Roaches, rat droppings at Sacramento restaurants. What else did inspectors find?
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local gas station, a sandwich shop and a Mexican restaurant due to cockroaches, mold and hundreds of rat droppings.
In addition to closing a total of four eateries in the Sacramento area, inspectors cited 10 restaurants for safety violations ranging from a fully blocked sink and “black debris” to flies and dried mouse droppings.
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. There were the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, Sept. 11, through Wednesday, Sept. 17, 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.
Dozens of rat droppings at Elk Grove gas station
Elk Grove Chevron, 9146 Harbour Point Drive in Elk Grove, had five violations on Friday, Sept. 12.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove gas station after discovering 160 rodent droppings at spots including on the countertop beverage station, inside the cabinets with lids and cups and behind the counter at the beverage station.
Health inspectors also found “gnaw marks” on a bag of hot cocoa inside a box under the storage cabinet, the Sept. 12 report said.
The gas station’s hand sink was blocked with a table and paper towels. This was a repeat violation.
Tornados, corn dogs and pizza measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
There were holes on the ceiling panel above the cashier section, in the back area near the electrical panel and inside the office.
The facility’s health permit had expired.
Elk Grove Chevron was reinspected on Saturday, Sept. 13, and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to the gas station for comment Thursday afternoon, but was unable to speak to management.
Cockroaches close Rancho Cordova restaurant
Gyro and Shawarma Grill, 2931 Sunrise Blvd. Suite 100 in Rancho Cordova, had nine violations on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Health inspectors closed the Middle Eastern restaurant in Rancho Cordova due to cockroach activity.
Inspectors spotted a live adult German cockroach below the front cold-top refrigerator and six live nymph cockroaches on the floor on the opposite side of that refrigerator.
In addition, there were six dead German cockroaches and two hatched egg casings between the broken tiles at the water heater.
Inspectors saw evidence of improper dumping of wastewater and grease in the stormwater drain near the Dumpster area.
Paper towels were improperly stored outside the dispensers at handwashing stations in the kitchen and restroom.
Cooked chicken was cooling inside a metal insert container covered by a lid in the kitchen’s upright refrigerator.
There were two pressure sprayers and one bottle of Atticus pesticide in the dry storage room.
The Dumpster lid and tallow bin were open at the time of the inspection.
An oven in the kitchen by the three-compartment sink and a fryer in the dry storage room were inoperable.
The wall behind the front cold-top unit was not fully sealed, the report said, “leaving a gap that runs along the back of the cold-top unit.”
Gyro and Shawarma Grill was reinspected on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee was unable to reach restaurant management for comment on Thursday afternoon.
Sandwich shop shut down for roaches
West Coast Sourdough, 2820 Marconi Ave., Suite 1B, in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Friday, Sept. 12.
Inspectors found 14 cockroaches at the Sacramento sandwich shop, resulting in its closure.
Roaches were found throughout the facility, including under refrigerator units, around the casters at the front soda display cooler and behind the rear preparation sink.
A food manager certification was not available during the inspection.
The meat slicer had “old residue,” the Sept. 12 report said, and there was a plastic spoon in a blue cheese container at the cold-top refrigerator.
The hot water at the three-compartment sink was turned off due to a leak from the detergent dispenser.
West Coast Sourdough was reinspected on Saturday, Sept. 13, and received a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to West Coast Sourdough for comment on Thursday afternoon, but was unable to speak to the restaurant’s management.
Taco restaurant closed due to ‘potentially hazaardous foods’
Tacos Y Birrieria Reyes, 8531 Thys Court in Sacramento, was closed on Friday, Sept. 12.
Health inspectors shut down the business due to its inability to “maintain proper holding temperatures of potentially hazardous foods,” the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department said on its website.
Tacos & Birrieria Reyes was reopened on Monday, Sept. 15.
Elk Grove Chinese restaurant had fully blocked sink
Joy City Chinese Cuisine, 2745 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 260, in Elk Grove, had 10 violations on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Health inspectors gave the Elk Grove Chinese restaurant a yellow placard after discovering that the back hand sink was “fully blocked” by containers and covered with a flat object. There were no paper towels.
