90 rat feces and ‘gnaw marks’ on bag of rice found at this local business. What else was found?
Sacramento County health inspectors closed six eateries including a local banquet hall after finding approximately 90 rat feces in the facility and gnaw marks on a bag of rice.
Meanwhile, 15 eateries, including a local casino, received citations for health code violations such as having raw meat stored over vegetables, a blocked hand sink and pink and brown residue in an ice machine.
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 30, through Wednesday, May 6, as of Thursday, May 7. If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
How to report a business to the health department
For readers who would like to report a local restaurant, food truck or cafe on health violations, they can do so by filing a complaint to 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.
Businesses temporarily closed by health inspectors
Super Tortas Chilangas
5045 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 1
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Sacramento County Health inspectors gave a red placard to the North City Farms Mexican restaurant after finding five live German cockroaches including one live nymph crawling from behind the water heater.
Super Tortas Chilangas was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee called the restaurant on Thursday, May 7 for comment but a manager was not onsite.
Khorasan Kabob & Gyro
4141 Manzanita Ave. Suite 110, Carmichael
Number of violations: 17
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Carmichael kabob restaurant after finding German Cockroaches throughout the facility including behind a household blender, on the floor of the dining area and “running inside a wooden opening beneath the counter top,” according to the report.
- The facility had a water bottle with an unapproved screw-top lid stored on the prep table.
- Old produce residue build up was on the vegetable chopper.
- The hot water at the three compartment sink was measured below proper hot water temperatures.
Khorasan Kabob & Gyro was reinspected on Saturday, May 2 and passed with a green placard.
Representatives of the restaurant said they had recently acquired ownership of the facility and have dealt and fixed all issues that were made by previous owners. Khorasan Kabob & Gyro is open and operating with a clean facility.
Arigato Sushi
1608 Howe Ave. Suite A-5, Sacramento
Number of violations: 1
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Arden Arcade Japanese restaurant after finding over 16 cockroaches in several areas including in the office, below the prep sink and a dying cockroach on the ceiling inside the dry storage room.
Arigato Sushi had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant, but a manager was not onsite.
Summer Palace Banquet Hall
7900 Florin Road Suite 9, Sacramento
Number of violations: 21
Date: Tuesday, May 5
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Florin banquet hall after finding approximately 90 rat feces in several areas including in the storage area, under a storage rack and “gnaw marks on bottom of the rice bag stored in the storage area.”
- The facility had no paper towels accessible at the hand sink in the kitchen.
- Raw meat thawing in the sink for two hours was measured above proper cold holding temperature.
- The facility’s food handler cards were not available for review.
Summer Palace Banquet Hall had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
The Bee reached out to the facility and representatives said they had no comment on the health inspection report.
Lumberjacks Restaurant
5820 Madison Ave., Sacramento
Number of violations: 2
Date: Tuesday, May 5
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Barrett Hills American restaurant after finding a lack of hot water in the facility.
- Soap was not accessible from the handwash station at the cook’s area.
Lumberjacks Restaurant was reinspected on Wednesday, May 6 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant but could not reach a representative.
Firehouse Subs
7887 Madison Ave. Suite A, Citrus Heights
Number of violations: 3
Date: Wednesday, May 6
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the Citrus Heights sandwich chain after discovering an adequate supply of hot and cold water in the facility.
- Health inspectors found a wet mop on the floor near the mop sink area.
- Soups and meat balls were measured below proper hot food temperature.
Firehouse Subs had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant but could not reach a representative.
Brown, black and pink build up was found in this local eatery
Capitol Casino
411 North 16th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 16
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors cited the Mansion Flats casino after finding curry in the two door reach-in refrigerator was improperly cooling.
- The handwashing sink basin was blocked by a sanitizing bucket.
- Raw meat was stored on top of vegetables in the refrigerator.
- An employee beverage without a lid was stored on the prep tables.
Capital Casino was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and passed with a green placard.
Vientos Mexican Grill
7600 Greenhaven Drive Suite 24, Sacramento
Number of violations: 11
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors cited the Pocket Mexican restaurant after finding missing paper towels at the handwashing sink.
- Raw chicken was measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- The facility’s food safety certificate was missing.
- The facility was missing all food handler cards.
Vientos Mexican Grill was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and received an additional yellow placard. The grill was reinspected on Monday, May 4 and passed with a green placard.
VJ’s Kitchen
2600 Gateway Oaks Drive Suite 100, Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors cited the Gateway Center eatery after discovering that the facility’s sanitizer test strips for chlorine sanitizer were not available on site.
- Several areas in the facility were unclean with excess grease/debris/residue including brown spill stains on top of the microwave and the floor below the main cook line.
- Food items that were improperly cooled, including a full container of goat curry and a full bus tub of masala rice.
- Tongs were improperly hung on the oven door handles.
VJ’s Kitchen was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and passed with a green placard.
Indian Sizzle
4680 Natomas Blvd. Suite 130, Sacramento
Number of violations: 9
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors cited the North Natomas Indian restaurant after finding no paper towels available at the front handwashing sink.
- Approximately five pounds of raw chicken was observed thawing in submerged stagnant water.
- One frozen bag of cooked carrots was thawing on the prep counter.
- One tray of raw chicken was stored above ready to eat food items.
Indian Sizzle was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and passed with a green placard.
