A business that “illegally” prepared barbacoa from a McAllen makeshift kitchen in the alley was permanently shutdown by the health department.

McAllen Grocery on 300 South 23rd Street received two tickets during a recent health inspection.

Kitchen cops discovered the store was improperly preparing barbacoa outside in the alleyway.

The kitchen was deemed “unsanitary.”

The grocery store’s owner, Cervando Guerra, admitted he had been cooking barbacoa there for years.

The oldest Mexican barbecue dish used to be sold at the store every Sunday.

Guerra said it was “unfair” for the health department to order him to purchase new kitchen equipment and move it indoors when he only uses it for his barbecoa sale on Sunday.

“It’s going to put me out of business,” Guerra said.  “Is that what they [city leaders] want?”

But the bad barbacoa area wasn’t the only reason for the kitchen’s closure.

Click on the video link to see what else the Food Patrol exposed at McAllen Grocery in this week’s Food 4 Thought.

Weekly Low Performer List: (total # of demerits)

McAllen Grocery 300 S 23rd St (20) *Ticketed, Barbacoa Kitchen in Alley Shutdown*

Pharr
Ensaladas La Esquina 7501 W Pecan Plantation Circle (23) *Food Stored in Bathroom, Unapproved Food*

Weekly Top Performer List: (0 demerits)

San Benito
Mi Sabor 23187 W Bus 83

San Juan
Jack in the Box 902 N Raul Longoria
El Pato 1626 N Raul Longoria
Church’s 1412 N Raul Longoria

Edinburg
Dairy Queen 1220 E University Dr
Whataburger 1812 W University Dr

Harlingen
Cinemark’s “The Palace” 401 S Exp 77
Little Caesar’s 810 Morgan Blvd
Texas Café 1510 N Commerce
Pizza Hut 920 Morgan
Subway 621 N 13th
Dairy Queen 1613 N 77 Sunshine
Crazy Buffet 1618 S 77 Sunshine

Donna
Whataburger 615 ND Salinas

McAllen
Remington’s 1800 S 2nd St