El Cortador food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Folkestone and Hythe
El Cortador holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 November 2023, 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: 41 the Old High Street, Folkestone, CT20 1RL
How it compares in Folkestone and Hythe
That puts El Cortador among the 958 places in Folkestone and Hythe holding top marks, 84% 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 | 958 | 84% | ← El Cortador | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 111 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 62 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 144 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 El Cortador 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 El Cortador, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burrito Buoy Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2024 |
| Diamond Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| Bella Vita Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2023 |
| Androus Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| County Fayre Retailers - other | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Curry Garden Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| Churchills Pub/bar/nightclub | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2023 |
| China Inn Takeaway/sandwich shop | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2024 |
Questions about El Cortador
What is El Cortador's food hygiene rating?
El Cortador has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Folkestone and Hythe Council on 16 November 2023.
Is El Cortador 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was El Cortador last inspected?
El Cortador was last inspected on 16 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Folkestone and Hythe Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at El Cortador?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does El Cortador compare to other places in Folkestone and Hythe?
84% of the 1,140 rated food businesses in Folkestone and Hythe hold the top rating of 5, and El Cortador is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Folkestone and Hythe Council inspects El Cortador 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 El Cortador and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
El Cortador is one of 519 rated food businesses in Folkestone. See every hygiene rating in Folkestone →
Folkestone and Hythe inspects and rates 1,284 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Folkestone and Hythe →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.folkestone-hythe.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 →