Why did Sacramento County health inspectors close 5 restaurants? Cockroaches, rats and more
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local Subway sandwich shop and shut down four other restaurants after discovering major health violations including cockroach and rat infestations.
An additional 12 Sacramento County restaurants received yellow placards due to safety violations ranging from rodent droppings to mold.
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, Jan. 9, through Wednesday, Jan. 15, 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.
Sacramento Subway, sushi restaurant closed due to rats, cockroaches
Wonderful Chinese Restaurant, 7042 Sylvan Road in Citrus Heights, had three violations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Sacramento County restaurant inspectors shut down the Chinese restaurant after uncovering evidence of a rat infestation and other serious violations violations.
Inspectors found rat droppings in a bulk container of sesame, on metal cans of food and on shelves in a food storage room. They also discovered a gnawed plastic bag of sesame seeds.
Several food items measured at potentially hazardous temperatures, including noodles, water chestnut, bamboo shoots and barbecue pork.
Additionally, inspectors said, knives and cleavers were being stored between tables on an unclean surface.
Wonderful Chinese Restaurant passed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10.
The restaurant declined to comment about the closure when contacted by a Sacramento Bee reporter on Thursday.
Subway, 5031 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had two violations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Health inspectors shut down the Subway location twice after finding live and dead cockroaches around the chain restaurant.
On Jan. 9, inspectors found one live adult German cockroach in the front food service area.
They also discovered 11 live cockroaches, 20 dead cockroaches and two egg sacs at locations including a three-compartment sink, near a mop sink, below shelves, under a preparation table near a walk-in cooler and behind shelves in a dry food storage room.
Inspectors said tomatoes measured outside of safe temperatures.
The Subway location failed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10, but passed another inspection on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Subway had not responded to a Sacramento Bee reporter’s request for comment as of Friday morning.
Naan King, 7238 Murieta Drive, Suite A3, in Rancho Murieta, had seven violations on Friday, Jan. 10.
The Northern Indian restaurant was shut down after inspectors observed signs of an active rodent infestation.
Inspectors discovered dozens of rodent droppings throughout the restaurant, including 10 on a ledge next to the prep fridge, 10 inside a bin filled with lids and utensils and 15 in a bowl with food containers.
More droppings were next to the soda machine, below the dishwasher and on a shelf below the prep table, according to the report.
Additionally, several food items, such as samosas, paneer and raw chicken, were at potentially hazardous temperatures.
Inspectors saw holes in ceiling panels and near an electric outlet in the restaurant’s interior.
The restaurant was reinspected and received a green placard on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Naan King had not responded to a request for comment from the Sacramento Bee as of Friday morning.
Wonderful Restaurant, 6880 65th St., Suite 45, in Sacramento, received 15 violations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Health inspectors shut down the Vietnamese restaurant after finding cockroaches and rodent droppings in the facility.
Inspectors discovered four live German cockroaches by a water heater near the main cookline, and three fresh rodent droppings on the base of the water heater.
According to the report, raw meat was being stored in trash bags in the freezer, and bread loaves were in the same bags as beef and raw quail.
Health inspectors also found mold-like buildup in an ice machine.
A mop sink had a clogged drain, leaving dirty water sitting in the sink overnight, according to the report.
Wonderful Restaurant passed a reinspection and received a green placard on Friday, Jan. 10.
The restaurant declined to comment about the closure when contacted by a Sacramento Bee reporter Thursday.
Otoro Sushi and Shabu, 2131 J St. in Sacramento, received two violations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the sushi bar after finding approximately 120 rodent droppings across the restaurant.
Inspectors found droppings in six places, including 20 on top of a dishwasher, according to the report.
Around 70 droppings were inside and next to an air conditioning unit, and more fecal matter was on the floor of a sushi storage area, under a shelf in a dry food storage area and inside an unused ice machine.
According to the report, there were holes found in walls and ceilings in a dining area, above a drink station and around a dish station.
The restaurant was reinspected on Wednesday after it received a yellow placard during separate inspections on Friday, Jan. 10 and Monday, Jan. 13. Otoro Sushi and Shabu passed a reinspection on Thursday, Jan. 16.
The restaurant had previously received a yellow placard for rodent droppings found during a Saturday, Jan. 4 inspection, but passed a reinspection on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
The sushi restaurant had not returned a request for comment from The Sacramento Bee as of Friday morning.
Local restaurants, gas station cited for rodent droppings, mold
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Jan. 9 through Wednesday, Jan. 15, resulting in a conditional pass. Only the dates of violations are listed. Due to the conditional pass and receipt of yellow placard, a reinspection was or will be conducted within 24 to 72 hours of the inspection.
The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.
Subway, 7340 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, had 10 citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Sacramento County health inspectors issued the Subway location a yellow placard after finding food being held and reheated at improper temperatures.
Various meats and cheeses on a prep line and in a walk-in fridge were outside of safe temperatures.
In addition, meatballs were reheated to a potentially unsafe temperature, the report said.
The permit posted in the restaurant was expired. Other paperwork, including a previous inspection report, a food safety certificate and food handlers cards were not available.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10.
Divina Colombian Cafe, 6201 Franklin Blvd. in Sacramento, had 12 citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The cafe was issued a yellow placard after health inspectors found rodent droppings and spoiled produce in the restaurant.
Rodent droppings were on the floor of a dry food storage room, according to the report. There were also spoiled lemons in a walk-in fridge.
Chicken was stored improperly above fish in an upright freezer.
Various surfaces were not cleaned properly. A table-mounted can opener had “gunk,” dust had accumulated on shelves at a chef’s line, and wire racks inside an upright fridge were moldy, the report said.
Additionally, cooked meat, produce and prepared tamales were at unsafe temperatures.
Divina Colombian Cafe passed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10.
Country Waffles, 6986 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights, had seven citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The breakfast chain was cited for having several food items outside of proper holding temperatures.
Waffle batter, pancake batter, sausage, hash browns, tuna and other ingredients measured at hazardous temperatures, according to the report.
An employee was spotted placing plastic wrapped uncooked beef patties on a cutting board that was being used for “ready-to-eat food items,” the report said.
Inspectors also said floors throughout the kitchen were unclean.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10.
Baker’s Donuts, 5880 Florin Road in Sacramento, had 12 citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Sacramento County inspectors cited the doughnut shop for health code violations including food at unsafe temperatures.
Inspectors said cooked sausages and raw and cooked eggs measured outside of the acceptable temperature range.
Ham was also at an improper temperature.
According to the report, staff said they would be taking the ham home for “personal use.”
Prepared dough and other foods were stored in trash bags and other retail bags, and doughnuts were uncovered on wire racks in a prep area, the report said.
Additionally, inspectors found the shop had an expired health permit.
Baker’s Donuts failed a reinspection on Friday, Jan. 10, but received a green placard on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Arco Food Mart, 10670 Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova, had 10 citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Sacramento County inspectors cited the convenience store for having holes in the walls and an unclean ice machine.
Inspectors found several significant holes and gaps in the back storage room walls and ceiling
The store also had “slime-like residue” growing on the ice machine splashguard.
A new hot dog roller at the establishment had not been approved for use, according to the report.
Additionally, employees were not able to access the handwashing station because construction materials were blocking it.
Arco Food Mart had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
Rock Hard Burgers and Brew, 7032 Sylvan Road in Citrus Heights, had six citations on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The burger joint was issued a conditional pass after health inspectors discovered improperly stored food and cleaning supplies without sanitizer.
Inspectors found raw meat stored alongside ready-to-eat food in a refrigerator, as well as sliced tomatoes, ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing at unsafe temperatures. The report said these were repeat violations.
Various cleaning supplies, including dish towels on prep tables and dishwasher sanitizer, had no concentration of sanitizer, according to the report.
Additionally, inspectors found that the inside of an ice machine was unclean.
Rock Hard Burgers and Brew was reinspected and received a green placard on Friday, Jan. 10.
Pho ABC, 7811 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, had 11 citations on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Sacramento County health inspectors issued the Vietnamese restaurant a yellow placard after witnessing unclean surfaces and food at potentially dangerous temperatures.
Inspectors discovered cooked chicken that had been left out without using any time-tracking protocols and bean sprouts at an unsafe temperature.
Debris from unclean shelves had contaminated a blood cakes container in the walk-in refrigerator, according to the report.
Inspectors watched an employee wash tongs with only soap, skipping the sanitizer step.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
Urban Plates, 2080 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Sacramento, had 14 citations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Sacramento County health inspectors issued the restaurant a yellow placard after discovering improperly stored food and inaccessible hand-washing facilities.
Inspectors found various potentially hazardous foods, including blue cheese, Caesar dressing, fish, chicken and eggs, outside of safe temperatures.
Inspectors also discovered raw tuna in vacuum-sealed packaging sitting in a prep sink. Workers reportedly said the tuna was thawed under running water in the sealed packaging.
Food was stored in an improper manner, according to the report. Inspectors found containers of potatoes on the floor during preparation, as well as raw eggs and raw salmon stored over ready-to-eat food and raw beef stored over tofu.
Two separate hand-washing sinks in the kitchen were blocked by equipment and carts with food.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
Creole Soul Restaurant and Bar, 2026 Broadway in Sacramento, had 10 citations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The Creole restaurant was handed a yellow placard for several health code violations.
Raw gator, crawfish and beef in the prep sink all measured at potentially hazardous holding temperatures.
The restaurant had lukewarm rice that had to be discarded, the report said.
Inspectors found “mold-like growth” on a deteriorating wall by the kitchen sink, along with an accumulation of grease and dust underneath.
Dishes in the automatic dish machine were not being washed with any sanitizer.
In the restaurant’s cooler, raw pork was stored over raw fish, according to the report.
The eatery had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
19 Handles Pub and Grill, 4233 Arden Way in Sacramento, had seven citations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The pub was cited after inspectors discovered “thick slime and residue build up” in the floor sink, along with more residue near the soda station and the walk-in cooler.
Inspectors saw sunglasses and a cell phone stored on top of bagged tortillas on the cook line.
The restaurant was missing a consumer advisory on its menu for food items that are served raw or undercooked.
The establishment had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
Mi Rancho, 10669 Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova, had six citations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Sacramento County health inspectors cited the supermarket for multiple violations, including cooked food outside of safe temperatures and an inaccessible hand washing sink.
Inspectors said three large containers of cooked beans and a large container of cooked beef stew had not been cooled to safe temperatures.
Additionally, inspectors discovered, the main hand-washing sink was completely blocked by a large cart and pots.
Raw chicken was not properly submerged under water while thawing, according to the report.
Mi Rancho was reinspected and received a green placard on Thursday, Jan. 16.
California Burrito, 1300 Fulton Ave., Suite B, in Sacramento, had 13 citations on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The restaurant was cited by inspectors after discovering mold-like buildup and food at unsafe temperatures.
According to the report, inspectors found “black mold-like substances” inside of an ice machine.
Raw food was stored over prepared food in two refrigerators.
Inspectors also uncovered raw meat being thawed improperly in a prep sink basin.
According to the report, this was a second repeat violation.
Health inspectors discovered Mexican rice on a steam table and cooked pork and beef measured outside of safe temperatures.
Inspectors said the food safety manager’s certificate was expired. According to the report, this was a third repeat violation.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Friday, Jan. 17.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM.
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