Rats, roaches & flies. Worst Sacramento County restaurant inspections in September
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a sandwich shop, two pizzerias and other local eateries in September after discovering cockroaches, fruit flies and hundreds of rodent droppings.
Health inspectors shut down a total of 20 restaurants, stores and other food-serving facilities for food safety violations ranging from improperly stored meat to a lack of hot water.
In addition, dozens of local eateries received yellow placards in September for a variety of health code violations.
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail 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.
The following restaurants received red placards in September, resulting in their temporary closures, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Rodent infestation closes Sacramento chicken restaurant
Tony’s Fried Chicken, 4147 23rd Ave. in Sacramento, was closed by on Tuesday, Sep. 2.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Sacramento fried chicken restaurant due to a “rodent infestation,” the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department said on its website.
However, an inspection report was not available online.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Tony’s Fried Chicken for comment on Sept. 4, but was unable to speak to the restaurant’s management.
Elk Grove doughnut shop shut due to rodent droppings
Kacie’s Donut Lounge, 2745 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 200, in Elk Grove, had four violations on Friday, Sept. 5.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove doughnut shop after discovering 142 rodent droppings in locations including on top of a sugar bucket, in a storage area and inside the bottom case of the front doughnut case.
“No active contamination of food” was observed, inspectors said in the Sept. 5 report, noting that there were several glue boards on the floor in different sections of the kitchen.
Milk and half-and-half measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
According to the report, the following areas were “in need of cleaning” and more frequent maintenance: the floor before the storage rack, on the bottom shelf of the preparation tables and on the corner floors near the baseboards throughout the kitchen.
The doughnut shop did not have a current health permit posted.
Kacie’s Donut was reinspected on Saturday, Sept. 6, and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Kacie’s Donut for comment on Sept. 11, but was unable to reach the restaurant’s management.
Folsom brewery had clogged drain, rodent droppings
Frends Brewhouse, 6608 Folsom Auburn Road, Suite 9, in Folsom, had 16 violations on Monday, Sept. 8.
Health inspectors shut down the Folsom brewery after finding a clogged floor drain underneath the hand sink that was “backing up at the food prep area.”
Inspectors found a total of 161 rodent droppings in several areas, including under the storage rack in the dry storage room, on top of catering to-go boxes and under the soda syrup rack.
Noodles, sliced tomatoes and house ranch measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
“Residue” had accumulated inside the restaurant’s ice machine, the Sept. 8 report said. Buckets of ranch were stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler, with several to-go food containers were stored on the floor nearby.
There was grease accumulation on the ventilation hood filters, and slime on the floor under the ice machine.
There were unlabeled food containers on the shelf around the food prep area. This was a repeat violation.
Tongs were improperly stored over the oven handle.
Frends Brewhouse was reinspected on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and passed with a green placard.
The brewery’s management wasn’t available for comment Sept. 11.
Jamaican restaurant didn’t have hot water at sinks
Dubplate Kitchen & Jamaican Cuisine, 3419 El Camino Ave. in Sacramento, had 15 violations on Monday, Sept. 8.
The Jamaican restaurant in Sacramento was closed by health inspectors due to a lack of hot water at the hand sinks and three-compartment sink.
Chopped chicken in the steam table measured outside of proper holding temperatures, and macaroni and cheese on a prep counter was being improperly cooled.
The restaurant was missing a copy of the food manager’s certificate and food handler cards for all employees, both repeat violations.
Several nonfood contact surface areas were in need of cleaning, including a dusty fan guard, floors under the racks at the cook’s line and the fans in the kitchen.
The restroom door was unable to self-close fully. This was a fifth repeat violation by the restaurant.
A mop was stored directly in the mop sink.
Dubplate Kitchen and Jamaican Cuisine was reinspected on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant for comment on Sept. 11 but was unable to speak to management.
Sacramento pizza restaurant closed for lack of hot water
Jojo’s Pizza, 2440 Fulton Ave., Suite 2, in Sacramento, was closed on Monday, Sept. 8.
Health inspectors closed the Sacramento pizzeria due to “insufficient hot water,” the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department said on its website.
The restaurant reopened the same day.
The Bee reached out to Jojo’s Pizza for comment on Sept. 11 but couldn’t speak to managers.
Cockroaches, flies close Sacramento sushi restaurant
Bento Box, 1600 K St. in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Inspectors shut down the Sacramento sushi restaurant after discovering “cockroach activity” — including a total of seven German cockroaches under the three-compartment sink and at the electrical outlet for the prep cooler and microwave.
