Cockroaches, brown slime in Sacramento-area restaurants. What inspectors found
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local eatery after finding live cockroaches near the water heater.
Meanwhile, 10 eateries — including two fast food chains — received citations for health code violations such as excess water between stacks of plates, grease residue on the floor under the equipment, and pink slime.
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, April 23, through Wednesday, April 29, as of Thursday, April 30. If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Businesses temporarily closed by health inspectors
Super Tortas Chilangas
5045 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 6
Date: Monday, April 27
- Sacramento County Health Inspectors gave a red placard to the North City Farms Mexican restaurant after discovering four live German cockroaches in the facility including on the water heater near the status light code and behind the prep cooler.
- The facility had household pesticide stored on the floor underneath the wooden prep table. Household pesticides may not be used in a food facility, according to the citation.
- The piping underneath the three compartment sink was leaking.
- Old debris accumulation was found on the water heater, prep cooler doors and on the three compartment sink basins.
Super Tortas Chilangas had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, April 30.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Super Tortas Chilangas, but could not reach a restaurant representative.
Raw chicken tongs, dark mold-like residue lead to citations
Aromas Cafe
6555 Coyle Ave. Suite 130, Carmichael
Number of violations: 15
Date: Thursday, April 23
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the Carmichael cafe after finding the California food handler card for the chef was not available for review.
- An open employee beverage was stored on the prep table at the cook’s area.
- Pink and brown slime residue build up was found inside the ice machine.
- The facility lacked consumer advisory for undercooked eggs that are offered on the breakfast menu.
Aromas Cafe was reinspected Friday, April 24 and passed with a green placard.
Doma Restaurant
9521 Folsom Blvd., Suite A, Sacramento
Number of violations: 9
Date: Thursday, April 23
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the La Riviera Korean restaurant after finding no paper towels in the dispenser near the first prep station.
- Tongs used for raw chicken were being used to transfer sauce from the prep top insert without prior washing, rinsing and sanitizing.
- Two open cups of tea were on the prep table.
- The facility had no customer advisory for sunnyside up egg dishes sold and included on the menu.
Doma Restaurant was reinspected on Friday, April 24 and passed with a green placard.
Shabu Gen
9135 West Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove
Number of violations: 9
Date: Friday, April 24
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the Elk Grove hot pot restaurant after finding different broths in containers held above proper cold-holding temperatures.
- The facility had no paper towels inside the dispenser at the server’s station.
- Health inspectors found excess water between the stack of plates at the buffet service line.
- A cart full of frozen and semi-frozen meats were left out without intervention.
Shabu Gen was reinspected on Monday, April 27 and passed with a green placard.
Smokey Grill
5207 Madison Ave. Suite A, Sacramento
Number of violations: 19
Date: Monday, April 27
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the Madison Woods grill after an employee did not demonstrate acceptable food safety knowledge on proper cooling and ware washing procedures.
- Health inspectors found one dead cockroach on the floor beneath the prep sink.
- A container with raw chicken was stored inside the upright cooler near sheet pans with dough inside them.
- A spray bottle with sanitizer and window cleaner was hanging above the prep table.
Smokey Grill was reinspected on Wednesday, April 29 and passed with a green placard.
Willie’s Burgers
2415 16th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 6
Date: Monday, April 27
- Health inspectors cited the Land Park burger restaurant after finding sliced tomatoes held above proper cold holding temperatures.
- The facility’s California Food Handler cards were expired for all the employees.
- The customer restroom had an empty paper towel dispenser.
- Dark mold-like residue was found in the ice chute at the soda machine.
Willie’s Burgers was reinspected on Wednesday, April 29 and passed with a green placard.
Harumi Sushi & Hibachi
3541 Truxel Road, Sacramento
Number of violations: 19
Date: Monday, April 27
- Health inspectors cited the Natomas Crossing Japanese restaurant after finding no sanitizer inside the dishwasher machine.
- Facility staff had no knowledge of prepping sanitizer buckets and sanitizing prep counter with sanitizer cloth towels.
- The facility had no manager food safety certificate available.
- The facility had an unclean can opener and black residue in the ice machine.
Harumi Sushi & Hibachi was reinspected on Tuesday, April 28 and passed with a green placard.
Burger King
7225 Greenhaven Drive, Sacramento
Number of violations: 6
Date: Tuesday, April 28
- Health inspectors cited the Pocket fast food chain after finding chicken fries held below proper hot holding temperature.
- The facility’s men’s restroom had no paper towels.
- The three compartment sink had no hot water.
- The walk-in freezer had “excessive ice build up,” according to the health report.
Burger King was reinspected on Wednesday, April 29 and passed with a green placard.
McDonald’s
2535 Watt Ave., Sacramento
Number of violations: 5
Date: Tuesday, April 28
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade fast food restaurant after finding cooked ham held below proper hot holding temperature.
- Oil and grease residue was found on the floor under the equipment.
- The facility had rusted racks in the reach-in located near the grill.
- Whipped cream measured above proper cold holding temperature.
McDonald’s was reinspected on Wednesday, April 29 and passed with a green placard.
Thai Smile Thai Food
11110 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova
Number of violations: 12
Date: Tuesday, April 28
- Health inspectors cited the Rancho Cordova Thai restaurant after finding the cook cracking an egg on the prep line and continuing to prep food without proper handwashing and glove replacement.
- The facility’s hand wash sink was lacking soap and single use towels.
- The operator was not aware of proper hand-washing procedures.
- Debris buildup was found on the meat grinder.
Thai Smile Thai Food had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, April 30.
La Fiesta Taqueria
1008 East Bidwell St. Suite 100, Folsom
Number of violations: 7
Date: Wednesday, April 29
- Health inspectors cited the Folsom Mexican restaurant after finding whole beans and mashed beans held below proper hot holding temperature.
- An employee transferred mashed beans stored on top of insert lids (nested) to steam table on the cook line for service.
- Facility employees did not know what compliant temperature was required for items in the steam table.
- No test strips were available for the chemical sanitizing dish machine.
La Fiesta Taqueria had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, April 30.
