Tops Cafe

655 W ILLINOIS AVE #718, Dallas, TX 75224 · Dallas County

126cited violations

36serious tier

11inspections

Historical record. Historical: the City of Dallas published this dataset from October 2016 to February 2024 and then ended it (dataset ended 2024). Later inspections are not in it. Points follow the Texas inspection form: Priority items 3 points (shown as serious), Priority Foundation 2, Core 1.

Establishment

Type: Food establishment
Inspected by: City of Dallas Code Compliance (2016–2024 dataset)
Official record: City of Dallas Code Compliance (2016–2024 dataset) inspection reports

Other public records for this business

Year by year

Year	Inspections	Violations	Serious
2024	1	13	5
2023	1	11	2
2022	1	10	4
2021	1	16	5
2020	1	11	4
2019	1	11	2
2018	3	36	9
2017	2	18	5

Inspections

Feb 8, 2024 Routine Score 76
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Original cont. of RTE/PHF/Day1= day of opening
  
  Date mark milk used in RIC when opened for 7 days then discard
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Dirty nonfood contact surfaces
  
  shelf observed rusty, must cover or use liner to avoid contact
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  Ice machine observed mold in back area, use sanitizer to clean to sight
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Drying Mops-air dry
  
  mop handle should be hanging to dry
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Outer openings:closed,tight-fitting windows
  
  back door and emergency both have opened seals and need to have a tight seal
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  One Inch Air Gap
  
  1 inch gap at drain required at hand sink #2 in back area, observed pipe going in side drain
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  salad dressing observed at 61F, shall be 41F or below
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Toxic items used according to law
  
  bucket sanitize shall be between 50- 100ppm Cl, observed above 200ppm Cl
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Food protected from cross contamination by storing the food in packages, covered containers, or
  
  condiment trey needs to be covered / ice cooler also has items not covered
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  wiping cloths need to be in bucket between use
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Store equipment & utensils - avoid contamination
  
  utensil knife squeezed between wall/ equipment
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food safe, good condition, unadulterated, and honestly presented
  
  metal can bent shall be set aside for return
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Other Violations
  
  choke poster needs to be displayed
Feb 12, 2023 Routine Score 82
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Storing the food where it is not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination
  
  dust over food prep area
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Light bulbs, light shields provided
  
  replace blown out light underneath vent a hood
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Accredited food handler certificate - 60 days
  
  provide food handler certificates
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Eating food, chewing gum, drinking beverages, or using tobacco
  
  properly store employees drink in designated area
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  RFSM - Not On Site
  
  no rfsm on site
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Toxic items labeling-non original container
  
  chemical spray bottles must be labeled
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  clean and sanitize all food contact surface
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Dirty nonfood contact surfaces
  
  remove encrusted build up on exterior of equipment
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Rinsing procedures - 3 compartment sink
  
  3 com sink observed not set up correctly
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  In-use utensils, between-use storage. During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food prep
  
  observed staff using a cup as a ice scoop
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Lockers to be used to store personal items
  
  observed personal items hanging off dry storage food shelves-store in designated area
Mar 17, 2022 Routine Score 80
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food protected cross contamination arrange each type food in equipment so cross is prevented
  
  RAW EGGS/GROUND BEEF STORED ABOVE RTE /FISH IN WIC& RIC
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Contact RTE Products w/ Bare Hands
  
  OBSERVED EMPLOYEE REACHING IN FOOD ITEMS WITH BARE HANDS
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking commercially prepared RTE/ TCS food
  
  LACK OF DATEMARKING
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLE
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Storing the food at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor
  
  FOOD STORED ON FLOOR
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Gloves single use
  
  IMPROPER GLOVE USE
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Eating food, chewing gum, drinking beverages, or using tobacco
  
  OBSERVED EMPLOYEE CHEWING GUM IN PREP AREA
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Handler-Certificate Not on site
  
  PROVIDE FOR ALL
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  CLEAN ALL
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  RFSM - Not On Site
Jul 27, 2021 Routine Score 70
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  CLEAN ALL THOROUGHLY : LACK OF CLEANING
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food protected cross contamination arrange each type food in equipment so cross is prevented
  
  RAW CHICKEN STORED ABOVE RTE FOODS
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Package integrity
  
  REMOVE ALL DENTED CANS
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  One Inch Air Gap
  
  PROVIDE FOR HANDSINK
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  DICED TOMATOES 47*F, SLICED TOMATOES 46*F, COMMINGLE EGGS 49*F (DISCONTINUE ICE BATH FOR COLD HOLD)
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking commercially prepared RTE/ TCS food
  
