Mexican Spot Closed By Health Department For Roaches, Flies, And Unsafe Food Temps

A popular Upper West Side Mexican restaurant has been temporarily shut down by the city’s health department, which turned up a long list of violations during a recent inspection.

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Tacos Cano, which opened last year in the former Taqueria y Fonda space at 968 Amsterdam Avenue (between 107th and 108th streets), was shut down by the New York City Department of Health, according to city inspection records.

Inspectors visited Tacos Cano on May 26 and tallied 61 violation points. Under the city’s grading system, a score of 28 or more points lands a restaurant in “C” territory—the lowest grade the Health Department issues.

The full list of violations cited in the report:

1. Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140°F.
2. After cooking or removal from hot holding, TCS food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal temperature is reduced from 140°F to 70°F or less within 2 hours, and from 70°F to 41°F or less within 4 additional hours.
3. Live roaches in facility’s food or non-food area.
4. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
5. Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
6. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
7. Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
8. Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
9. Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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Tacos Cano opened in June 2025, taking over the space after the beloved Mexican mainstay closed after 26 years. The new operators, a family with roots in the southwestern Mexican state of Guerrero, had kept the prior restaurant’s menu largely intact—including the baby burrito, chile relleno, and queso-birria that longtime fans knew well.

ILTUWS reached out to Tacos Cano by phone and did not receive an answer, and also contacted the restaurant via Instagram for comment.

As of publication, the restaurant’s online ordering page displayed a message that it was closed and not accepting orders.

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