Nearly 590 rat droppings, mold and more at Sacramento pizzeria. See details
Sacramento County heath inspectors closed a local pizzeria after discovering dust, debris, mold and hundreds of rat droppings.
Inspectors also shut down local Mexican and Thai restaurants for safety violations ranging from cockroaches to “pink slime” and improperly stored food.
Meanwhile, a total of 14 restaurants in the Sacramento area were cited for ants, moldy food and more — including Jack in the Box and Subway locations.
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, Aug. 21, through Wednesday, Aug. 27, 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 pizza restaurant closed for rat droppings, mold
Federalist Public House, 2009 Matsui Alley in Sacramento, had 11 major violations on Monday, Aug. 25.
Health inspectors closed the restaurant, known for its wood-fired pizza and craft beer, after discovering a 585 rat droppings in more than 10 locations including under the stand mixer, under the ice maker and under the reach-in coolers.
In the Aug. 25 report, inspectors recommended that the restaurant undergo “aggressive professional pest control” to eliminate the vermin infestation.
The restaurant’s bar sink lacked paper towels.
Health inspectors found personal food stored in the walk-in cooler above the food for the facility.
Inspectors observed grey spots on the walls of the ice maker.
A box of potatoes was stored directly on the floor of the walk-in cooler.
There was dust on the walk-in cooler, “black mold-like growth” on the ceiling in the kitchen and the three-compartment sink, as well as food debris under the lids of prep coolers, under reach-in coolers and on the floor of the walk-in cooler.
Federalist Public House was reinspected on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Federalist Public House on Thursday afternoon but was unable to reach a spokesperson for comment.
Cockroaches close local Mexican restaurant
Taqueria Tapaltos, 3435 El Camino Ave. in Sacramento, was shut down for 11 health food violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Inspectors shut down the Sacramento Mexican food restaurant after finding live adult and nymph German cockroaches at the rear of the facility, at the closed interior gate and under the three-door upright refrigerator.
Chicken, pork and beef in an ice bath at the cook’s line measured too warm to be considered safe, and cooked potatoes were too cold.
Beans were being improperly cooled in an ice bath in the walk-in cooler.
The shelf under the grill had “excessive oil, food debris and grease,” the report said, and the front self-service soda machine had unclean surfaces.
Onions were stored on the floor
A tabletop can opener had debris residue on the teeth and mechanical parts, and the meat slicer had meat residue on the handle and blade.
The kitchen handsink paper towel dispenser was empty at the time of inspection.
Taqueria Tapaltos had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
The Bee called Taqueria Tapaltos on Thursday afternoon but was unable to reach a spokesperson for comment.
Thai restaurant in Rancho Cordova had rat droppings, pink slime
Sala Thai, 3101 Zinfandel Drive, Suite 148, in Rancho Cordova, had 12 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Inspectors shut down the Thai restaurant in Rancho Cordova aftering finding approximately 50 rat droppings below the water heater in the back of the kitchen and about 15 to 25 droppings throughout the corners of the cook’s line, the front counter in the lobby and the back of dry storage area.
“Pink slime” was on the ice machine baffle, the report said.
Three 5-gallon containers of protein lacked covers and a mesh bag of onions was stored directly on the floor inside the walk-in refrigerator.
Multiple areas were in need of cleaning, including on and below the cooking equipment on the cook’s line and inside the true freezer by the walk-in refrigerator.
Pots of red and green curry on a metal shelf by the deep fryer measured outside of the temperature range considered safe.
Other “potentially hazardous food” items inside the walk-in refrigerator measured at unsafe temperatures, including brown rice, ground pork, bean sprouts and chicken satay.
Sala Thai Restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
The Bee called Sala Thai Restaurant on Thursday afternoon but was unable to reach a spokesperson for comment.
Jack in the Box, Subway cited for roaches, unsafe food
Jack in the Box, 5420 Stockton Blvd in Sacramento, had five violations on Monday, Aug. 25.
Sacramento County health inspectors gave the fast food restaurant a yellow placard after finding two live German cockroaches and one dead cockroach in the water heater closet.
The facility’s customer restroom lacked a method for hand drying.
Multiple foods in the walk-in cooler — including microwaved broccoli, cheese and cheese sauce — measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
The fryers and prep tables had noticeable grease accumulation and food debris.
A gasket in the walk-in freezer was patched with foil tape.
Jack in the Box had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Subway, 5031 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had two violations on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Inspectors cited the sandwich shop after veggie patties measured outside of the temperature range considered safe. This was a repeat violation by the restaurant.
Additionally, the floor sink was draining slowly.
Subway was reinspected on Friday, Aug. 22, and passed with a green placard.