  LACK OF DATEMARKING
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Insect control devices-not over food/food prep
  
  REMOVE ALL FLY DEVICES OVER FOOD AND EQUIPMENT
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Floors/walls/ceiling/nonfood dirty
  
  CLEAN ALL THOROUGHLY
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  WIPING CLOTH STORED ON PREP TABLES
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Wash hands after all other activities
  
  LACK OF HAND WASHING (ALL EMPLOYEES )
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handwashing lavatory - used for other purpose
  
  OBSERVED DUMPING IN HAND SINK ; WASTE WATER LINE DRIPPING IN HANDSINK
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Storing the food at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor
  
  FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN WIC
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  RFSM - Not On Site
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Ceiling easily cleanable and light in color
  
  REPLACE CEILING TILE EXPOSED TO MOISTURE
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  In-use utensils, between-use storage. During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food prep
  
  KEEP ICE SCOOP PROTECTED
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Handler-Certificate Not on site
  
  PROVIDE FOR ALL
Jan 30, 2020 Routine Score 80
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  CLEAN ALL THOROUGHLY
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  SALAD 59*F IN RIC
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Eating food, chewing gum, drinking beverages, or using tobacco
  
  PERSONAL DRINKS STORED IN PREP AREA
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Ceiling easily cleanable and light in color
  
  REPLACE CEILING TILE EXPOSED TO MOSITURE
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Food, utensils & equip under other sources
  
  PANS STACKED ON TOP OF UNCOVERED FOOD ITEMS; FOOD ITEMS STORED ABOVE FILL LINE; FOOD CONTAINERS STORED IN MOP SINK
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  WIPING CLOTHS STORED IN PREP AREA AND ON CUTTING BOARD
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Handwashing signage
  
  PROVIDE FOR ALL
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Floors/walls/ceiling/nonfood dirty
  
  CLEAN ALL
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  When to wash hands before donning new gloves
  
  LACK OF HAND WASHING
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food protected cross contamination arrange each type food in equipment so cross is prevented
  
  RAW CHICKEN STORED ABOVE RTE FOODS IN WIC; RAW CHICKEN STORED RAW FISH IN WIC
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking commercially prepared RTE/ TCS food
  
  PROVIDE FOR ALL IN COOLERS
Jul 1, 2019 Routine Score 80
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Food Labeling- with common name of the food
  
  Cakes packaged in take home containers need to be labeled with common name
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking > 24 hrs,on site,temp 41F
  
  work on improving date marking in walk in cooler. date mark cakes that are packaged in take home containers
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food safe, good condition, unadulterated, and honestly presented
  
  water bottle in ice bin, ice is used for consumption. Ice was thrown away.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Equipment & Utensils resistant pit,chip, crazing
  
  liner on steam baths is aluminum foil. use material that will resist chipping.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Floors/walls/ceiling/nonfood dirty
  
  clean floors of walk in cooler. clean wall of kitchen area.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Cold/hot hold unit thermometer easily viewable
  
  Provide thermometer in walk in freezer.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  egg wash at 51.2F. Add more ice to egg wash cooling container
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Equipment in good repair and proper adjustment.
  
  upright freezer reading 40F.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Controlling pests. Eliminating harborage conditions
  
  water pooling in kitchen behind equipment and also pooling in small storage area next to walk in cooler. let water dry properly.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Food storage containers, identified with common name of food.
  
  label small containers with common name of spice.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Individual, disposable towels
  
  Provide paper towels at all hand sink.
Oct 4, 2018 Routine Score 85
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  Hamburger patty and chicken below cold temperature.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Grease Trap Tickets
  
  Grease trap tickets not available.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handlers-Certificate Not On Site
  
  4 cooks without cards.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Cooling, heating, and holding capacities. Equipment
  
  two RICs not cooling, will check back on Monday.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking > 24 hrs,on site,temp 41F
  
  Continue working on date marking.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Exterior doors used as exits need not be self-closing if they are solid and tight-fitting
  
  keep back door closed.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  cloths on prep tables.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Store maintenance equip away from food/food equip
  
  Store maintenance equipment away from food products.
Sep 25, 2018 Routine Score 68
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  RFSM - Not On Site
  
  rfsm not on site.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Clean Sight and Touch
  
  Ice machine has brown dirt residue on lip.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  dice tomato at 51.3F, tartar sauce at 54.2F . Raw chicken at 45.4 in wic. sliced tomato at 43.2 F in WIC
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Cooling, heating, and holding capacities. Equipment
  
