Cockroaches close KFC, pho restaurant in Sacramento. What else did inspectors find?
Sacramento County heath inspectors shut down a local fast food restaurant, a doughnut shop and other eateries due to cockroaches, rodents and sewer issues.
Another nine restaurants were cited after inspectors discovered a multitude of food safety violations, including moldy food, an ant infestation and more.
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, March 27, through Wednesday, April 2, 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.
KFC, pho restaurant closed due to cockroaches, rodents and more
Fulton Pho, 3100 Fulton Ave., Suite 103, in Sacramento, had 17 violations on Thursday, March 27.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the pho restaurant for cockroach activity and storing food at unsafe temperatures.
Inspectors found four live German cockroaches in the restaurant, including on a dining room table, according to the March 27 report. About 35 dead and dying cockroaches were on glue traps in the kitchen and in storage spaces.
A total of 30 to 50 dead bees were seen in the restaurant’s light panels.
Raw meat was being kept in “ink-printed T-shirt bags,” the report said, and meat was stored alongside ready-to-eat food in a freezer.
Pho broth stored on a preparation countertop measured 35 degrees colder than what is considered safe.
Restaurant employees were seen washing a pot in a sink meant for mops.
The restaurant had been using a household air fryer not approved for commercial use.
Fulton Pho passed a reinspection and was allowed to reopen Friday, March 28.
A restaurant representative was unable to provide a comment to The Sacramento Bee on Thursday afternoon.
Los Nopales Carniceria, 3106 Fulton Ave. in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Thursday, March 27.
The Mexican restaurant was closed due to cockroaches and a broken cooler.
About 10 live German cockroaches were discovered around the facility, including in the kitchen, storage rooms and a shared hallway.
Staff told health inspectors that a cooler in use had broken, which left its ambient temperature too warm for safely storing foods.
Shredded cheese, refried beans, cooked meat and salsa in the cooler measured outside of safe holding temperatures and were relocated to a different cooler.
Some food items in a freezer and coolers were uncovered. This was a second repeat violation.
A hand washing sink near the cook’s line could not be accessed due to a “large container” in the way, the March 27 report said.
The restaurant’s health permit was expired at the time of the inspection, according to the report.
Los Nopales Carniceria was reinspected on Friday, March 28 and passed.
The Bee was unable to reach a representative from the restaurant for comment Thursday afternoon.
Don Jose’s Donuts, 2394 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had 13 violations on Friday, March 28.
The Sacramento doughnut shop received a red placard and temporarily closed its doors after inspectors discovered that a toilet was inoperable.
Inspectors unsuccessfully tried to flush an employee restroom toilet four times, which led to a suspension of the shop’s permit.
The hand-washing sink in the employee restroom was draining slowly during the inspection, the report said.
Various dairy and meat items were not at proper temperatures in a refrigerator.
Bulk bags of sugar and cake mix were left open inside storage areas, as well as containers of toppings.
An employee’s jacket was stored on top of bags of doughnut glaze.
The restaurant had been using a household microwave that was not cleared for use in a commercial setting.
Don Jose’s Donuts passed a reinspection on Friday, March 28, and was permitted to reopen.
The Bee could not reach a restaurant representative for comment on Thursday afternoon.
Bella’s Boba Shop, 563 Eleanor Ave. in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The bubble tea shop had its operating permit temporarily revoked due to a rodent infestation.
Inspectors saw a live mouse under a dish washing sink “run into a gap underneath the kitchen’s hand washing sink,” the April 1 report said.
They also observed nearly 50 rat droppings around the facility, including on a clean dish, behind a rice cooker in the kitchen and on the floor of the water heater room.
Raw beef was stored above raw sushi fish in a freezer, and a bag of sugar was being kept on the kitchen floor.
Employees told inspectors that the boba shop was making beef jerky without a proper safety plan approved by the health department.
Bags of jerky for sale in the retail area did not have labels.
Bella’s Boba Shop was reinspected and issued a green placard on Wednesday, April 2.
A tea shop representative had not responded to The Bee’s request for comment Thursday afternoon.