Chevron gas station in Elk Grove cited
Chevron, 8296 Laguna Blvd in Elk Grove, had three violations on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Hot dogs and taquitos at Chevron measured outside of proper holding temperatures, earning the gas station a yellow placard.
Health inspectors said foods including cheeseburgers and chicken empanadas were being held past the time they should have been discarded.
The front double doors had a gap greater than a quarter of an inch, allowing an entry way for vermin.
Chevron Station passed reinspection on Friday, Aug. 22.
Elk Grove grocery store in need of cleaning
Nugget Market, 7101 Elk Grove Blvd in Elk Grove, had six violations on Friday, Aug. 22.
The Elk Grove grocery store received a yellow placard for health code violations including a lack of paper towels in one of the employee restrooms.
Cooked chicken and cooked broccoli at the hot food bar were outside of proper holding temperatures.
The high temperature dish machine registered a maximum temperature below proper warewashing temperature.
Several areas were in need of cleaning and regular maintenance, including the fan guards inside the bakery walk-in cooler, metal racks inside the main kitchen walk-in cooler and the sliding tracks of the cake display refrigerator.
At the bottom of the folding doors, health inspectors observed gaps greater than a quarter of an inch.
Nugget Market was reinspected on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and passed with a green placard.
Korean barbecue, Mexican food restaurants get yellow placards
Gen Korean BBQ, 1689 Arden Way in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Monday, Aug. 25.
Inspectors gave the Korean barbecue restaurant a yellow placard due to issues including a non-functioning hand-washing station in the front kitchen and a lack of paper towels at the handwashing station at the cook’s line.
Potato salad on racks at the prep station didn’t have temperature controls.
The restaurant’s meat slicer was unclean with meat residue on the blade and blade housing. The shift lead told inspectors that they did not know when it was washed or last used.
The restaurant did not have a valid food safety certificate at the time of the inspection.
Health inspectors found uncovered food containers in the chest freezer and reach-in coolers.
There was a dirty fan guard on the cook’s line, and the walk-in cooler for meat was at an ambient temperature of 45 degrees.
Gen Korean BBQ passed reinspection on Wednesday, Aug. 27, and received a yellow placard.
Betos Mexican Food, 2234 El Camino Ave. in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Monday, Aug. 25.
The Mexican restaurant was cited for food safety violations including eggs and beans outside of proper holding temperatures.
Health inspectors observed employees skipping the sanitation step during warewashing.
An employee drink was in ice at the ice machine, posing a contamination risk.
Inspectors found a dented can of enchilada sauce and an unclean can opener.
There was a dead American cockroach on the floor under the back storage racks.
Bulk food containers were uncovered, increasing the risk of contamination.
Betos Mexican Food was reinspected on Wednesday, Aug. 27, and passed with a green placard.
Little Cafe, 7485 Rush River Drive, Suite 700, in Sacramento, had six violations on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
The cafe was cited after inspectors found several foods outside of the temperature range considered safe, including eggs, cooked chicken, raw shrimp and raw beef.
During inspection, an employee was observed washing a knife with just soap and water.
An employee’s beverage was stored above the prep area on the shelf across from the cook’s line without a lid or straw.
The cafe was missing chlorine sanitizer test strips.
A piece of cardboard was being reused as a liner in the facility.
The facility was missing a probe thermometer.
Little Cafe had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Rodent droppings, maggots at Sacramento fried chicken restaurant
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, 3038 Auburn Blvd in Sacramento, was cited for 18 health food violations on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Health inspectors gave the chicken restaurant a yellow placard after spotting five old rodent droppings on the unused bus tubs, and gnaw marks on food trays that were holding bait blocks in the side of the dry storage room by the kitchen’s restroom.
Inspectors said there were no signs of an active infestation.
There were 16 live maggots on the floor of the kitchen. Employees immediately cleaned the area.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s paper towel dispenser at the kitchen handwashing sinks and employee restroom were empty. This is a second repeat violation by the restaurant.
Fried hot chicken strips were outside of proper holding temperatures, another repeat violation.
The facility was missing a food safety-certified employee. This was a repeat violation.
Restaurant operators were not able to provide California food handler cards at time of the inspection.
Health inspectors found unapproved rodent bait blocks and household spray available for use throughout the kitchen and near the mop sink.
The facility did not have a copy of its last health inspection report.
An ice machine in the middle of the room had a drain line dripping into a 5-gallon bucket.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken was reinspected on Wednesday, Aug. 27, and received another yellow placard for repeat violations including unsafe food and rodent droppings.
As of Thursday, Aug. 28, it had yet to be inspected another time.
Flies spotted at Vietnamese restaurant
Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery, 8403 Elk Grove Blvd. in Elk Grove, had 17 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27
Health inspectors gave the Vietnamese restaurant a yellow placard after spotting approximately 10 flies flying in the back ktichen and near the food prep area. They did not observe any active contamination of food.