There were also “fecal focal points” at two electrical outlets and in a corner area, the report said.
There were five fruit flies in the mop sink area.
Multiple packages of ramen noodles measured outside of the temperature range considered safe, as did fish, imitation crab meat and spicy tuna.
Utensils at the cook’s line were incorrectly stored in 50-degree water.
There were unclean liners on the dish shelf.
An employee’s sweater hanging from the clean dish rack was in contact with clean dishes.
All 33 food handler cards had expired.
Bento Box was reinspected on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and passed with a green placard.
The restaurant’s managers were not available for comment on Sept. 11.
Dozens of cockroaches found at Sacramento pizzeria
Delish Pizza, 8391 Folsom Blvd., Suite 4, in Sacramento, had nine violations on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Inspectors closed the Sacramento pizza restaurant after discovering more than 30 dead and live cockroaches in various areas, including by the water heater, on the mop sink rim and on the water pipe next to the water heater.
One employee’s food handler card was expired at time of inspection. To-go sauce containers had the food contact side facing up.
Old food accumulation was on the floor beneath the four door cooler and upright freezer.
The back handwash sink was slightly disattached from the wall, leaving a 1-inch gap.
There was a broken door gasket on the two-door upright refrigerator, a repeat violation.
The pizzeria lacked a probe thermometer, another repeat violation. Dumpster lids were left open, and the back door was propped open. These were repeat violations.
The manager told inspectors that they kept the door “open for the pizza driver.”
Delish Pizza was reinspected on Thursday, Sept. 11, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Delish Pizza for comment on Sept. 11, but was unable to speak to restaurant management.
Local convenience store closed for ‘rodent infestation’
Fresh Choice, 8531 Thys Court in Sacramento, was closed on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Inspectors shut down the convenience store due to a “rodent infestation,” Sacramento County said on its website.
The Bee reached out to Fresh Choice for comment, but was unable to speak to management.
More than 100 rodent 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 gas station’s management wasn’t available for comment on Sept. 18.
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 a 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 Sept. 18.
Sandwich shop shut down due to 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 Bee was unable to reach the sandwich shop’s management for comment on Sept. 18.
Taco restaurant closed due to ‘potentially hazardous 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 reopened on Monday, Sept. 15, after passing reinspection.
Chinese restaurant closed for handwashing violations
Dumpling Yo!, 1032 Florin Road in Sacramento, had 15 violations on Thursday, Sept. 18.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Sacramento Chinese restaurant after observing seven live German cockroaches in several areas, including inside the grease trap for the hot wok, on the floor next to the beverage cooler and below the preparation sink.
An employee was eating grapes in the food prep area.
Inspectors spotted several handwashing violations, including an employee washing their hands with gloves on, an employee washing their hands in the three-compartment sink and an employee washing their hands in the prep sink.
Egg noodles were improperly cooling in a deep container with a lid in the walk-in cooler.
Frozen raw meats were improperly thawing at room temperature. There were eight open bulk bags of food in the dry storage area.
Five boxes of food products were stored on the floor in the walk-in freezer.
Dumpling Yo! was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 19, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee was unable to reach anyone at the Chinese restaurant for comment on Sept. 25.
Local grocery store shut down for roaches, slime and spills
Bonfare Markets, 2600 Rio Linda Blvd. in Sacramento, had nine violations on Monday, Sept. 22.
Inspectors closed the Sacramento grocery store after discovering “evidence of a vermin infestation,” the Sept. 22 report said.
Inspectors found a total of seven live German cockroaches under the two-compartment sink and along the back wall of the soda dispenser.
They also discovered three dead cockroaches on old glue traps in the back of the supermarket.
Bonfare Market’s soda machine nozzles were unclean with surrounding surfaces with “old sticky syrup,” the report said.
The cream and sugar nozzles and coffee half-and-half dispenser had residue and dust accumulation. The ice machine’s ice making components had “slime-like residue,” according to the report.
Inspectors observed food on the floor of the walk-in cooler as well as ice bags without labels. The latter was a repeat violation.
Several surfaces were “unclean” with dust and debris including in the walk-in cooler and the fan guards and floor sink in the walk-in cooler.
The ice machine’s front cover was damaged and separated from the machine.
A deteriorated wall was observed below the two-compartment sink with gaps and holes along the piping and walls.
There were multiple missing and damaged ceiling tiles in the liquor and office storage room, another repeat violation.
The market’s health permit had expired.
