85 rodent droppings, slime and a dead mouse: What closed Sacramento-area restaurants?
Sacramento County health inspectors closed five local eateries including a Home Depot, a Sizzler, a Mexican restaurant, sandwich shop, boba tea shop and Chinese restaurant due to a dead rodent in a glue trap, more than 85 rodent droppings and a cockroach infestation.
Meanwhile, a total of 24 eateries received yellow placards for health code violations ranging from mold-like accumulations on the ceiling to an employee handling garbage then returning to food preparation.
What do these inspections mean?
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 and about 97% of establishments pass, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
These were the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, Jan. 29, through Wednesday, Feb. 4, as of Thursday, Feb. 5. If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Businesses temporarily closed by health inspectors
Yum Cha Cafe
6930 65th St., Suite 123, Sacramento
Number of violations: 9
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
- Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the south Sacramento Chinese restaurant after discovering a dead mouse in a glue trap in the dry food storage room and more than 35 rodent droppings — including some in direct contact with open sacks of flour.
- One three gallon metal tray of pork stomach, 25 pieces of sesame balls, 12 pieces of barbecue buns, four pieces of pork feet, fried fish and steam pork had expired “time as a public health control” times.
- The facility had a dirty tabletop opener.
- Boxes of food-related sauces were stored directly on the floor in the dry storage area.
- A household microwave was in-use.
- Health inspectors observed tongs stored in an unapproved location on oven bar handles.
- A drain line under the three-compartment sink only had a one-inch air gap and was lacking a proper slope.
- There was a gap under the facility’s interior back screen door.
- Health inspectors found a fiberglass reinforced panel separated from the wall under the prep sink.
Yum Cha Cafe was reinspected on Friday, Jan. 30 and passed with a green placard. The Sacramento Bee reached out to the restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 5, but could not reach a representative of the business.
Tea Cup Cafe
1614 21st St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the midtown Chinese cafe after finding six German adult cockroaches in several areas including on the wall under the two compartment prep sink, on the wall and floor behind the reach-in cooler and on the floor under the cook’s line.
- Chicken, bean sprouts and cooked noodles on a prep cart lacked “time as a public health control” discard times.
- Black, spotted growth was discovered inside the ice machine.
- The kitchen handsink’s hot water valve was turned off.
- Old food accumulation was found on the floor upright freezers.
Tea Cup Cafe was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and received an additional red placard due to live German adult cockroaches. The restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
The Sacramento Bee contacted the cafe on Thursday, Feb. 5, but could not reach a representative of the business.
The Sandwich Spot
7419 Laguna Blvd., Suite 100, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 8
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Sacramento County health inspectors temporarily shut down the sandwich eatery after discovering 60 mice droppings in various areas of the restaurant including on the front counter, inside a toy dispenser in the back storage rack and below the microwave.
- One employee had an expired food handler card.
- Several water bottles were found with unapproved screw-top lid stored on the prep tables in the back area.
- The ice chute at the self-service soda station had old food residue and slime accumulation.
- A white stand-up freezer was not commercially listed in the back prep area.
- Partition cups and lids were stored below the handwash station.
- A gap greater than ¼ inch was found on the front door.
The Sandwich spot was reinspected on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee contacted the eatery on Thursday, Feb. 5, but could not reach a representative of the business.
Sizzler
5815 Madison Ave., Sacramento
Number of violations: 11
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Health inspectors gave a red placard to the buffet chain after finding multiple food packages with rodent gnaw marks. The facility had 85 rodent droppings in various areas including inside the dry ranch mix container, inside a vanilla wafer container and on top of a peanut container lid. No vermin activity was noted by a professional pest control service.
- Small corn dogs were found below proper holding temperature.
- An open glass of employee beverage without a lid was stored under a prep table.
- Black slime accumulation was found inside the ice machine.
- Semi frozen raw fish in reduced oxygen packing was not being properly thawed inside the upright cooler at the cook’s area.
Sizzler was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to the restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 5, but could not reach a representative of the business.