  All prep cooler are not cooling to capacity, sauce cooler, dairy cooler and 2 prep coolers, fix asap WIC is at 41.2 F needs to be checked asap.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Cold/hot hold unit thermometer easily viewable
  
  All reach in coolers require thermometers that are easily accessible.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  Wet cloths go back into sanitizer bucket when not in use.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handwashing lavatory - allow convenient
  
  Water is turned off for hand wash station next to sauce station.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Unnecessary chemicals not allowed
  
  Raid and other home use pesticide above coke syrups.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Store maintenance equip away from food/food equip
  
  Maintenance equipment above coke syrups.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food protected cross contamination arrange each type food in equipment so cross is prevented
  
  raw chicken above produce in walk in cooler.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking > 24 hrs,on site,temp 41F
  
  Need to date mark all prep food in walk in cooler.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Food storage containers, identified with common name of food.
  
  Label all white buckets with name of food product.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Loosely cover cooling foods
  
  Shelved food should be covered in WIC.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  cleaning hermetically sealed containers of food or visible soil before opening
  
  clean top of lids.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Water & Plumbing in good repair- per code
  
  Hand sink next to sauce station has leak.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Trash can provided for papertowel waste
  
  Provide trash can at all hand sinks.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Conditions of Permit-in use of food equipment
  
  Need sign stating: MOST RECENT HEALTH REPORT IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Mar 21, 2018 Routine Score 81
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food products not maintained at 135øF or above
  
  Chicken stored in oven not keeping temps above 135F.
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food protected cross contamination arrange each type food in equipment so cross is prevented
  
  Eggs next to produce, raw chicken next to RTe food.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handlers-Certificate Not On Site
  
  Employees working on grill need Texas Food Handler cards
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking commercially prepared RTE/ TCS food
  
  Date mark all food that has been cooked in WIC.
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Food thermometers provided and accessible
  
  Need working food thermometer in RICs
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handwashing lavatory - used for other purpose
  
  No items in HW sink
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Eating food, chewing gum, drinking beverages, or using tobacco
  
  No peronal drinks next to clean utensils
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Storing the food at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor
  
  Food product on floor, needs to be 6" off floor minimum.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Keep utensils handles upright or protected
  
  Handle needs to be upright as to not touch food product.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Dirty nonfood contact surfaces
  
  Clean all handles on rics, grime build up and clean inside all coolers, grime on bottom.
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Handwashing signage
  
  Need HW signs.
Oct 11, 2017 Routine Score 89
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Date marking > 24 hrs,on site,temp 41F
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Store equipment & utensils - avoid contamination
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Water System Maintained
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Floors easily cleanable
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Food Labeling - Bulk Food w/ Card or Sign
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Handwashing lavatory - used for other purpose
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Storing the food at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor
Mar 1, 2017 Routine Score 80
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Cold Hold (41øF/45øF or below)
  
  EGG WASHES: 45.8 F AND 58.1 F
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Chlorine sanitizer concentration, minimum temp.
  
  NO CHLORINE IN THE MECHANICAL DISHWASHER
- Not serious Priority Foundation (2 points)
  Damaged Equipment
  
  DAMAGED AND BROKEN REACH IN COOLER GASKETS
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Thawing. under running water criteria
  
  FROZEN CHICKEN THAWED IN SINK (AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND NOT UNDER RUNNING WATER)
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Dirty nonfood contact surfaces
  
  CLEAN GASKETS OF THE REACH IN COOLING UNITS CLEAN DUSTY AND MOLDY FAN COVERS IN THE WALK IN COOLER REMOVE DUST FROM ABOVE THE SERVING LINE
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Light bulbs, light shields provided
  
  REPLACE THE BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB UNDER THE VENT HOOD
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Walls and ceilings, studs, joists, and rafters
  
  REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING TILES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Physical Facilities Premises
  
  CLEAN THE MEN'S RESTROOM TOILET SEAT
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Food products not maintained at 135øF or above
  
  COOKED SAUSAGE: 124.5 F (UNDER THE HEATING UNIT)
- Not serious Core (1 points)
  Cloths in-use for wiping between uses stored
  
  STORE SANITIZING TOWELS IN A SANITIZING BUCKET AFTER AND IN BETWEEN USE
- Serious Priority (3 points)
  Gloves single use
  
  OBSERVED A FOOD PREPARATION WORKER WASHING GLOVES (NOT REMOVING GLOVES, WASHING HANDS, AND PLACING ON NEW GLOVES)

Source: City of Dallas Code Compliance (2016–2024 dataset). History last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.