Sacramento-area restaurant inspections: Carmichael sushi spot, Rancho Murieta cafe fail

Two Sacramento-area restaurants were temporarily shut down earlier this week after county health inspectors found vermin in their kitchens.

Express Sushi & Teriyaki at 6047 Madison Ave. in Carmichael was closed after failing its Sacramento County Environmental Management Department inspection Monday, but reopened after passing re-inspection Tuesday morning.

The Local Bean Cafe at 7238 Murieta Dr. in Rancho Murieta was also closed for vermin contamination Tuesday and reopened Wednesday. Neither the failed nor passed inspection reports had been made public as of Thursday morning.

Express Sushi & Teriyaki passed its last inspection on New Year’s Eve, but Monday’s inspection found 10 live cockroaches crawling by the Winco countertop food warmer, the floor near dry goods and on a table. An employee allegedly grabbed a roach on the table with his or her bare hand before it eventually fell to the floor, according to the report.

Express Sushi & Teriyaki was also slapped with a major violation for storing foods at temperatures too hot or too cold. Most perishables are either supposed to be kept below 42 degrees or above 134 degrees Fahrenheit, but masago (58-62 degrees), gyoza (60-61 degrees) and a tuna/imitation crab mixture (52-56 degrees) were all in violation, according to the report.

Alex Smbatyan’s family spent 14 years working in local teriyaki and Korean restaurants before opening Express Sushi & Teriyaki in 2013, he wrote on the restaurant’s website. It’s averaged 4.5 stars after more than 660 Google reviews.

The Local Bean Cafe was bought by new owners last year, according to ranchomurieta.com archives. It serves traditional breakfast items and coffee as well as bubble tea, crepes and hot dogs.