The Home Depot
2000 Howe Ave., Sacramento
Number of violations: 1
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
The Arden Arcade Home Depot received a red placard due to a rodent infestation according to the health inspector website. No official health report was found on the website.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to the store on Thursday, Feb. 5, but could not reach a representative of the business.
Black and pink slime found in local eateries
Beijing Gourmet
6432 Tupelo Drive, Suite C6, Citrus Heights
Number of violations: 15
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the Chinese restaurant after an employee didn’t wash their hands properly after handling garbage and discarding it in the dumpster.
- Raw shell eggs and chickens were above proper holding temperatures. The report listed it as a repeat violation.
- Unapproved employee beverage containers were found on the prep tables in the kitchen.
- Moldy cabbage was stored in an old cardboard box.
- Egg rolls were stored on an unclean cardboard box in contact with ice build up inside the chest freezer.
- Shelving units in the walk-in refrigerator were not clean.
Beijing Gourmet was reinspected on Friday, Jan. 30 and passed with a green placard.
T4 Tea For Me
1537 Howe Ave., Suite 112, Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the Arden Arcade boba tea shop after finding the front counter handwashing sink fully blocked with two large pots and two strainer baskets.
- An employee rinsed without sanitizing a mixing cup and spoon that was touching the inside of the front counter dump/rinse sink and place on the counter.
- Six food handler cards were expired.
- The facility’s hot water reached a maximum of 81 degrees.
- The bulk cornstarch was missing a lid in the back dry storage area.
T4 Tea For Me was reinspected on Friday, Jan. 30 and passed with a green placard.
Quan Nem Ninh Hoa
6450 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
- Health inspectors cited the Vietnamese restaurant after finding noodles at improper holding temperature.
- A container of round noodles and rice was improperly cooling.
- An expired food manager certificate was posted on the site.
- The ice machine was unclean with black and brown residue.
- The facility had about 50 old rodent dropping around wine bottles and by the boxes of extra to-go cups. No signs of active rodent infestation was found.
- A bin of lettuce was draining on the three compartment sink.
Quan Nem Ninh Hoa was reinspected on Friday, Jan. 30 and passed a green placard.
Journey to the Dumpling
7419 Laguna Blvd., Suite 180, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 19
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
- Health inspectors cited the dumpling restaurant after finding an employee handling dirty dishes and then rinsing their hands with the nozzle/sprayer before touching the dishwasher before going to handle food in the main kitchen.
- The front hand sink was blocked by a large strainer of tea leaves stored inside the sink.
- Fried calamari in a bowl was unattended at the cook’s line and measured above proper holding temperature.
- An employee rinsed a cutting board and knife after cutting raw chicken and was about to prep another food item.
- Several water bottles with an unapproved screw-top lid were stored on the prep counter in the cook’s line.
- The facility was improperly cooling cooked noodles.
- Several open dipping sauce bowls were stored on a table in front of the counter where customers walk by.
- The facility had a pinkish solution in a spray bottle missing a label.
- Several food containers were stored directly on the floor all throughout the kitchen and walk-in refrigerator.
- A spray bottle with clear solution was stored below the prep table.
Journey to the Dumpling was reinspected on Friday, Jan. 30 and passed with a green placard.
Carnitas El Rincon
9007 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 16
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- The Mexican eatery was cited by health inspectors after they discovered an empty paper towel dispenser inside the women’s restroom.
- A container of pork feet was found below proper hot holding temperature.
- The facility lacked a food manager certificate.
- An employee’s drink was stored on top of a box of tortillas inside the back storage room.
- An employee was observed washing their hands and wiping their hands on an apron.
- Cooked ribs, pig skins and stomach were improperly cooling at room temperature inside the speedy rack and had been cooling for 40 minutes.
- A container of raw chicken was stored on top of garlic and shredded cheese inside the walk-in cooler.
- Bulk bags of sugar were stored on the floor by the prep sink.
Carnitas El Rincon was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Kico’s Mexican Food
2324 Arden Way, Sacramento
Number of violations: 11
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- The Arden Arcade Mexican restaurant was cited by health inspectors after discovering a bucket of whipped butter and a can of Kirkland heavy whipping cream on the counter without temperature control.
- The facility was improperly cooling cooked beef and vegetables ranchero made four hours prior.
- The facility lacked an employee with a food safety certification.
- An open drink was on the shelf next to the food storage.
- The ceiling had mold-like accumulation.
Kico’s Mexican Food was reinspected on Saturday, Jan. 31 and received an additional yellow placard due to food being held at improper temperatures. The restaurant was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Orchid Thai
1609 16th St., Sacramento
Number of violations: 12
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- The midtown Thai restaurant was cited by health inspectors for having tofu, cooked ramen and heavy cream measured at potentially hazardous temperatures.
- Rice noodles held using “time as a public health control” lacked a discard time.
- The facility had one expired California food handler card.
- An employee sneezed into gloved hands and attempted to go back to food prep.
- The table-mounted can opener had debris on the teeth.
- A bar dishwasher was measured with too weak a concentration of sanitizer during inspection.
Orchid Thai was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Super Tortas Chilangas
5045 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento
Number of violations: 16
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- Health inspectors gave a yellow placard to the North City Farms Mexican eatery after discovering grilled peppers 40 degrees below proper holding temperatures.
- The facility was using improper cooling methods for gorditas.
- Eight live and dead cockroaches were found in the facility near the water heater and the meat slicer prep area.
- An employee could not provide the proper cold holding temperature for food.
- The facility’s food safety certification was not available for review. And it had eight expired California food handler cards.
- Raw chicken was stored over ready-to-eat foods.
- An unlabeled spray bottle with blue liquid was hanging outside the kitchen entrance.
Super Tortas Chilangas was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Sactown Kabob
2440 Fulton Ave., Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- Health inspectors cited the local Arden Arcade Mediterranean eatery after discovering a handwash sink blocked by a metal cart.
- The facility’s California food handler cards were not available for review.
- Inspectors found open teacups with tea on top of the reach-in cooler.
- Hummus, Mexican cheese blend and raw chicken were above proper holding temperatures in the walk-in cooler.
- Health inspectors found a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese and a tin can of tomato paste inside the walk-in cooler with an organic mold-like buildup inside.
- The handwash sink had no hot water available.
Sactown Kabob was reinspected on Saturday, Jan. 31 and received an additional yellow placard due to a blocked hand sink. The eatery was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and passed with a green placard.
Taqueria El Burrito VI
405 K St., Suite 22, Sacramento
Number of violations: 8
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- The downtown Mexican eatery was cited by health inspectors after they discovered an empty soap dispenser at the kitchen hand sink.
- Sliced tomato in the prep cooler was below proper holding temperature.
- Black beans, pinto beans, pork, chicken and beef — cooked the day before — were cooled using improper methods. All were voluntarily discarded.
- The facility lacked an employee with a valid food manager certificate. And the facility was operating without a valid health permit.
- The facility was using metal bowls without handles for scooping dry foods in the dry storage unit.
- Two unsecured CO2 tanks were found by health inspectors.
- An employee jacket was stored on top of a case of soda in the back storage area.
Taqueria El Burrito was reinspected on Monday, Feb. 2 and received an additional yellow placard due to repeat violations. The facility had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Los Amnores De Julia
2243 Arden Way, Sacramento
Number of violations: 15
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the Arden Arcade Mexican eatery after discovering two handwashing sink without paper towels.
- Shelled eggs and sausage were measured above proper holding temperature. Gravy was measured below proper hot holding temperature.
- Pooled eggs, salmon, salsa, chicken and shrimp in the facility’s two-door reach-in and cold top were measured above proper holding temperatures.
- A five gallon bucket of beans was improperly cooling in the walk-in cooler. It was voluntarily discarded.
- Rice in the hot case is improperly reheated.
- The automatic dishwasher at the bar had no detectable sanitizer.
- The table top dispenser was unclean.
