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Sacramento County Health Inspectors gave a red placard to a local Vietnamese restaurant after finding approximately 330 rodent droppings throughout the facility including in the front cabinets and under the register.
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Additionally, 17 eateries were cited for health food violations including improperly cooled rice, flies, and black residue on equipment.
What do these inspections mean?
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
A red placard, however, signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends an establishment’s health permit until violations are corrected.
This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.
In contrast, a green placard means a restaurant passed inspection.
The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually and about 97% of establishments pass, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
These were the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, Oct. 1, through Wednesday, Oct. 8. If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at [email protected].
How to report a business to the health department
For readers who would like to report a local restaurant, food truck or cafe for health violations, you can file a complaint with the facility’s local environmental health departments.
The local health department is responsible for the initial investigation of consumer complaints regarding foods served or sold at retail food facilities, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Dining locations temporarily closed by health inspectors
Red Lobster
6231 Sunrise Blvd., Citrus Heights
Number of violations: 2
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Sacramento County Health Inspectors gave a red placard to the Citrus Heights seafood chain after finding five adult German cockroaches in the facility including on the floor, inside the dry storage room and the entrance of the employee’s restroom.
- Toilet paper was stored outside the dispenser inside the employee restroom.
Red Lobster was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Meza California
1413 16th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 6
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Midtown fusion restaurant after finding approximately 179 rodents droppings throughout the facility including under the silver metro shelving, under the oven and on the floor under the upright cooler.
- The facility had an expired California Food Handler card.
- Freshly made hummus was improperly cooling on the cook’s line.
Meza California was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
My Tho Vietnamese Cuisine
6175 Stockton Blvd. Suite 270, Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Friday, Oct. 2
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Lemon Hill Vietnamese restaurant after finding approximately 330 rodent droppings throughout the facility including directly underneath the register, in the front cabinets and along the walls in the secondary storage area.
- Noodles in a container with water were measured above proper cold holding temperature.
- Raw chicken was located over the raw beef and raw beef located over lettuce.
- The ice machine had white and black organic material on it.
My Tho Vietnamese Cuisine was reinspected on Saturday, Oct. 3 and received an additional red placard. The restaurant was reinspected Monday, Oct. 5 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the facility but no representative was available to speak.
Mojo’s Local
1431 I St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the downtown Sacramento brewery after finding an American cockroach infestation including roach body parts in a mop sink.
- American cockroach feces were observed on the shelf below the electrical box.
- Dead roaches were observed inside a glue trap on the floor next to a beer keg.
- Deli slicer was unclean with old food debris accumulation.
- The facility’s food safety certificate on file belonged to someone not involved in regular operations.
- Sugar and semolina bulk ingredient containers inside the dry storage closet lacked a label.
Mojo’s Local was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and passed with a green placard.
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The Bee reached out to the eatery but no representative answered the phone.
Joy City Chinese Cuisine
2745 Elk Grove Blvd. Suite 260, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 9
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Elk Grove Chinese restaurant after finding 76 mice droppings throughout the facility including inside a box of mixed unsealed/opened and sealed bags of spices in the storage room, below the front cashier and below the refrigerator.
- A pot lid covering the hand sink and strainer stored on top of the sink at time of arrival.
- Deep-fried pork and chicken was measured above proper cold holding temperature.
- Several personal employee beverages without a lid or straw were on the prep table.
Joy City Chinese Cuisine was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the facility but no manager was onsite.
Strings Italian Cafe
4140 Manzanita Ave., Carmichael
Number of violations: 11
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Carmichael cafe after finding 12 German cockroaches in the facility including one cockroach crawling on the cove base tiles and one dead cockroach inside a cabinet.
- Two of the three handwash stations lacked soap.
- A container with sliced lemons was stored inside an ice bin.
- Pink residue started to build up on the panel inside the ice machine.
Strings Italian Cafe was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the eatery but no representative answered the phone.
Los Immortals Taqueria
3131 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento
Number of violations: 16
Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the South Oak Park Mexican eatery after finding nine adult and nymph cockroaches in the facility including on the floor behind the steam table, on the wall behind the left cold top prep refrigerator and below the food prep and three-compartment sink.
