Health Inspections: Six Lancaster County Restaurants Receive B Ratings, Two Downgraded to C in March

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — In March 2025, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture completed 83 food safety inspections across Lancaster County. While most establishments received “A” grades, six restaurants were cited for violations that resulted in a “B” rating, and two of those were ultimately downgraded to a “C” after failing to correct critical issues during follow-up inspections.

Two Establishments Downgraded to C

Firehouse Subs, located on Charlotte Highway in Indian Land, received a “B” on March 14 due to a repeated violation involving food temperatures above the safe cold-holding threshold. During a follow-up inspection on March 20, the issue remained unresolved, with grilled chicken, roast beef, and sliced turkey all recorded at 44°F — above the recommended 41°F maximum. Inspectors also noted a cardboard recycling bin with excessive buildup outside the facility​.

Plaza Maya Grill in Kershaw was also downgraded to a “C” after its March 4 inspection. Violations included improper cold food storage with raw shrimp and beef measured at 50°F and above, lack of handwashing soap at kitchen sinks, missing signage, and a hose lacking proper backflow prevention. The facility was cited for multiple priority violations, which were not corrected by the time of inspection​.

Additional Restaurants Receiving B Ratings

• 2 Soul Sistas, Lancaster – Scored an 84 during a routine inspection on March 20. Inspectors cited unsafe food holding temperatures, inaccurate food thermometer readings, and reused single-use items like ziplock bags. Multiple foods, including mac and cheese and raw chicken, were not maintained at safe temperatures​

• La Piñata Tacos & Tequila, Lancaster – Received a “B” with 81 points on March 25 due to improper handwashing practices, cold food held above safe temperatures, inconsistent date marking, lack of test strips for sanitization, and water drainage issues​

• Subway, Kershaw – On March 14, the sandwich shop was marked down for cold food holding violations (shredded chicken and vegetables held above 41°F), fruit fly presence, and misuse of residential pesticides. All restrooms were also found to be out of service at the time of inspection​

• Los Aztecas, Indian Land – Downgraded to a “B” on March 24 due to issues including handwashing sinks not reaching minimum temperature requirements, though most other violations had been resolved​

Compliance Trends in March

Despite these setbacks, the majority of Lancaster County food establishments — including schools, cafes, and chain restaurants — passed inspections with flying colors. More than 90% received “A” grades, signaling strong compliance with state health and safety standards.

The SCDA continues to monitor food safety and requires follow-up inspections for any establishment receiving less than an “A.” Full reports are publicly available at agriculture.sc.gov.

Full List of Inspections are below: