Austin Restaurant Health Report: 303 Inspections, One 63-to-89 Turnaround (September 2026)

In September 2026, Austin Public Health's records show 303 restaurant and food-facility inspections between September 1 and 24, averaging a score of 89.8 (median 91), with 19 perfect 100s and just three scores below 70. According to ATX Things' analysis of the full dataset, the most striking single record in Austin, Texas this month is a restaurant that went from 63 to 89 in three days.

How Current Is This Report?

ATX Things' copy of the city's inspection data last synced October 20, 2026 — well inside our 45-day freshness limit for publishing scored claims. The newest inspection date in that data is September 24, 2026, so this report covers September 1–24, not a full calendar month, and October inspections haven't posted yet. Every score below is exactly as recorded, with its inspection date. A score describes one visit on one day; it says nothing about conditions since.

How Austin Scored in September 2026

Nineteen inspections came back a perfect 100. At least ten of them are schools or child-care centers by name — Bee Cave Elementary, Serene Hills Elementary, Barbara Jordan Elementary, Manchaca United Methodist CDC and others — a reminder that this dataset covers every permitted food facility, not just restaurants. The rest include Whataburger #1191 on East Parmer Lane (September 21), Cocoa Puro on East 8th Street (September 10) and the Starbucks on Guadalupe Street (September 3).

The Turnaround: 63 on September 1, 89 on September 4

The most unusual record of the month belongs to Buffet Palace at 4608 West Gate Blvd. Austin Public Health recorded a 63 there on September 1, 2026, and a second inspection on September 4, 2026 scored 89 — a 26-point swing in three days. Its prior recorded scores were 70 (April 30, 2026) and 74 (July 1, 2026). Both September records are labeled "Routine Inspection" in the dataset rather than "Follow-Up Inspection," so we report them as two recorded inspections and don't characterize the reason for the second visit.

Another follow-up from just before this window: Kim Phung Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant on North Lamar, covered in our August report at 59 on August 13, was re-inspected August 27, 2026 (labeled "Follow-Up Inspection") and scored 76.

Which ZIP Codes Had the Highest Average Scores

Using ZIP codes with at least eight inspections in the window, here is every qualifying ZIP, in order of average score. Small samples swing easily — one visit can move a ZIP of eight by more than a point — so read this as a snapshot, not a ranking of neighborhoods.

North Austin's 78727 posted the highest average at 94.6 across eight inspections, with nothing below 85; the 78757 ZIP (Allandale/Crestview area) followed at 92.7 across 14. Downtown's 78701 had the biggest sample among Austin ZIPs — 39 inspections averaging 90.9. Pflugerville's 78660 (30 inspections) sits outside Austin city limits but is inspected by the same program and appears in the same dataset.

The Lowest Recorded Scores

Three inspections scored below 70 in the window. Here are all the scores of 73 or lower, exactly as recorded:

For context on the two 55s: Hacienda Jalisco's earlier recorded scores include 73 (October 30, 2025) and 78 (a follow-up on February 26, 2025); INKA Chicken's include 70 (January 12, 2026) and 71 (August 20, 2024). Records for both end at their September inspection date in this dataset, so no re-inspection result is available yet.

What Locals Should Know

• A score is a record of one visit. Each figure here traces to a specific September 2026 inspection date; it doesn't describe a restaurant today.
• Re-inspections are public too. When a location is inspected again, the new score lands in the same dataset — which is how the Buffet Palace and Kim Phung changes above can be seen at all.
• The dataset is broader than restaurants. Schools, child-care centers, caterers, coffee shops and marina concessions are all inspected and scored on the same scale.
• Look up any place yourself at austintexasthings.com/inspections, which shows full histories as recorded.

Method & Sources

Source: Austin Public Health restaurant inspection scores, inspected September 1–24, 2026 (the latest dates present), via ATX Things' database, last synced October 20, 2026. We pulled all 303 records dated in September, checked for duplicate rows (same facility, date, score and inspection description) and found none, so each is counted once. ZIP averages require at least eight inspections and group by the first five digits of the recorded ZIP. Score history for named locations comes from the same table. Scores, dates and addresses are reported as recorded; we make no judgment about food safety or current conditions. Cite as "ATX Things analysis of Austin Public Health inspection data, September 2026." The city's open data is at data.austintexas.gov.

This is the third entry in our monthly series, after August 2026 and May 2026. Planning dinner? See our best restaurants in Austin guide.

FAQ

What is a good restaurant inspection score in Austin? Austin Public Health scores from 0 to 100, and most inspections land in the 90s — September 1–24, 2026's median was 91, and 61% of inspections scored 90 or higher. Scores in the 80s are common. A low score is often followed by a re-inspection.

What happens when a restaurant scores below 70? The health department generally schedules another inspection to check that problems were corrected. In September's data, Buffet Palace was recorded at 63 on September 1 and 89 on September 4, 2026.

Which Austin ZIP code had the highest average score in September 2026? Among ZIP codes with at least eight inspections, 78727 averaged 94.6 across eight inspections between September 1 and 24. Small samples shift easily, so it's a snapshot rather than a lasting ranking.

Why does this report stop at September 24? That is the latest inspection date in the data as of our October 20 sync. We report real dates rather than implying anything about current conditions.

Does a low score mean a restaurant is unsafe? We don't make that call. A score reflects one inspection on one date against a checklist, and conditions may have changed since. Look up any location's history at austintexasthings.com/inspections.