Breaded fried chicken, pork, marinated chicken, noodles and dumplings measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
Dishes and equipment were washed in an automatic dish machine without any sanitizer during the inspection.
Health inspectors found approximately 20 old or dried mouse droppings behind the freezer in the dry storage room.
The restaurant had a spray bottle without a label stored on the prep table.
Several areas were in “need of cleaning and regular maintenance,” inspectors said in the report, noting that the floor below the refrigeration units, prep tables and kitchen had “old food debris” and residue.
Additionally, there was heavy oil and grease accumulation on the hood filters and side panels under the hood.
The floor, fan guards and metal racks inside the walk-in cooler had “mold, old food debris, dust and residue accumulation,” the report said.
Joy City Chinese Cuisine was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 12, and passed with a green placard.
Sacramento pizza restaurants cited for health code violations
Zelda’s Gourmet Pizza, 1415 21st St. in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The famed Sacramento pizzeria received a yellow placard after “potentially hazardous foods” including raw sausage and jack cheese measured at unsafe temperatures, the Sept. 11 report said.
Dishes, equipment and food contact surfaces were washed in an automatic dish machine without any sanitizer.
he hand sink was partially blocked by dishes and equipment.
The restaurant was serving undercooked items, specifically Caesar dressing, without a consumer advisory disclosure and reminder on the menu.
Frozen raw meat was thawing on the counter.
Health inspectors observed standing water inside the reach-in cooler.
Pizza boxes were stored directly on the floor in the kitchen.
The pizza restaurant lacked an employee with a food safety manager certification.
Zelda’s Pizza was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 12 and passed with a green placard.
New York Pizza, 1046 Florin Road in Sacramento, had nine violations on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Health inspectors gave the Sacramento pizzeria a yellow placard after observing “potentially hazardous foods” including cheddar cheese and pork sausage, outside of the temperature range considered safe
Two pizzas stored at room temperature were missing time stamps.
An employee told inspectors that she washes dishes with just soap and water, leaving out santizing bleach.
There were four “loose medicine pills” on the food prep table, the Sept. 11 report said.
The facility was reusing cardboard as containers.
A sanitizer wiping towel was stored on the counter with zero sanitizer.
Health inspectors found an employee’s beverage without a straw and an employee’s personal cell phone stored on the food prep table. The restaurant was missing a food handler card.
New York Pizza was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 12, and passed with a green placard.
Mold and more at Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop
Pinkberry, 2100 Arden Way, Suite 195, in Sacramento, had seven violations on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The frozen yogurt shop received a yellow placard after health inspectors discovered there were no paper towels in the dispenser at the handwash sink at the back food prep area and restroom.
Cheesecake bits were outside of proper holding temperatures.
Health inspectors found “heavy organic mold-like buildup” in the ice machine, according to the Sept. 11 report.
Additionally, a “mold-like substance” was found on the shelves and racks inside the walk-in cooler, the report said. This is a repeat violation.
The facility was missing a probe thermometer.
A valid health permit was not posted in a “conspicuous area” available to the public, marking the fourth time Pinkberry had violated this rule.
Pinkberry was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 12, and passed with a green placard.
Taqueria, coffee shop cited for food safety issues
Los Immortals Taqueria, 3131 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had seven violations on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Inspectors gave the Mexican restaurant a yellow placard due to various food safety violations, including a kitchen hand sink blocked by boxes of drinks.
“Potentially hazardous foods” including raw shrimp, cooked fish, shredded cheese, sliced tomatoes and pico de gallo were outside of proper holding temperatures.
Water and ice from evaporator fans had sprayed into open food containers in the walk-in freezer.
In total, employees threw away 10 pounds of tripe, 75 pounds of stock, 30 pounds of salsa, three pounds of raw shrimp and 10 pounds of tomatoes due to “condensate contamination,” the Sept. 11 report said.