- The kitchen handwashing sink had no available hot water.
Los Amnores De Julia was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and received an additional yellow placard due to repeated major violations for handwashing stations.
Fire Wings
2721 Del Paso Road, Suite 110, Sacramento
Number of violations: 13
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the Creekside wing eatery after finding cooked pepper improperly placed on top of another pepper tray and were improperly holding out of temperature.
- “Time as a public health control” labels were missing for mac and cheese and garlic noodles in the hot box.
- The installed sanitizer dispenser was no longer working.
- The facility’s food safety manager certificate was not available for review. And food handler cards were incomplete and some appear to expire.
- The maximum hot water temperature was measured below required temperatures.
Fire Wings was reinspected on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and passed with a green placard.
Kobe Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar
2057 Arena Blvd., Suite 150, Sacramento
Number of violations: 7
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the Natomas Japanese restaurant after finding no measurable sanitizer in the dishwashing machine — which was also leaking.
- The facility had no cold water supplies at the two front cookline handwashing stations.
- The facility had no manager food safety certificate available. And inspectors found three expired California food handler cards.
- The facility had unclean ventilation filters inside the ventilation hood system.
- The potable water supply lacked backflow or a back siphonage protection device.
Kobe Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar was reinspected on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and passed with a green placard.
El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
3521 Truxel Road, Sacramento
Number of violations: 8
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- The Natomas Crossing Mexican restaurant was cited by health inspectors after the soap dispenser was observed with no hand soap.
- Cooked corn and cheese were above proper holding temperatures. They were voluntarily discarded.
- The facility had 16 buckets of burrito sources, three trays of ground beef and three trays of pork cooling on a rolling cart in the back of the kitchen cookline.
- The ice machine had black residue.
- One fruit fly was inside a liquor bottle.
- Boxes of food items were stored on the floor inside the walk-in freezer.
- A ceramic cup was being used in the bar area.
- The facility was missing a health permit.
El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant was reinspected on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and passed with a green placard.
Xulo Coffee Bar
8698 Elk Grove Blvd. Suite 5, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 12
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the coffee shop after finding cut tomatoes measured outside of proper holding temperature.
- The low temperature dishwasher had no detectable sanitizer after being used to wash dishes.
- The handwash sink was partially blocked by a trash can.
- The ice machine had yellow and black slime accumulation.
- An employee’s bottle of acetaminophen was stored with customer sandwich toothpicks.
- A box of disposable cups was stored directly on the floor.
Xulo Coffee Bar was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and passed with a green placard.
Thai Canteen
1501 16th St., Suite 109, Sacramento
Number of violations: 10
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the midtown Thai restaurant after finding cooked chicken, cooked eggplant, rice noodles and fried chicken beyond the expiration of their “time as a public health control” labels.
- An employee beverage without a lid was stored on the metro shelf near the cook’s line.
- Tofu, raw shrimp and cooked chicken were held outside of proper holding temperature.
- The facility had cooked chicken improperly cooling in the walk-in cooler.
- The table mounted can opener had debris on the teeth.
Thai Canteen was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and passed with a green placard.
Maru Ramen Bar
8698 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 2C, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 13
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
- Health inspectors cited the Japanese restaurant after finding raw shelled eggs above proper cold holding temperature.
- The facility’s food safety manager certificate was not available for review.
- Employee drinks were found stored with sauces on a metal storage rack.
- Paper towels were found outside of the dispenser at the handwash sink.
- An employee was observed placing cooked pork into “time as a public health control” and did not immediately set a timer.
- A bowl of raw pork was stored on top of ginger in the walk-in refrigerator.
Maru Ramen Bar was reinspected on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and received an additional yellow placard due to repeat violations. The restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Galt China Express
1061 C St., Suite 130, Galt
Number of violations: 10
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Health inspectors cited the Chinese eatery after finding all three hand wash sinks blocked.
- Fried chicken and cooked chow mein were below proper holding temperature.
- An employee cleaned a sink and proceeded to handle raw meats without washing their hands.