Natomas Donuts, 2711 Del Paso Road, Suite 130, in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The doughnut shop was closed after inspectors found more than 200 rodent droppings, with some potentially contaminating food.
Inspectors found fecal matter inside a bucket of cream cheese filling and a box of food equipment, as well as on top of a box of cookie bags and a bag of flour.
Inspectors reportedly observed open containers of flour in a prep room.
There were also droppings on top of sealed boxes and inside a pallet below a bag of flour, a box of sealed coffee packets and a cabinet below unused equipment.
Cracked or broken raw eggs were stored in a refrigerator.
Employee’s food handler cards were not available for inspector review at the time of the inspection.
Inspectors found slime and residue accumulation inside the top panel ice machine.
The facility’s posted health permit was expired at the time of the inspection.
Natomas Donuts was reinspected on Wednesday, April 2, and received another red placard due to vermin activity including droppings under a flour bag and adjacent storage rack.
The doughnut shop had not been reinspected again as of Thursday afternoon.
Natomas Donuts owner Thanarong Rath told The Bee on Friday, April 4, that the rodent droppings found by health inspectors were located on unused equipment outside the building.
KFC/A&W, 3820 Florin Road in Sacramento, was shut down on Wednesday, April 2, for 10 major violations.
The facility, which combines two fast food franchises, was cited for health violations, including a cockroach infestation.
Two cockroaches were crawling on the floor beneath the main prep line, the April 2 report said.
Inspectors found 17 dead cockroaches on a pipe and behind a bowl storage shelf, both near the prep line.
A cooler door gasket was broken, leaving it unable to close properly.
The cooler’s ambient temperature measured 25 degrees higher than is allowed, and a bag of milk in the cooler had to be discarded.
Inspectors observed yellow slime accumulation inside the soda nozzle.
Old food and grease had accumulated in many locations around the facility, including inside microwaves, kitchen grout lines and a storage cabinet.
KFC/A&W passed reinspection on Thursday, April 3.
A restaurant representative did not reply to The Bee’s request for comment Thursday afternoon.
Food safety issues at local eateries: Mold, ant infestation and more
Hampton Inn and Suites, 2305 Longport Court in Elk Grove, had two violations on Thursday, March 27.
The hotel food facility was cited by county inspectors for unsafe food and another major violation.
A carafe of milk kept at a self-serve station was discarded after inspectors discovered it was warmer than is considered safe.
There were no paper towels inside the facility’s men’s restroom.
Hampton Inn and Suites was reinspected and issued a green placard on Friday, March 28.
Taj Supermarket, 7933 East Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento, had 15 violations on Thursday, March 27.
The South Asian and Pacific Islander grocery store was issued a yellow placard after inspectors found evidence of rodent activity.
There were rodent droppings found on the floor behind shelves storing flour. There were gnaw marks, urine stains and droppings on the exterior of a flour bag.
Roughly 200 pounds of flour had to be discarded.
Boxes of food and other food products were stored on the floor in a cooler, a freezer and the retail area.
Gourd, jackfruit and pumpkin in a display cooler measured outside of the correct holding temperature.
Cans of pickles and mango pulp were found dented.
Taj Supermarket was reinspected and passed on Friday, March 28.
That’s Cheap, 2416 Watt Ave. in Sacramento, had four violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The discount market was given a yellow placard for various restroom-related violations.
There were no paper towels or toilet paper in the men’s or women’s restrooms when inspectors checked.
Staff stocked the paper towels and toilet paper during the inspection, but left them out of the dispensers. The staff could not find the key to either of the dispensers, the April 1 report said.
The employee restrooms did not have proper handwashing signs posted.
The facility’s health permit was expired at the time of the inspection.
That’s Cheap was reinspected and issued a green placard on Wednesday, April 2.
Double Tree Post Acute Care Center, 7400 24th St. in Sacramento, had nine violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The short-term rehabilitation center was cited after inspectors found ants in the facility.
Roughly 20 to 30 ants were seen in bulk storage containers of flour and cornmeal.