- The hand wash sink at the end of the prep area was blocked by boxes of beer.
- The facility’s water was measured below proper hot water temperature.
- The California food handler cards were not available for review.
Los Immortals Taqueria was reinspected on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and received an additional red placard. The restaurant was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and received another red placard.
The Bee reached out to the facility but no manager was onsite.
New China Ocean
8484 Florin Road Suite 170, Sacramento
Number of violations: 1
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Florin Chinese eatery after finding 60 “quick moving German cockroaches” in the facility including a sticky trap underneath the cook’s grill and under the fryer.
- Additionally, there were 115 rodent droppings on the floor underneath the tea machine and in the left corner of the dishwasher.
New China Ocean had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
The manager of New China Ocean said as of Thursday, Oct. 8 they have passed their health inspection test and are currently open and operating.
Falafel & Pizza
8484 Florin Road, Suite 150, Sacramento
Number of violations: 2
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Florin Mediterranean pizzeria after finding 35 German cockroaches in the facility including a cockroach with an egg sack moving on the preparation table with food and food related items, multi-species cockroaches were on a sticky trap in the employee break room and cockroaches were scattering on the walls.
- An employee had gloves on, grabbed a napkin and killed a live cockroach and continued to cook immediately afterward.
Falafel & Pizza had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
The Bee reached out to the facility but no manager was onsite.
White, furry mold found on cooked pineapple
Los Amores de Julia
2243 Arden Way, Sacramento
Number of violations: 2
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade Mexican restaurant after finding raw shelled eggs, steak and pico de gallo at improper holding temperatures.
- Sealed bags of cooked rice were improperly cooling in the walk-in refrigerator.
Los Amores de Julia was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Elk Grove Chevron
9146 Harbour Point Drive, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 6
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the Elk Grove gas station after finding the backhand sink semi-blocked by an electric bike and a vacuum.
- Food Manager Certification on file has expired.
- Pre-packaged sandwiches in the retail refrigerator were measured above proper cold holding temperatures.
- Records indicated the facility’s health permit had expired.
Elk Grove Chevron was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Tacos Chapala
7411 West Stockton Blvd. Suite 100, Sacramento
Number of violations: 15
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the Valley Hi/North Laguna Mexican eatery because the health permit was not posted as required.
- The restroom was missing a toilet paper dispenser, rolls of toilet paper were observed on a grab rail next to the toilet.
- A used knife sharpening stone was on the back food prep table.
- The front kitchen hand sink was out of paper towels.
Tacos Chapala was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Tacos 65
6498 Broadway, Sacramento
Number of violations: 6
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the Tahoe Park Mexican eatery after finding a pitcher and lid stored directly inside the handwashing sink basin at the front of the facility.
- Partially cooked bags of chicken and steak stored on top of each other in a two-door upright refrigerator.
- California food handler cards were not available for review.
- Two flies were observed around the food prep area.
Tacos 65 was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Pizza Twist
7431 West Stockton Blvd. Suite 170, Sacramento
Number of violations: 19
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the pizza restaurant after finding old food debris/residue buildup on the in-use slicers at the pizza cutting table, per the employee, slicers were last washed and sanitized the day before.
- The kitchen hand sinks were out of the paper towels and hand soap.
- After cleaning the pizza slicer, an employee proceeded to return it to the pizza cutting table without sanitizing.
- An employee did not have adequate knowledge of manual warewashing procedures, sanitizer use and handwashing procedures and requirements.
Pizza Twist was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Buddha Belly Burger
1901 South St. Suite 100, Sacramento
Number of violations: 16
Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Health inspectors cited the Poverty Ridge Vegan eatery after finding no soap or soap dispenser at the hand sink behind the register.
- Cooked noodles were held below proper cold holding temperatures.
- Improperly cooling cooked noodles inside the walk-in cooler.
- An employee lacked knowledge regarding alternative milks.
