Cockroaches, mold and yellow slime: See latest Sacramento County restaurant reports
Sacramento County health inspectors found more than 20 cockroaches at one local restaurant.
Other Sacramento-area eateries had health code violations ranging from dust, grease and food residue to moldy soda nozzles and yellow slime in an ice machine, according to inspection reports.
A yellow placard signals two or more major violations, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide. These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection.
A red placard 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 the inspection.
The county conducts roughly 14,000 inspections a year, and 97% of all restaurants pass their inspections, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Bee. About 1% of inspections result in a closure.
Health inspectors closed SAAP SAAP Hmong Thai Cuisine on April 2 due to a cockroach infestation. The restaurant reopened April 8.
Here are the Sacramento County food facility inspections for April 4 through Wednesday, as of noon Thursday:
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Sacramento Bee reporter Jacqueline Pinedo at jpinedo@sacbee.com. The Bee will publish weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.
Sacramento County restaurants cited for food safety violations
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of April 4 through Wednesday, resulting in a conditional pass.
Only the dates of violations are listed. Most restaurants fully pass reinspection within 72 hours. The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.
Mochinut Midtown, 1714 15th St. in Sacramento, had nine violations on Monday.
Inspectors observed coffee beverages on preparation tables with food during the inspection.
Grease buildup was on the floor under the fryer, according to the inspection.
The dessert shop was reinspected on Thursday and received a green placard.
Maru Ramen Bar, 8698 Elk Grove Blvd in Elk Grove, had eight violations on April 3.
Inspectors observed raw pork outside of its appropriate holding temperature, as well as raw pork thawing in water at room temperature.
The ramen restaurant was reinspected on April 4 and again received a yellow placard for having pork outside of proper holding temperatures.
A third reinspection was conducted on Friday and the restaurant received a green placard.
Ariana Gyros and Kabobs LLC, 1501 N C St. in Sacramento, received eight violations on April 4.
Inspectors observed chicken being cooled improperly.
Raw chicken and raw beef were above bottled beverages in a refrigerator, the April 6 report said, and dishes were being washed without sanitizer.
The restaurant was reinspected on Friday and received a green placard.
Burger Shack, 4545 Manzanita Ave in Carmichael, received 14 violations on April 3.
Inspectors observed an employee grabbing hamburger patties with gloves, then touching raw onions and mushrooms without properly washing their hands, according to the April 3 report.
Whole milk was outside of its proper holding temperature during Wednesday’s inspection, and there was buildup on a milkshake mixer.
Inspectors saw personal cell phones on top of the ice machine and soft-serve ice cream machine on April 3.
The burger restaurant was reinspected on April 5 and received a green placard.
Hoa Viet Noodles and Grill, 8251 Bruceville Road in Sacramento, received 20 violations on April 2.
Containers of chicken soup and beef soup were seen outside of proper holding temperatures, according to the April 2 inspection report.
Inspectors saw yellow slime inside the ice machine during the inspection, according to the report, and there was heavy grease accumulation on hood filters.
A case of frozen chicken was being thawed incorrectly during the inspection.
The restaurant was reinspected and received a green placard on April 3.
Taqueria Birra Boys, 9611 Auto Center Drive in Elk Grove, received seven violations on April 2.
Cooked beans were seen outside of proper holding temperatures.
Leaks were seen under a three-compartment sink during the inspection and no sanitizer was available.
The restaurant was reinspected on April 3 and received a green placard.
Noble Vegetarian, 5049 College Oak Drive, Suite A, in Sacramento, received eight violations on Wednesday.
Inspectors found a live adult German roach on a wall ramp behind a dish machine, and a dying roach on a storage container.
Another 20 dead roaches were on the floor underneath a cooler and a wooden preparation table, and adjacent to a grease trap.
The ice machine had darkened residue buildup, according to Wednesday’s report.
Food and grease buildup was on the floor.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Friday morning.
Pita R Us, 2690 E Bidwell St., Suite 300, in Folsom, received 10 violations on Wednesday.
Employees were seen starting food prep without washing their hands and were unaware of proper hand washing and food safety protocol, according to Wednesday’s report.
There were no paper towels at the kitchen hand sink.
Water had accumulated inside the refrigerator and frozen chicken was stored outside on the ground.
As of Thursday afternoon, the restaurant had not been reinspected.
More health violations
The following Sacramento County food facilities had violations the week of April 4 through Wednesday, resulting in a “placard program not applicable at this time” status.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Sacramento County’s Environmental Health Division to understand what this status means. As of Friday morning, the agency wasn’t available for comment.
Only the dates of violations are listed. The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.
River Park Youth Baseball, 3780 Moddison Ave. in Sacramento, received 11 violations on Wednesday.
The facility lacked proper kitchenware washing knowledge and approved sanitizer for cleaning.
One employee did not have a food safety certificate.
Raw meat was stored in a cooler above cooked food and refrigerated hot dogs were at improper holding temperatures.
A toilet facility was neither in operation nor maintained.
As of Thursday afternoon, the facility had not been reinspected.
Fit Eats, 1420 16th St., Suite 150, in Sacramento, received one violation on Wednesday.
Inspectors observed dust buildup on fan covers.
As of Thursday afternoon, the restaurant had not been reinspected.
East Sac Little League, 1410 60th St. in Sacramento, received five violations on Wednesday.
Facility staff lacked knowledge of proper kitchenware washing and one employee did not have a food safety certificate.
Raw meat handling and hand washing procedures were not consistent.
Raw meat was stored in a cooler above cooked foods, and burger patties, slices of cheese and hot dogs were stored next to the grill at room temperature.
As of Thursday afternoon, the facility had not been reinspected.
Northridge Little League, 6950 Brayton Ave. in Citrus Heights, received two violations on Wednesday.
Boxes of raw meat were stored in a freezer above cooked food and the tabletop fryer did not have a ventilation hood.
As of Thursday, the facility had not been reinspected.
Bento Box, 1600 K St. in Sacramento, received nine violations on Wednesday.
Several foods, including Imitation crab, tofu, edamame, sprouts, fish cakes and gyoza were all improperly stored.
Inspectors saw fish improperly thawing and raw fish in a display cooler.
Sushi chefs were observed improperly wiping their hands and knives. Two employees were drinking out of open cups in food preparation areas.
Three soda nozzles were coated with slime and mold-like accumulation.
There also wasn’t an adequate supply of sanitizer.
As of Thursday, the restaurant had not been reinspected
Honeybee Cafe Express, 9700 W Taron Drive in Elk Grove, received four violations on Wednesday.
Several potentially hazardous foods were at improper holding temperatures, including cooked chicken, pot stickers, Spam, steamed broccoli, prepackaged sandwiches and milk.
The eatery lacked certain hood ventilation and hand washing signs.
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