The Taco Smith food hygiene rating
Mobile caterer · Cornwall
The Taco Smith holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the mobile caterer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 34 Portbyhan Road, West Looe, Looe, PL13 2QN
How it compares in Cornwall
That puts The Taco Smith among the 4,461 places in Cornwall holding top marks, 85% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 4,461 | 85% | ← The Taco Smith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 522 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 212 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 42 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 38 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 51 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Taco Smith none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Taco Smith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polperro Holiday Park Shop And Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 307 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Portbyhan Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 318 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2025 |
| The Quay Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 340 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2025 |
| Spar Retailers - other | 342 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2016 |
| The Jolly Sailor Pub/bar/nightclub | 342 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Ye Olde Grog And Ale House Pub/bar/nightclub | 363 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 June 2024 |
| Tasty Corner Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 366 yards away | 4 - Good | 21 August 2025 |
| Dogs And Donuts Takeaway/sandwich shop | 400 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
Questions about The Taco Smith
What is The Taco Smith's food hygiene rating?
The Taco Smith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cornwall Council on 9 July 2024.
Is The Taco Smith safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this mobile caterer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Taco Smith last inspected?
The Taco Smith was last inspected on 9 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cornwall Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Taco Smith?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Taco Smith compare to other places in Cornwall?
85% of the 5,277 rated food businesses in Cornwall hold the top rating of 5, and The Taco Smith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cornwall Council inspects The Taco Smith and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Taco Smith and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Taco Smith is one of 142 rated food businesses in Looe. See every hygiene rating in Looe →
Cornwall inspects and rates 5,328 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cornwall →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →