Restaurant inspections: Eateries serving Chinese, Mexican food receive 'B' grades

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·6 min read

Two Mexican and one Chinese food restaurants scored "B" grades on their most recent Riverside County environmental health inspections, according to reports conducted Jan. 12 through Jan. 18.

China King in Palm Springs, Todo Fresco Market in Coachella and Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant in La Quinta were cited for major violations relating to handwashing, hot and cold food holding temperatures, food handling and improper sanitizer concentrations. They also racked up a number of other violations during their inspections.

All three restaurants have had non-compliance issues and failed inspections in the past few years, and at least two will have administrative hearings over their most recent reports.

Major violations pose an imminent risk to public health and warrant the immediate closure of a food facility or immediate correction, while minor violations do not pose a public health risk, but do warrant correction.

2 major violations, 20 points deducted

China King, 295 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs

  • Observed the following handwashing violations: Observed an employee crack eggs into a bowl then proceed to handle bags of vegetables, observed an employee handle dirty dishes at the three-compartment sink then rinse their hands at the sink, dry them using their apron and return to the prep area to handle food (no direct food contamination was observed), and the operator rinsed their hands with water in the three-compartment sink. | The operator and employees were instructed on proper handwashing technique at the designated handwashing sink

  • Improper hot and cold holding temperatures: Two containers of raw chicken, one container of raw pork, two containers of cooked barbecue pork, two containers of raw shrimp, one container of raw beef, one container of raw egg mix and one bowl of chow mein noodles measured at a temperature range of 44-50 degrees; fried wontons and egg rolls measured at 115-134 degrees; garlic in oil mixture inside a low level ice bath measured at 45-49 degrees; raw shelled eggs held at room temperature for an undetermined amount of time. | Potentially hazardous food shall be held at or below 41/45 degrees or at or above 135 degrees. Items were voluntarily discarded and a refrigerator was impounded

  • Other violations include: Empty food container stored inside the handwashing sink; improper sanitizer concentration in dish machine, and food residue found on knives, peeler and can opener blade; observed multiple bowls and containers of food nestled on top of each other either with saran wrap in between the bowls or without a lid or saran wrap, a dry towel stored directly on top of dried orange peels, and raw food (eggs and meat) stored above ready-to-eat or frozen cooked food; containers of onions, bags of carrots and cases of produce stored on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator, bins of powdered dry food stored without labels in the food storage room, cases of onions stored on soy sauce buckets in the kitchen; areas in need of cleaning; improper sanitizer concentration in wiping cloth bucket; excess grease and debris accumulation on the outdoor grease trap receptacle and cardboard boxes stored inside the basin of the mop sink; personal items stored throughout the kitchen; floors in need of cleaning throughout the facility

  • This inspection was initiated due to a foodborne illness complaint received by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. "B" card posted. Due to on-going non-compliance and failed inspections, the permit may be suspended or revoked

1 major violation, 20 points deducted

Todo Fresco Market, 52-051 Highway 111, Coachella

  • Observed no sanitizer to be present at the meat market area during active food preparation. | Corrected on site

  • Other violations include: Observed food handling employee to wash hands with gloves still on hands; improper hot and cold holding temperatures (raw meat measuring 45-46 degrees, shrimp ceviche measuring 48 degrees, shrimp cocktail measuring 47 degrees); fly lights above the meat market three-compartment sink and prep counter; person in charge did not know the minimum required chlorine sanitizer solution concentration and how to properly sanitize dishes; toxic chemical cleansers hanging directly adjacent to the meat prep paper roll; two large bins of raw meat products stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler; several utensils and pieces of equipment need repairs; repair or replace the non-functional lights above the cocina cook line; wet, soiled towels stored on the meat cutting prep counter; leak at the cocina hand washing sink; repairs and cleaning needed inside customer restroom; personal items stored on top of meat glass display case in the meat market; walls need to be cleaned of grease splatter and trash needs to be cleaned up under open air produce cooler

  • "B" card posted. Due to the repeated failed inspections within a two-year period, an administrative hearing will be scheduled

1 major violation, 19 points deducted

Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant, 50-855 Washington St., La Quinta

  • Observed employee to handle foods on the cookline with bare hands. Instructed person in charge to have the employee to wear gloves and/or use utensils while preparing food. Shortly thereafter, the employee was observed to be handling food again with bare hands

  • Other violations include: Observed cooking employee to be coughing while preparing open foods on the cook line, without covering their mouth; handwashing sinks missing paper towel dispenser or were clogged; observed one large live cockroach on the floor in the dining room area and person in charge slid the roach to the doorway; front door weather stripping needs repairs, and both front and back doors were propped open during inspection; toxic chemical cleanser hanging from the bar handwashing sink; a crate of tomatillos, two large bags of uncooked rice and multiple boxes of food items stored on the floor of walk-in cooler or freezer; certain utensils or piece of equipment need repairs; grease, dust, dirt and mold accumulation found among utensils or equipment; hood ventilation filters missing from the hood exhaust system; improper sanitizer concentration in the wash cloth buckets behind the front bar; two sinks need plumbing repairs; floors and walls that need cleaning

  • "B" card posted. Due to repeated failed inspections within a two-year period, an administrative hearing will be held Jan. 16

Grade A restaurants

An "A" grade, or a score of 90 to 100 points, means a restaurant passed an inspection and met minimum health standards.

Desert Hot Springs

  • Desert Bakery, 14-201 Palm Drive, Suite 108

  • Wingstop, 13-108 Palm Drive

Indio

  • Heritage Palms, 44-291 S. Heritage Palms Drive

La Quinta

  • NitroInfusions/The Sandwich Shop, 78-010 Main St., Suites 108 and 110

  • McDonald's, 79-295 Highway 111

Palm Desert

  • IL Sogno, 73-375 El Paseo, Suite F

  • California Pizza Kitchen, 73-080 El Paseo

Palm Springs

  • Brandini Toffee, 132 S. Palm Canyon Drive

  • El Patron, 101 S. Palm Canyon Drive

  • Pinocchio in the Desert, 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

  • Toucans, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A100

Rancho Mirage

  • The Ritz-Carlton, 68-900 Frank Sinatra Drive

Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for the week of Jan. 12 through 18 in Cathedral City and Indian Wells.

This weekly report was compiled using restaurant grading reports from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, accessible at restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org/Default.aspx

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Chinese, Mexican food restaurants score 'B' grades on inspections