Before you eat somewhere in DFW, you can check their health inspection score for free. Most people don't know this.
How to check:
- Dallas County: inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/dallas-county — searchable database of all restaurant inspections
- Tarrant County: Tarrant County Public Health (tcph.org) — food establishment inspections
- City of Dallas: Managed by Dallas County Health
- City of Fort Worth: Uses Tarrant County Public Health
- Collin County: Collin County Health Care Services (collincountytx.gov)
What the scores mean:
- 90-100: Excellent. Minor issues if any.
- 80-89: Good. Some violations but nothing critical.
- 70-79: Fair. Multiple violations. Proceed with caution.
- Below 70: Concerning. Critical violations present.
Critical vs. non-critical violations:
- Critical: Improper food temperatures, cross-contamination, no handwashing, pest infestation. These can make you sick.
- Non-critical: Dirty floors, missing labels, damaged equipment. Unsightly but lower immediate health risk.
Red flags in the reports:
- Repeat critical violations across multiple inspections = systemic problem
- Evidence of pests (rodents, roaches)
- Temperature violations (food held in the "danger zone" 41-135 F)
- Lack of certified food manager on premises
Texas law context: Under the Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 437, food establishments must be inspected at least once annually (many cities inspect twice). Inspection reports are public records.
RECEIPTS REQUIRED: If calling out a restaurant for health issues, link to the actual inspection report. "I saw a roach" is anecdotal. An inspection report with documented pest violations across 3 visits is evidence.
Sources:
- Dallas County Health Inspections (inspections.myhealthdepartment.com)
- Tarrant County Public Health (tcph.org)
- Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 437
- Texas Department of State Health Services — food establishment regulations
Check the score before you check the menu.