Cooked noodles and sliced barbecue pork were outside of proper holding temperatures.
A cream cheese croissant at the retail self-servicing station lacked a label indicating when it should be discarded, and was thrown away.
Inspectors saw an employee inadequately reheating veggie meat.
An employee at the cafe had an expired food handler card.
There was food containers with old food debris inside the sanitizing compartment sink. Boxes of food containers were stored directly on the floor inside the walk-in freezer.
Several kitchen areas were in need of deep cleaning and regular maintenance, incluidng the floor below the cabinets, storage racks, the hood filter and a white fan below the hand sink.
Brown residue had accumulated underneath the toilet seat covers.
Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Cockroaches, black slime and more at local restaurants
Palace Food Service, 2645 El Camino Ave, Suite A, in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
The African restaurant was cited for not having paper towels or hand soap in the kitchen hand washing sink.
Several foods in the walk-in cooler — including okra, peanut butter stew and jollof rice — measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
Several dead cockroaches were on the floor under the prep sink and near the three-compartment sink.
There were no lids for ingredient containers, potentially exposing food to contamination. Additionally, raw chicken was stored above beef, risking the potential for cross-contamination.
Different areas of the facility were in need of proper cleaning, including the interior of the two-door refrigerator.
Health inspectors found oily filters in the ventilation system, reducing airflow and increasing a risk of a fire.
Palace Food Service had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Bad Bakers, 8403 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 100, in Elk Grove, had 15 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Bad Bakers received a yellow placard for various food safety violations, including coconut milk and ube cream that measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
The Elk Grove bakery had three hand-washing stations without paper towels at time of the inspection.
Lumpias, empanadas, hotdog buns and ham and cheese dog buns lacked labels indicating when they should be discarded.
One of the two shift leaders lacked knowledge on the proper concentration of sanitizer at the three-compartment sink for warewashing.
A food manager certificate and California food handler cards were not available for review. These were repeat violations by the bakery.
The ice machine’s inside panel had a “slime-like, black residue accumulation,” according to the report.
Buckets of food were stored directly on the floor inside the walk-in cooler.
Bad Bakers had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Pearl House Restaurant, 6053 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, had 17 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Inspectors gave the Chinese restaurant a yellow placard after marinated chicken, barbecue pork, water chestnuts and baby corn were held at improper temperatures.
Rice and noodles in the prep area were not properly tracked using Time as a Public Health Control.
Additionally, chicken, mixed vegetables and baby corn in the reach-in refrigerator were not at proper holding temperatures.
A bowl on the prep table had old food debris build-up.
The reach-in refrigerator was not clean on the inside.
Containers of chicken were stacked over one another with the bottom of one container touching meat in another container.
Different kinds of raw meats including shrimp, beef and pork were stored together in the chest freezer in the kitchen.
The restaurant used old cardboard boxes as liners on shelves.
Pearl House Restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Tacoa Tacos Y Tequila, 6350 Folsom Blvd., Suite 300, in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
The Mexican restaurant was cited for food safety violations ranging from fruit flies to a lack of paper towels at the hand-washing station in the back prep unit.
There were four covered portions of cooked chicken, cooked beef and pork stored in metal pans using improper cooling methods.
Cooked pork was outside of proper holding temperatures.
Health inspectors observed black slime inside the soda beverage nozzle at the bar.
Water at the three-compartment sink, prep sink and hand sink in the prep area measured below the required hot water temperature. This was a repeat violation by the restaurant.
Two large pans of cooked chicken and beef were stored with raw eggs in the three-door refrigerator.
More than 20 areas in the restaurant had debris, greasem dust or otherwise unsanitary conditions. These areas included behind the cookline, inside the two-door cooler and in the drain sink near the prep sink.
Tacoa Tacos Y Tequila had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
Superb Burger Fish and Chips, 8399 Folsom Blvd., Suite 4, in Sacramento, had 18 health food violations on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Health inspectors cited the restaurant after observing the operator grab a raw beef patty from a cooler with a gloved hand, then close the refrigerator door and use a spatula at the main cook with that hand.
The operator rinsed the gloved hand in the sink and came back to the main cook line to prep food. The inspector stopped the operator and asked an employee to sanitize all the contaminated equipment surface.
The paper towel dispenser was empty inside the men’s restroom.
Sliced tomato and raw beef patties measured outside of proper holding temperatures, and there were moldy tomatoes inside the refrigerator.
Raw bacon and raw shell eggs measured outside of proper holding temperatures. This was a repeat violation.
The restaurant lacked sanitizer.
Black slime had accumulated on the ice rack inside the ice machine.
Bulk bags of sugar and salt were at the back of the storage racks.
Superb Burger Fish and Chips had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Aug. 28.