- An open bag of rice was stored in the back storage area.
- The facility had a grease string on the hood filters above the wok station.
Galt China Express had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Adalberto’s Mexican Food
8844 Greenback Lane, Orangevale
Number of violations: 8
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Health inspectors cited the Mexican restaurant after finding beans measured below proper holding temperature.
- An employee was observed washing a cutting board and knife used for raw meat without sanitizing.
- Beef tacos were being held under “time as a public health control” without immediately marking the time.
- The ice machine had pink slime accumulation.
- Raw beef and raw carnitas were stored above churros and raw breaded fish in a reach-in refrigerator adjacent to the cook’s line.
- The facility’s fan guards and condenser units had dust and black slime accumulation.
- The sanitizer bucket had no measurable chlorine.
Adalberto’s Mexican Food had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant & Marina
1577 Garden Highway, Sacramento
Number of violations: 8
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Health inspectors cited the seafood restaurant after finding a container of marinated rice was set on the cooks prep table and above proper holding temperature. It was voluntarily discarded.
- A full five-gallon container of black beans made the day before was improperly cooling in the basement walk-in. It was voluntarily discarded.
- A can of tomatoes had a severe dent on the seam. It was voluntarily discarded.
- Bar soda guns had residue on the inner rims and clogged holsters filled with wet residue.
- The walk-in fan covers had residue.
- All three cooks prep cooler gaskets were unclean with accumulated food residue. All three cooks line prep cooler units lacked monitoring thermometers.
- The sanitizer bucket in the basement had no detectable quaternary ammonium. Proper quaternary ammonium is measured at 200 ppm.
Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant & Marina had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Fogao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse
8698 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 3, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 14
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3
- The Brazilian steakhouse chain was given a yellow placard after Sacramento County health inspectors found several “potentially hazardous foods” outside of proper temperatures at the restaurant’s salad bar and in its walk-in cooler. The report said all vegetables, fruit, sushi and cheeses on the salad bar were nearly 20 degrees too warm.
- The hand sink near the facility’s ware wash sink was totally blocked by towels.
- Food handler cards were not available for review, which was a repeat violation.
- Raw fish was stored above the cheesecake in the facility’s upright freezer. Raw shell eggs were stored over mushrooms in the walk-in cooler.
Fogao Gaucho had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Sprouts Farmers Market
4408 Del Rio Road, Sacramento
Number of violations: 4
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
- The South Land Park location’s bakery/deli of the supermarket chain was cited by health inspectors after they found “potentially hazardous foods” below holding temperatures. Staff said the half-pound of dark meat chicken and 3 pounds of garlic shrimp had been cooked the day before. The food was voluntarily thrown away.
- Inspectors also found tofu, dark meat chicken, garlic shrimp and ham above proper temperatures in the facility’s walk-in cooler and cold inserts.
- No paper towels were inside dispensers.
- The tin cutter blade and all three meat slicers had old food debris.
Sprouts Farmers Market had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Vinhouse Tea & Coffee
8112 Sheldon Road, Suite 200, Elk Grove
Number of violations: 8
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
- The Vietnamese coffee shop received a citation from Sacramento County health inspectors after they learned the cheese/taro-filled pastries for sale were made at home by the owner.
- Several household appliances were used by the facility including an air fryer and toaster.
- The espresso machine’s wastewater was being deposited into a plastic container rather than an available floor sink
- Inspectors found an electric fly catcher set up on a preparation table next to the facility’s ware washing sink.
Vinhouse Tea & Coffee had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
Tandoori Pizza
405 K St., Suite 240, Sacramento
Number of violations: 12
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4
- County health inspectors gave the downtown location of the Indian pizza fusion chain a citation after finding pizza below proper warming temperatures.
- The paper towel dispensers in the back prep room hand sink and restroom hand sink were empty.
- The facility’s food safety certification and food handler cards were unavailable for review.
- Bulk food containers were missing their labels.
Tandoori Pizza had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, Feb. 5.
The Sacramento Bee’s Lauren Chapman contributed to this story.