Inspectors observed a gloved employee handle raw beef, then touch an oven handle with the same gloves still on.
The kitchen hand sink didn’t have any hot water even after the water ran for 25 minutes. This was a repeat violation.
An employee’s glasses were placed on a tray with items used to assemble meals at a prep station.
Double Tree Post Acute Care was reinspected on Wednesday, April 3, and passed with a green placard.
Sammy’s Restaurant, 2021 Del Paso Blvd. in Sacramento, had 19 violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The American restaurant was cited for several health violations, including a lack of toilet paper in the restaurant and food gone bad.
A red onion in a dry storage room was moldy.
Inspectors found an employee’s can of Red Bull stored over eggs in a refrigerator.
Raw sausage was stored over fruits in a freezer, and raw eggs were stored above butter in a refrigerator.
There was excess debris inside the outdoor dumpster enclosure.
Additionally, inspectors said, grout had deteriorated between floor tiles at the cook’s line.
The restaurant had been using a household KitchenAid blender that was not approved for commercial use.
Sammy’s Restaurant was reinspected on Wednesday, April 3, and passed with a green placard.
Sourdough & Co., 390 Bicentennial Circle, Suite 120, in Sacramento, had five violations on Tuesday, April 1.
The sandwich restaurant received a yellow placard for having “potentially hazardous foods” out of proper holding temperatures, according to the April 1 report.
Clam chowder soup, tomato soup, au jus and mac and cheese measured outside of proper temperature ranges for hot foods.
A waiter reheated the clam chowder in the microwave, but it was still too cold.
Inspectors found meat and food residue around the blade and other food contact surfaces on a meat slicer.
There was slime-like residue on parts of a soda dispenser.
Sourdough & Co. had not been reinspected as of Thursday, April 3.
Crawdads on the Lake, 9900 Greenback Lane in Folsom, had 13 violations on Wednesday, April 2.
The lakeside restaurant was cited by inspectors for keeping food at unsafe temperatures and improperly sanitizing dishes.
Multiple pounds of chicken, catfish, calamari and tuna were thrown away because they were being held in a cold holding unit that was out of order.
The facility’s dishwasher machine was not dispensing sanitizer despite the chemical containers having sufficient sanitizer.
An employee reportedly did not know how to properly wash or sanitize wares.
Ice had accumulated on boxes in a walk-in freezer. The freezer’s ceiling, floor and door entrance also had ice build-up.
None of the employees had food safety certificates at the time of the inspection, according to the report. This was a repeat violation.
Crawdads on the Lake had not been reinspected as of Thursday afternoon.
Shenanigan’s Bar and Grill, 7431 Madison Ave. in Citrus Heights, had 13 health violations on Tuesday, April 2.
The restaurant received a yellow placard after county inspectors discovered that a kitchen sink hand-washing station was blocked by a garbage can.
Inspectors observed improper heating violations, with taco cheese and chili below safe temperatures.
Meanwhile, all food items in the walk-in refrigerator were too warm.
When asked by the inspector, an employee did not know the correct holding temperatures or reheating temperature for food.
A jacket and other personal employee items were stored on a prep table that had a meat slicer.
The facility’s food safety certificate was not available at the time of the inspection.
Shenanigan’s Bar and Grill has not been reinspected as of Thursday, April 3.
Kabul Bazaar, 1433 Fulton Ave. in Sacramento, had 26 violations on Wednesday, April 2.
The Middle Eastern market was cited after having no paper towels in dispensers at the meat department’s hand washing sink.
There were five flies in the meat department, which was a repeat violation.
Ink-printed grocery bags were used to wrap protein items in a freezer.
Employees lacked proper food safety knowledge in areas including holding temperatures, proper sanitizing of food contact surfaces and cleaning frequency.
Inspectors found old food debris accumulated on the back of the meat slicer. This is a repeat violation.
Raw beef was being stored directly on freezer racks without a cover. Beef was also stored over dried fruit and candy in a cooler.
There were no sanitizer buckets prepared during operating hours at both the meat department and bakery.
Kabulbazaar had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, April 3.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
.jpg)