A popular Sacramento beer garden was cited for mold. What else did inspectors see?
A ramen and boba tea combination restaurant was closed by Sacramento County health inspectors this week for cockroach and rodent infestations.
As many as 10 other restaurants, including a well-known beer garden, were issued citations for food safety concerns that included moldy food and rodent droppings.
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide.
A red placard, however, signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends the 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, with 97% of establishments passing, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, March 20, through Wednesday, March 26, as of Thursday afternoon:
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com. The Bee publishes weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.
Ramen and boba tea combo shop, two others closed for cockroaches, rodent infestations
Bella Cucina, 2380 Watt Ave. Suite 130 in Sacramento, had eight violations on Friday, March 21.
The Italian restaurant was shut down by county health inspectors after a cockroach infestation was discovered at the facility.
Nearly 70 live and dead German cockroaches were observed around the facility, including at a prep counter, on staff lockers and on a can of tomato sauce, according to the report.
The restaurant had also been storing unapproved household Raid pest control spray near a mop sink.
Meatballs and alfredo sauce had been cooling in a pot outside of refrigeration protocols and were measured outside of the safe temperature range.
Employees reportedly did not know safe food cooling procedures.
The restaurant did not have a food safety certification at the time of the inspection.
Bella Cucina had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
A representative for the restaurant was not able to comment when a Sacramento Bee reporter reached out to the eatery on Thursday afternoon.
Tacos Los Tres Hermanos, 2114 El Camino Ave. in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Tuesday, March 25.
The food truck was shut down by health inspectors for evidence of a rodent infestation and mold-like growth.
According to a representative for Tacos Los Tres Hermanos, the affected area was not a restaurant or a food preparation site.
The representative said it was used for food storage related to the Tacos Los Tres Hermanos food truck, as well as being a passageway for employee bathroom access.
Inspectors found mice droppings and gnaw marks around the storage facility, including on shelves, in food bins and on food products.
Two stacks of tostadas and a bag of rice were gnawed through and contaminated with mice droppings, according to the report.
There were holes in the walls around the building, including behind storage racks and below a door frame. The bathroom window was open and missing a screen.
There was also household mouse bait on the floors and windowsills.
“Mold-like organic growth” was found on racks in a cooler, according to the report.
Hot water was turned off at a bathroom hand sink. This was a second repeat violation.
At the time of the inspection, the facility’s permit to operate was expired.
The food storage facility had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
Maru Ramen Bar and Moo Moo Tea House, 8698 Elk Grove Blvd. Suites 2B and 2C in Elk Grove had two violations on Wednesday, March 26.
The ramen restaurant was closed due to a vermin infestation.
Inspectors found eight live German cockroaches near a water heater and by the ramen bar cook line.
Various dead cockroaches were also seen around the facilities, including under a freezer, below dry storage shelves, under a prep sink, and in the shared walkway between the two restaurants.
A dead mouse was also found under a preparation table near the Maru Ramen Bar cook line.
Moo Moo Tea House and Maru Ramen Bar passed reinspections on Thursday afternoon.
The ramen bar and boba shop posted identical statements on their Facebook pages Wednesday night, explaining the facilities would be closed for “pressure cleaning and deep cleaning equipment.”
Mackenzie Ha, a representative for the restaurants, said in an emailed statement to The Bee that the cockroaches issue was resolved and the shops reopened on Friday.
Midtown beer garden, nine others cited for mold and more
Der Biergarten, 2332 K St. in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Thursday, March 20.
The Midtown beer garden was issued a citation for issues with cleaning procedures and mold on surfaces in the kitchen.
Mold was found accumulating on keg lines and dials in a walk-in cooler, and “black slime” was inside an ice machine.
The bar’s dishwasher could not dispense sanitizer, and the bartender reportedly did not know how to test whether the dishwasher had sufficient sanitizer.
A cook was seen delivering a plate of food to the dining room, then touching food in the kitchen with bare hands without having washed their hands.
Waffle batter left on a countertop measured too warm to be considered safe.
The kitchen floors were reportedly littered with “dirt, leaves, old food debris, old ramekins and other debris,” according to the report.
The restaurant was lacking an employee with a food safety certificate at the time of the inspection. This was a repeat offense.
Der Biergarten passed a reinspection on Friday, March 21.
Fuji Sacramento, 2422 13th St. in Sacramento, had 18 violations on Thursday, March 20.
The Japanese restaurant was given a yellow placard for spoiled food and rodent droppings.
Inspectors found a “few” rodent droppings under shelves in a dry storage area.
The report said a box of moldy strawberries and “coagulated” half-and-half were in a cooler at the bar.
A soda gun at the bar had dark slime on its interior parts.
Fried cutlets and fried tempura were found out of refrigeration and measured too warm to be safe.
Raw shrimp was stored on top of vegetables in a cooler.
The bar’s dishwasher did not dispense sanitizer.
Fuji Sacramento was reinspected and passed on Friday, March 21.
Zocalo, 1801 Capitol Ave. in Sacramento, had 12 violations on Thursday, March 20.
The Michelin-recognized restaurant was cited by inspectors for slime mold and fruit flies in the facility.
Inspectors observed about 10 fruit flies in the restaurant.
Both ice machines and a soda gun holster had “slime mold-like accumulation,” according to the report.
Shredded cheese, blue cheese, feta cheese and cooked vegetables were measured at temperatures outside the proper range.
A metal bowl nestled on ceviche meat without a cover was left unprotected, and other food items in a walk-in cooler were left unprotected.
A glass reach-in cooler had broken glass on the floor.
