rice, and 1 pan of salsa” that missed the cooling window.
• “Observed corn, rice, and Birria oil mixture hot holding below 135F.”
• “Observed plate of stuffed poblanos in RIC cold holding above 41F.”
• “Observed insufficient date marking system throughout facility.”
• “Observed wet stacking on dishes being stored as clean.”

Inspectors required verification for several violations, including the restaurant’s consumer advisory and date-marking system.

#2 — Thai Taste Matthews (84 / B)

131 Matthews Station St., Suite 1F, Matthews, NC 28105

Inspected Aug. 7, 2026

Inspectors found serious problems involving handwashing, raw food handling, cooking temperatures, cooling, and food storage.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed PIC on duty with an expired certification.”
• “Observed employee crack eggs then continue handling RTE food and plating.”
• “Observed waitstaff come in kitchen and scoop rice for plates before serving.”
• “Observed raw chicken stored above raw unwashed cabbage in walk in.”
• “Observed raw chicken skewers and cooked duck and cooked dumplings stored in the same metal pan.”
• “Observed employee going in walk in unit to grab items for cook line and continue food prep without gloves change.”
• “Observed different plates of raw shrimp cooked then plated at 126-140F.”
• “Observed pan of red curry and green curry that was cooling from the night before at 43F and 46F.”
• “Observed no dates on tofu, duck, curry sauces, and noodles.”
• “Observed facility with red curry, panang curry, and noodles on time and with no time stamps.”
• “PIC states they keep the time in their head.”
• “Observed red and panang curry that was cooling in deep metal containers from the night before.”
• “Observed waitstaff scooping out rice without washing hands or wearing hair restraints.”

Several violations were corrected during the inspection, including improperly cooled curry that inspectors said was discarded.

#1 — Rio 150 (83 / B)

16801 Caldwell Creek Dr., Huntersville, NC 28078

Inspected Aug. 17, 2026

Rio 150 received Mecklenburg County’s lowest restaurant inspection score among these August inspections.

Inspectors documented repeat violations involving management oversight, handwashing, cooling, refrigeration, chemical storage, and food temperatures.

Observed violations included:

• “Observed overall lack of control/oversight over foodborne illness risk factors.”
• “Upon arrival EHS observed significant food preparation going on and no one identified as being in charge.”
• “Observed no certified food protection manager on site during inspection.”
• “Observed employee drink out of cup with gloved hands, doff gloves and immediately don new gloves.”
• “Observed cheese dip with 10 minutes left in the reheating process still at 137F on the expo line.”
• “Observed corn on the cob reheating in a soup crock still at 108F.”
• “Observed consome for birria, refried beans and charro beans still cooling from yesterday in the walk in cooler above 41F.”
• “Observed fajita meat and carne asada meat cooling in walk in cooler at a rate of 0F/min.”
• “Observed cooked onions and peppers stored on top of vent for flat top grill.”
• “Observed sliding door reach in cooler with salsas and items for elote corn holding above 41F.”
• “Observed date mark on chicken broth and consome for today when products were cooked yesterday.”
• “Observed several bottles labeled as sanitizer with undiluted bleach or with other chemicals in them.”
• “Observed several items including meats, consome, charro beans, birria meat, and refried beans cooling in deep covered containers.”
• “Observed several house flies throughout kitchen area and some in dish washing area.”
• “Observed several containers stored as clean, stacked together, wet nested.”
• “Observed employee drying containers with a towel.”
• “Observed employee drink stored in reach in freezer above and commingled with restaurant food.”

The report classified several of Rio 150’s violations as repeat violations and required additional verification.

Restaurant inspection scores represent conditions observed at the time of inspection. Restaurants can correct violations during an inspection or afterward, and scores can change following reinspections.