Super Taco
4720 Laguna Blvd. Suite 90, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 17
Date: Thursday, April 30
- Health inspectors cited the Elk Grove Mexican eatery after finding carne asada measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- A large container of beef broth was improperly cooling in the walk-in fridge.
- The facility’s food handler cards expired for two employees.
- Health inspectors found a dent on a can of nacho cheese.
Super Taco was reinspected on Friday, May 1 and passed with a green placard.
Crawdads on the Lake
9900 Greenback Lane, Folsom
Number of violations: 15
Date: Friday, May 1
- Health inspectors cited the Folsom American eatery after finding an employee at the cook’s line handling raw meat and then handling ready-to-eat foods without washing hands and changing gloves.
- There were no paper towels at the cook’s line handwashing sink.
- Shredded cheddar cheese was observed out of proper holding temperature.
- The employee responsible for warewashing lacked knowledge of proper warewashing and sanitizing procedures.
Crawdads on the Lake was reinspected on Monday, May 4 and passed with a green placard.
Pizza Twist
5484 Dewey Drive, Fair Oaks
Number of violations: 14
Date: Friday, May 1
- Health inspectors cited the Fair Oaks pizzeria after finding hand sinks lacking single use towels.
- Cut tomatoes sitting on top of the pizza oven were measured above proper holding temperature.
- The facility’s restrooms lacked toilet paper.
- Employees were not aware of proper food handling procedures.
Pizza Twist was reinspected on Monday, May 4 and received an additional yellow placard. The eatery was reinspected on Tuesday, May 5 and passed with a green placard.
Angry Gyros
8158 Florin Road Suite A, Sacramento
Number of violations: 8
Date: Monday, May 4
- Health inspectors cited the Florin Mediterranean eatery after finding an empty hand paper towel dispenser in the restroom.
- Chicken in the hot holding unit was held below proper hot holding temperature.
- The hot water supply at the three compartment ware wash sink was shut off.
- Falafel was stored without a cover in the chest freezer.
Angry Gyros was reinspected on Tuesday, May 5 and passed with a green placard.
Satori Sushi and Rare Tea
2550 West El Camino Ave. Suite 13, Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Monday, May 4
- Health inspectors cited the El Camino Japanese restaurant after finding a handwash sink was completely blocked with soaking dishes.
- An employee washed single use gloves for reuse.
- 50+ rodent droppings in front and rear dry storage area.
- Debris was found below the customer utensils in the tray at the front station.
Satori Sushi and Rare Tea was reinspected on Wednesday, May 6 and passed with a green placard.
OMG Cocina
1500 7th St. Suite 1F, Sacramento
Number of violations: 18
Date: Monday, May 4
- Health inspectors cited the downtown Sacramento Mexican Restaurant after finding the handwashing sink blocked by a portable AC unit and a handwashing sink basin blocked by a small cast iron pan.
- Three employee food handler cards were expired at the time of the inspection.
- An employee beverage was placed on an in-use cutting board.
- A cook with long painted acrylic nails engaged in food preparation activities without wearing gloves.
OMG Cocina was reinspected on Wednesday, May 6 and passed with a green placard.
Seoul Express
1689 Arden Way Suite 2028, Sacramento
Number of violations: 17
Date: Tuesday, May 5
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade Korean eatery after finding cooked chicken measured out of proper holding temperature.
- The facility had no food safety certification available at the time of inspection.
- No food handler cards were available at time of the inspection.
- An employee touched raw shrimp, then touched an apron cloth before washing their hands in the handwashing sink.
Seoul Express was reinspected on Wednesday, May 6 and passed with a green placard.
Cafeteria 15L/The Park
1116 15th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Wednesday, May 6
- Health inspectors cited the downtown Sacramento American restaurant after discovering a chicken held below proper hot holding temperature.
- Mac and cheese, fried chicken and mashed potatoes with a four-hour discard time were not discarded at the assigned time.
- Tomato soup was improperly cooling in the refrigerator.
- Brown, black and pink build up was found in the ice machine.
Cafeteria 15L/The Park had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
Quan Nem Ninh Hoa
8469 Elk Grove Blvd. Suite 7, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 13
Date: Tuesday, May 5
- Health inspectors cited the Elk Grove Vietnamese restaurant after finding covered pork barbecue skewers measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- The facility’s Food Manager Certificate was not available at the time of inspection.
- Several California food handler cards were not available.
- The facility’s racks, fan guards, floor, wall panels and inside the refrigerator had old food residue accumulation, grime and mold growth.
Quan Nem Ninh Hoa was reinspected on Wednesday, May 6 and received an additional yellow placard. The eatery had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
India Village Food
8865 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento
Number violations: 10
Date: Wednesday, May 6
- Health inspectors cited the La Riviera Indian eatery after finding no paper towels in the men’s restroom.
- The facility was missing two food handler cards for staff.
- Old food debris was on the prep table for bread and naan.
- Old food debris was found inside the gasket and two-door cooler.
India Village Food had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
The Skip’s Fish & Chicken
3291 Truxel Road, Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Wednesday, May 6
- Health inspectors cited the South Natomas seafood restaurant after finding an employee wearing gloves grabbing raw beef patties and placing them on the flat grill then grabbing a spatula by the handle to press on another beef patty on the grill and then grabbing a bun without removing contaminated gloves or handwashing.
- Hot water was not available in the facility.
- The facility’s food safety manager certificate was not available.
- The backhand sink paper towel dispenser was empty.
The Skip’s Fish & Chicken had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 7.