Beans werencooling with any intervention in a large plastic container.
Several food containers throughout the restaurant lacked covers.
The three-door prep cooler measured outside of the temperature range considered safe for storing food, and inspectors recommended replacing or repairing the cooler.
The restaurant’s reach-in prep cooler lacked a thermometer.
Los Immortals Taqueria was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 12, and passed with a green placard.
Cafe La Vies, 8775 Center Parkway, Suite E300, in Sacramento, had 15 violations on Monday, Sept. 15.
The coffee shop received a yellow placard after health inspectors found sliced Spam in a turned-off oven outside of proper holding temperatures.
Cafe La Vies had not documented when Spam musubis stored at the front service counter should be discarded.
Inspectors observed an employee eating in the food preparation area.
A roll of paper towel was stored on top of an empty dispenser in the restroom.
The hot water supply at the three-compartment warewash sink measured outside of proper temperatures.
A bucket of coffee grounds and a box of dehydrated boba were stored on the kitchen floor, and there was a bottle of hand soap on top of the fryer.
At the time of the inspection, there was no person in charge available.
Cafe la Vies was reinspected on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and passed with a green placard.
Sacramento dim sum restaurant had flies, unsafe food
Taipan Bakery & Food, 4400 Freeport Blvd., Suite 160, in Sacramento, had nine violations on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Health inspectors gave the Sacramento dim sum restaurant a yellow placard after finding three flies in the food preparation areas.
Eggplant, egg rolls, pork dumplings and other foods measured outside of the temperature range considered safe.
Three trays of hot dog buns were missing time stamps.
Raw fish and meat were stored over produce in a walk-in cooler.
The restaurant was missing sanitizer test strips, and a wiping towel stored on the counter had zero sanitizer.
A handwashing sink was blocked by a mop bucket, boom, mop and ladder. Various personal drinks with twist-off caps and open containers were found throughout the facility and stored over the food-related items and equipment.
Taipan Bakery & Food had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 18.
Vinhouse Tea & Coffee,7928 Gerber Road in Sacramento, had five violations on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The tea shop received a yellow placard after inspectors found a household Black+Decker toaster oven stored on a card behind the pastry display case.
sink by the warewash sink had no soap, and the facility lacked sanitizer.
Inspectors said Vinhouse Tea & Coffee needed to clean the two-door upright cooler due to “debris accumulation,” the walls of a freezer chest due to “ice accumulation” and a box under the leaking cooler and the floor sink under the prep sink due to “grime accumulation.”
The Regency metal cooler also had a leak.
Vinhouse Tea & Coffee had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 18.
Local Mexican restaurants get yellow placards
Culichi Town, 2243 Arden Way in Sacramento, had 12 violations on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Inspectors gave the modern Mexican restaurant a yellow placard after tempura batter and crab measured outside the temperature range considered safe.
The rear handwashing sink had no paper towels available.
A tabletop can opener was unclean with “residue build-up” on the mechanical teeth, the Sept. 17 report said.
Health inspectors saw a scoop and handle inside the food containers at the back of the dry storage.
There was “excessive residue” within the interior of the kitchen’s automatic dishwashing machine, according to the report.
Culichi Town had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 18.
Casa Flores Mexican Restaurant, 8304 Delta Shores Circle South, Suite 130, in Sacramento, had 15 violations on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The Mexican restaurant received a yellow placard after chicken broth and cooked beef measured outside of proper holding temperatures, inspectors said.
The restaurant’s cook did not have proper knowledge of food reheating temperatures.
Several large containers of chicken gravy were improperly cooling in the prep sink on the top of three inches of ice.
Raw chicken was stored above cheese and raw beef inside the walk-in refrigerator.
The facility’s food safety certification was expired at the time of inspection.
The men’s restroom hand sink was out of hand soap and the battery-operated dispenser was inoperable.
A can of tomato puree on the dry food storage rack had a dented seam.
The plastic deflector plate inside the ice machine had “black debris,” the Sept. 17 report said.
Casa Flores Mexican Restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 18.