Bonfare Market was reinspected on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Bonfare Market for comment on Sept. 25, but the supermarket didn’t have a manager on site.
Taco Bell closed in Citrus Heighs due to lack of hot water
Taco Bell, 6031 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, had one violation on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Health inspectors shut down the fast food restaurant due to “no hot water” at the facility,” the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department said on its website.
Taco Bell was reinspected the same day and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the local Taco Bell restaurant on Sept. 25, but was unable to reach anyone for comment.
Elk Grove Thai restaurant closed for cockroaches
Rao Thai Eatery, 5650 Whitelock Parkway, Suite 110, in Elk Grove, had one violation on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove Thai restaurant after finding 10 live cockroaches in various life cycles throughout the facility, including behind the white chest freezer and fire extinguisher and below the storage table.
Roa Thai Eatery was reinspected on Friday, Sept. 26, and passed with a green placard.
The restaurant’s phone number was out of service as of Oct. 2.
Local pizzeria had more than 270 rodent droppings
Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, 2475 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 100, in Elk Grove, had eight violations on Monday, Sept. 29.
Inspectors shut down the Elk Grove pizzeria after discovering a total of 274 rodent droppings throughout the restaurant, including on the top lid of a pasta container, on top of boxes in the soda station and on the preparation shelf at the pizza making line.
Cooked pasta, ham, shredded cheese, feta cheese and garlic puree were outside of proper holding temperatures.
Health inspectors saw an employee’s open beverage stored above the pizza making line.
The facility’s ice deflector and top ceiling panel inside the ice machine had “black, mold-like, slime residue,” according to the Sept. 29 report.
Several areas were in need of “deep cleaning and regular maintenance” due to mold, dust and old food debris, including a wall, fan guards, the floor below the storage rack and inside the walk-in refrigerator.
The restaurant had no quaternary ammonia test strips available at the time of inspection.
The reach-in refrigerator measured too warm to be considered safe, and was in need of repairs.
There was insufficient lightning in the walk-in refrigerator.
Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse was reinspected on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and received an additional red placard after inspectors found 25 rodent droppings.
The restaurant was inspected another time the same day and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse for comment on Oct. 2, but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Mice, rat droppings found at Chinese restaurant in Sacramento
Spicy Temptation Chinese Restaurant, 9555 Folsom Blvd., Suite D, in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Monday, Sept. 29.
Health inspectors shut down the Sacramento Chinese restaurant after discovering 219 mice and rat droppings throughout the restaurant. That included about 200 mice droppings under and behind the check freezer in the dry storage.
The restaurant had pooled eggs outside of the temperature range considered safe.
The restaurant’s chopping board was stored on a rack with “grease and dust,” the Sept. 29 report said, and the meat slicer had old food debris.
The facility had no food safety certificate. In addition, California food handler cards were not available at the time of inspection, a repeat violation.
Spicy Temptation Chinese was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and received a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant for comment on Oct. 2, but there wasn’t a manager on site.
Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant shut down for roaches
Pho Bac Hoa Viet, 3110 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento, had nine violations on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Health inspectors shut down Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant due to food safety violations including German cockroach activity. Inspectors discovered two nymph German cockroaches on the floor beneath the two-door refrigerator and more within the wall of the facility.
Oysters, pork and bean sprouts were outside of proper holding temperatures. Inspectors saw “old food debris” on a pair of tongs as well as knives on the magnet near the warewashing station, the Sept. 30 report said.
A box of veggies was on raw pork in the walk-in freezer. Additionally, there were several uncovered foods in the walk-in cooler and freezer.
Health inspectors observed food debris between the gasket of the reach-in cooler, on a rack and on the floor of the walk-in freezer.
The gasket of the two-door cooler was in disrepair. Health inspectors found “deteriorating grouts” on the floor in the main kitchen with old food debris, according to the report.
Pho Bac Hoa Viet was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant on Oct. 2, but the phone number was out of service.
Southeast Asian restaurant shut down for cockroach activity
Sunshine Kitchen, 557 Eleanor Ave. in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Health inspectors closed the Southeast Asian restaurant after spotting several live adult and juvenile German cockroaches in areas including under sinks.
The restaurant didn’t have soap at both front restrooms.
An employee was observed washing a large stock pot and skipping the sanitation step.
The facility was missing a food manager’s certificate, as well as food handler’s cards for each employee.
A spoon was found in the food ingredient container.
Health inspectors found a can of Raid in the restaurant.
Sunshine Kitchen was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Sunshine Kitchen on Thursday, Oct. 2, but the manager on site had no comment.