Buddha Belly Burger was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Lazeez Express
1001 I St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Friday, Oct. 2
- Health inspectors cited the Mansion Flats Middle Eastern cafe after finding the hot sandwiches and burritos in the warming case held below hot holding temperature.
- Grilled chicken cooked the day prior found in a plastic container with lid inside the sandwich prep cooler.
- The deli slicer had old food debris on the blade.
- Sugar and brown sugar were lacking labels.
Lazeez Express was reinspected on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and passed with a green placard.
Ernesto’s
1901 16th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 9
Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Health inspectors cited the Richmond Grove Mexican eatery after finding the paper towel dispensers were jammed in the women’s restroom.
- Cooked chicken and shredded cheese were held above proper cold holding temperature.
- White, furry mold was found on cooked pineapple.
- A pallet of raw shelled eggs were stored over lettuce in the walk-in cooler.
Ernesto’s was reinspected on Wednesday, Sept. 7 and passed with a green placard.
AfroEatz
1725 I St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 15
Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Health inspectors cited the Boulevard Park Liberian and West African restaurant after finding the facility lacking paper towels inside the dispenser in the employee restroom.
- Eguisi in an ice bath had an inadequate ice and was held above proper cold holding temperatures.
- Rodent droppings and urine stains were found on the floors in the miscellaneous storage room, dry storage and bar.
- Personal beverages were found under the prep table.
AfroEatz had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
Su Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar
409 Natoma St., Folsom
Number of violations: 7
Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Health inspectors cited the Folsom Mexican restaurant after finding no towels stocked in the hand sink.
- Residue was found on the interior surfaces of the ice maker.
- The icemaker cover was removed.
- Health inspectors found bare plywood under the chafing dish.
Su Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar has yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
Ocean Fish & Chips
2558 Cottage Way, Sacramento
Number of violations: 11
Date: Monday, Oct. 5
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade British pub after finding improperly thawing fish held above proper cold holding temperature.
- The staff washing dishes were skipping the sanitizing step.
- The cooked chicken was improperly cooling.
- The ice machine deflector plate was unclean with black residue.
Ocean Fish & Chips was reinspected on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and passed with a green placard.
Kumi
1401 G St. Apt. 4, Sacramento
Number of violations: 9
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors cited the Mansion Flats Japanese restaurant after finding the kitchen hand sink blocked by a cart of glassware.
- An employee beverage without lid or straw was stored at the sushi station.
- A tray of fried chicken and tempura next to the fryer was measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- Slime buildup was found in the soda nozzle.
Kumi has yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
Auntie Keisha Kitchen
2315 Northgate Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors cited the Northgate soul food restaurant after finding the kitchen hand sink paper towel dispenser was empty.
- Chicken in the warmer was measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- An open drink was on the back prep table.
- Containers of ingredients on the dry storage shelf were not labeled.
Auntie Keisha Kitchen was reinspected on Thursday, Oct. 8 and passed with a green placard.
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La Superior Supermercados
4604 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 8
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Health inspectors cited the Latino supermarket after finding cooked chicken held below proper hot holding temperature.
- A large pot of beans was cooling improperly.
- Frozen shrimp was being improperly thawed.
- Pans of food were stacked on uncovered trays of meat.
La Superior Supermercados was reinspected and passed with a green placard.
Lodge Coffee Shop
8191 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights
Number of violations: 11
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7
- Health inspectors cited the Citrus Heights café after finding personal medication and other personal items in the food prep area.
- Lights in the dishwashing area were lacking shatterproof covers.
- Unused equipment including an old toaster and non restaurant equipment were in the kitchen.
- The cutting board for slicing vegetables was near the handwashing sink.
Lodge Coffee Shop has yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.
Seoul Express
1689 Arden Way Suite 2028, Sacramento
Number of violations: 11
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade Korean eatery after finding improper cooling of steamed rice.
- The facility had no food safety certification available at the time of inspection.
- A deflector plate attachment had black and brown residue accumulation.
- Several containers of raw meat were found uncovered in the walk-in cooler.
Seoul Express has yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 8.