Huntsville, Alabama, October 4, 2025
News Summary
Recent health inspections in North Alabama have uncovered alarming food safety violations at various restaurants. Nine establishments scored below 85, highlighting significant hygiene issues. La Finka in Limestone County received the lowest rating of 70, with several serious violations including employees handling food improperly and unsanitary conditions. Other restaurants, such as Texaco, Bubby’s Diner, and Johnny Gryll’s, also exhibited concerning issues. The report stresses the urgent need for improved food handling practices to safeguard public health in the region.
Huntsville, Alabama – Recent health inspections have revealed a concerning level of compliance at several restaurants in North Alabama, with nine businesses scoring below an 85 on their evaluations. These low scores indicate significant food safety and hygiene issues that could pose risks to customers.
La Finka, located on Highway 31 in Limestone County, scored the lowest at 70. The inspection identified several major violations, including an employee touching food with bare hands and multiple food temperature violations. Additional issues noted at La Finka included a dirty ice machine and the presence of moldy tomatoes, avocados, and lettuce.
In Madison County, the Texaco on Ryland Pike received a score of 76 due to improperly stored steak and chicken quesadillas, incorrect date markings on salsa and queso, and a lack of paper towels at a handwashing sink. Bubby’s Diner on Whitesburg Drive tallied a score of 80, largely attributable to several food temperature violations in addition to a chipped spatula found on-site.
Another establishment, Johnny Gryll’s in Harvest, also earned a subpar score of 80. The inspection revealed a sewage leak outside, a rotting cucumber in the cooler, and a concerning amount of rodent droppings in an employee bathroom. Express Food Mart in Hazel Green received a score of 83, noting issues such as a dented can and mold in its coffee container, alongside food temperature violations.
Dollar General Market on Blue Spring Road in Huntsville matched the 83 score, with similar findings of a lack of paper towels at a handwashing sink and improperly set cooler temperatures. Morgan County’s Steak N Shake performed poorly as well, achieving a score of 74 for storing a chemical cleaner in the food prep area, dirty soda nozzles, and wilted lettuce. Jack’s on the Beltline obtained a score of 78, primarily due to an employee failing to wash their hands and chicken stored at an incorrect temperature.
Lastly, Taco Bell, located on the Beltline, rounded out the list with a score of 83, which was marked down due to the absence of hot water at one sink and mold on a cutting board. The inspections were conducted by the Madison County Health Department during the week of August 4-8, 2025, and notably, 15 establishments managed to achieve perfect scores despite the prevalent issues.
The overall results highlight ongoing concerns related to food safety and hygiene compliance in North Alabama restaurants. The identified critical violations across various locations underscore the need for improved food handling practices to protect public health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the scores of the low-performing restaurants in North Alabama?
Nine businesses in North Alabama scored below an 85 in recent health inspections.
Which restaurant received the lowest score?
La Finka on Highway 31 in Limestone County received the lowest score of 70 due to an employee touching food with bare hands and multiple food temperature violations.
What violations were noted at La Finka?
Additional violations at La Finka included a dirty ice machine and moldy tomatoes, avocados, and lettuce.
What issues did the Texaco on Ryland Pike have?
Texaco on Ryland Pike scored 76, with issues including improperly stored steak and chicken quesadillas, incorrect date markings on salsa and queso, and a lack of paper towels at a handwashing sink.
Was there a restaurant that had rodent droppings reported?
Yes, Johnny Gryll’s in Harvest received an 80 for a sewage leak outside, a rotting cucumber in the cooler, and multiple rodent droppings in an employee bathroom.
How many establishments received perfect scores during the inspections?
The Madison County Health Department’s report covers inspections from August 4-8, 2025, with 15 sites achieving perfect scores.
| Restaurant Name | Location | Score | Key Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Finka | Limestone County | 70 | Employee touching food with bare hands, dirty ice machine, moldy produce |
| Texaco | Madison County | 76 | Improperly stored food, lack of paper towels |
| Bubby’s Diner | Whitesburg Drive | 80 | Food temperature violations, chipped spatula |
| Johnny Gryll’s | Harvest | 80 | Sewage leak, rotting cucumber, rodent droppings |
| Express Food Mart | Hazel Green | 83 | Dented can, mold in coffee container |
| Dollar General Market | Huntsville | 83 | Lack of paper towels, improperly set cooler temperatures |
| Steak N Shake | Morgan County | 74 | Storing cleaner in food prep area, dirty soda nozzles |
| Jack’s | Beltline | 78 | Employee not washing hands, chicken at incorrect temperature |
| Taco Bell | Beltline | 83 | No hot water at sink, mold on cutting board |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Madison County Reviews Latest Health Inspection Scores
Huntsville Secures $3.1 Million for Digital Highway Message Signs
Huntsville Hosts ‘Meet a Machine’ Fundraiser for Special Needs
Huntsville Hosts Weekend of Family-Friendly Events
Huntsville Residents Rally in Support of 708 Bar and Grille
Tennessee Valley Welcomes Autumn with Family-Friendly Festivals
Huntsville’s Captain D’s Receives Low Health Inspection Score
Huntsville Weekend Events: August 16-18
Huntsville Welcomes First IKEA Store
IKEA to Open First Store in Alabama
Additional Resources
- Kitchen Wall Full of Roaches
- Google Search: Restaurant Health Inspection Scores
- Sewage in Kitchens & Potato Pests
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- Stinky Spoiled Chicken Wings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Safety
- Old Meat & Veggies Pizza Droppings
- Google News: Food Safety Violations
- Keep Your Ice Off My Pizza
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER
The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