There was no sanitizer in a bucket that connected to two dishwasher machines.
A plate was found to be used as a scoop in a food container.
Zocalo was issued a green placard after a successful reinspection on Friday, March 21.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, 3038 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento, had eight violations on Thursday, March 20.
The fried chicken chain was issued a citation for not keeping food at proper temperatures and issues with cleaning.
Rice, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and gravy were discarded after they were measured too cold to be safe.
Hot chicken tenders and cold boxes of chicken were also outside of their respective safe temperature ranges.
Food was being stored on the kitchen floor.
There were no sanitizer testing strips available in the facility. This was a repeat violation.
Employees did not know proper food safety procedures, including hot and cold holding temperatures and dishwashing procedures.
The restaurant did not have a food safety-certified employee at the time of the inspection. This was a repeat violation multiple times.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken failed a reinspection after health officials found the restaurant’s new owner had been operating without a permit since October.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
Kork, 11771 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Fair Oaks, had 11 violations on Friday, March 21.
The wine bar was cited for mold in prep areas and food at unsafe temperatures.
A prep counter had moldy buildup under its surface and had “not been washed for days,” according to the report.
Brie cheese was measured at temperatures warmer than what is required.
There was no sanitizer dispensed during the rinse cycle in a dishwasher machine, and wiping towels in a prep area had no measurable sanitizer.
There was an unclean cardboard box stored on a food contact surface at the prep line.
Employees reportedly did not know how to properly clean utensils and cutting boards.
Kork was reinspected and issued a green placard on Tuesday, March 25.
Casa Flores Mexican, 8304 Delta Shores Circle South Suite 130 in Sacramento, had 18 violations on Monday, March 24.
The Mexican restaurant was given a yellow placard for issues with cleaning and improper cooling and heating procedures.
Thirty pounds of beans, 10 pounds of rice and bulk amounts of other “potentially hazardous foods” were thrown in the garbage after they were cooled and heated to the wrong temperatures.
An employee was seen sneezing directly into their hand and returning to work without washing their hands.
Cleaning chemicals were stored on top of and around dry goods on a storage shelf.
Raw chicken was stored above ready-to-eat items and eggs were stored above vegetables in a walk-in cooler.
An employee’s baseball cap was stored on a dry food storage shelf with other food items, and an employee’s phone was placed on a food work surface.
Old cardboard was being used as a cover in a cold top.
Casa Flores Mexican Restaurant failed a reinspection for similar violations on Wednesday, March 26. The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
On Monday, March 24, Super Taco Express Restaurant, 8990 Grant Line Road, Elk Grove, had 11 violations.
The taco restaurant was cited by health officials for keeping food at improper temperatures and cleaning issues.
Cooked rice and sliced tomatoes were held outside of the accepted temperature ranges.
A “large container” about 6 to 8 inches deep was discarded after it did not cool sufficiently overnight.
Other foods were not being reheated at hot enough temperatures to be considered safe.
Raw beef was being stored above whole limes in a walk-in refrigerator.
Clean lids were found stored in a bus tub that had food debris accumulated in it, and a dirty lid was found on a clean dish storage rack.
The restaurant’s food safety certification was expired at the time of the inspection, the report said.
Super Taco Express Restaurant was reinspected and given a green placard on Tuesday, March 25.
Ramen 101, 2601 Marconi Ave. Suite A in Sacramento, had three violations on Monday, March 24.
The ramen restaurant was issued a yellow placard after inspectors found issues with hot water and food kept at the wrong temperature.
According to the report, a 20-gallon container of broth was discarded after it was found in the “temperature danger zone” despite cooling overnight.
Water at a three-compartment sink would not reach the proper temperature for warewashing.
Employees reportedly had to relight the water heater’s pilot light frequently as it “(kept) going out,” the report said.
The restaurant’s operating permit had expired at the time of the inspection.
Ramen 101 received a green placard after passing reinspection on Tuesday, March 25.
Roberta’s Cocina Mexicana, 5635 Freeport Blvd. Suite 9 in Sacramento, had 12 violations on Tuesday, March 25.
The Mexican restaurant was given a yellow placard for mold-like growth and food being improperly thawed.
A package of raw beef was found thawing on the kitchen floor, and its temperature was measured nearly 20 degrees warmer than required.
There was a “mold-like substance” inside an ice bin and on an interior portion of an ice machine, according to the report.
Small knives and other utensils were found stored under a paper towel dispenser at a kitchen hand-washing sink.
Frozen raw fish was stored “commingled” with frozen produce.
Raw beef was stored above cooked food in a refrigerator.
Other food items were found uncovered in refrigerator units around the restaurant.
Personal employee items were being stored with canned food near a back door.
The restaurant did not have a manager with a food safety certificate at the time of the inspection.
Roberta’s Cocina Mexicana passed a reinspection and was issued a green placard on Wednesday, March 26.
Twin Lotus Thai, 8345 Folsom Blvd. Suite 119 in Sacramento, had nine violations on Wednesday, March 26.
The Thai restaurant was given a citation for black mold-like growth and animal droppings.
There were “several old small droppings” of an unspecified animal under dry storage racks in the back of the restaurant, the report said.
An ice machine had black mold-like buildup underneath and behind the ice chute.
Containers of raw chicken, eggplant and cooked shrimp, tofu and prepackaged rice were found outside of proper temperatures.
Raw chicken was found being thawed in a hand-washing sink, which blocked its use.
Egg cartons were stored above produce in a walk-in cooler.
Twin Lotus Thai had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
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This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
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