Cockroaches, slime and a leaky sink: See latest Sacramento County restaurant inspections

Sacramento County health inspectors cited seven local restaurants and a gas station for safety violations ranging from cockroaches and flies to “dark mold-like residue” in an ice machine.

A yellow placard signals two or more major violations, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide. These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection.

A red placard 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 the inspection.

The county conducts roughly 14,000 inspections a year, and 97% of all restaurants pass their inspections, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee. About 1% of inspections result in a closure.

Health inspectors closed a local grocery store on Aug. 8 after finding more than 50 cockroaches and numerous flies, but it has since reopened.

Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Aug. 15 through Wednesday, as of noon Thursday:

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Sacramento Bee reporter Brianna Taylor at btaylor@sacbee.com. The Bee will publish weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.

Sacramento County restaurants, gas station cited for health violations

The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Aug. 15 through Aug. 21, resulting in a conditional pass.

Only the dates of violations are listed. Most restaurants fully pass reinspection within 72 hours. The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.

Jimboy’s Tacos, 3900 Watt Ave. in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Wednesday.

Sacramento County health inspectors found “potentially hazardous foods” outside proper holding temperatures including meats, potatoes, tomatoes and cheese, according to Wednesday’s report.

Inspectors observed beans being improperly reheated, the report said, and an employee washing dishes without sanitizing them.

An ice bucket was stored on the floor near the ice machine.

Inspectors found several items in the facility in need of maintenance, including carbon dioxide containers, faucets, handles and walls.

There was tape on a freezer storage handle and an ice machine.

Lastly, two food handler cards were expired at the time of inspection.

The eatery was reinspected on Thursday and received a green placard.

Pho Fresh, 10673 Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova, had 14 violations on Wednesday.

Sacramento County health inspectors found roughly 50 cockroaches at the Vietnamese restaurant on Wednesday.

The insects, which were either dead or dying, were found behind an ice machine, on a preparation table and below a dish machine, among other places.

The restaurant was ordered to discard “potentially hazardous foods” including rice noodles, bean sprouts and liquid egg whites after they were found outside of proper holding temperatures.

Raw and cooked proteins were also outside of proper holding temperatures, the report said, inspectors didn’t ask the restaurant to throw those items away.

Inspectors also found uncovered food in freezers and bulk containers without labels.

At the time of inspection, there was food debris, dust and “residue-like accumulation” in the facility, including under an ice machine, and beneath refrigerators and freezers.

Inspectors found a leaky sink, a gap under a door, carbon dioxide cylinders stored next to an ice machine and a sanitizer bucket without proper sanitizing solution.

Two food handler cards were expired at the time of inspection.

As of Thursday afternoon, the eatery had not been reinspected.

Don Jose’s Donuts, 2394 Fruitridge Road, in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Wednesday.

Sacramento County health inspectors found one hand-washing sink without soap and another without paper towels.

An employee did not know how to properly wash equipment, while another did not have their hair restrained, Wednesday’s report said.

There were approximately five flies throughout the facility and bags of bulk food were uncovered at the time of inspection.

Shelled eggs were outside of proper holding temperature and turkey croissants were displayed without time control.

The restaurant did not have the correct number of food safety manager certificates and food handler cards were not available for review at the time of inspection.

The restaurant was using a rag to seal a drain, the report said.

In addition, a light switch and outlet socket did not have covers and the front door was open at the time of inspection.

As of Thursday afternoon, the eatery had not been reinspected.

Pho N Mor, 194 Blue Ravine Road in Folsom, had 10 violations on Wednesday.

Sacramento County health inspectors found black residue on the ice maker and containers of food in a hand sink.

The men’s restroom did not have toilet paper and wiping cloths were drying on bushes behind the restaurant at the time of inspection.

There was a household microwave on the cook line, the report said, and bean sprouts and cooked shrimp were outside of proper holding temperatures.

The back door was propped open, but not in use.

Lastly, the restaurant did not have a manager who passed an “approved food safety certification examination,” the report said.

As of Thursday afternoon, the eatery had not been reinspected.

Superb Burger Fish & Chips, 8399 Folsom Blvd., Suite No. 4, in Sacramento, had 13 violations on Tuesday.

According to Sacramento County health inspectors, an employee did not wash their hands after handling raw foods and then touched other food and utensils.

Multiple bags of meat were stored in a torn, reused bag inside an upright refrigerator, the report said.

An employee was ordered to discard a container of milk after inspectors found meat drippings on top of it.

“Potentially hazardous foods” including sliced beef, cheese, fish and shrimp were outside of proper holding temperatures.

There were no paper towels in the dispenser at the hand wash sink near the food prep area. In addition, the women’s restroom was out of order.

Inspectors observed “dark mold-like residue” on the ice machine, the report said, as well as old food debris, trash and grease accumulation on the floor, under cooking equipment and inside a refrigerator.

Ready-to-serve foods were being stored below raw protein in an upright refrigerator at the time of inspection.

Inspectors noted equipment in need of repair including an ice cream chest freezer and a large two-door upright freezer.

Lastly, inspectors found an outdated health permit posted at the restaurant.

As of Thursday afternoon, the restaurant had not been reinspected.

Arco AM/PM, 4745 Watt Ave. in North Highlands, had 10 violations on Aug. 16.

Sacramento County health inspectors found several foods outside of proper holding temperatures including pizzas, burritos, sandwiches, chicken, yogurt, eggs and cheese.

One restroom was observed without a functional sink and Windex glass cleaner was being used as a sanitizer, the report said.

The ice machine’s interior was rusting and its soda nozzles were caked with brown residue.

A similar substance was found inside a hot chocolate dispenser, the report said.

The self-serve refrigerator was not working properly, and two microwaves and a toaster were found in the prep area.

There was no “sanitizer bucket setup” during the time of inspection.

California food handler cards were not available to review at the time of inspection.

The gas station was reinspected on Monday and received a green placard.

Pete’s 7, 828 J St. in Sacramento, had six violations on Aug. 15.

Sacramento County health inspectors found several “potentially hazardous foods” outside proper holding temperatures at the pizza restaurant, including meat, cheese and fruit.

A dishwashing machine didn’t have the proper sanitizer and cardboard was being used as containers, the report said.

Inspectors found raw fish stored over prepackaged soup inside an upright refrigerator and a leak in the walk-in cooler.

Sanitizer wiping towels did not have the proper sanitizing solution on them at the time of inspection.

The restaurant was reinspected on Aug. 16 and received a green placard.

Heng Fat Chinese Restaurant, 7802 Gerber Road in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Aug. 15.

An employee did not wash their hands after handling raw foods, the report said. The person then packaged ready-to-eat foods.

“Potentially hazardous foods” including raw egg rolls and chicken were found outside proper holding temperatures.

“Black residue” and “slime-like accumulation” were found inside the ice machine, the report said, and old food debris, trash, grease and oil accumulation were on the floors and storage racks.

The report said raw produce was being improperly handled, while unapproved employee drinks were putting food at risk of contamination.

Furthermore, a plastic container of batteries was found in a cooler.

California food handler cards were not available to review at the time of inspection.

The restaurant was reinspected on Aug. 16 and received a green placard.

This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 9:00 AM.