Pho, sushi spots get 80 or more red points. Here are Thurston food safety scores for April 10

The Olympian staff
·6 min read

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

  • Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.

  • Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.

  • Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.

  • If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65.

  • If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county will shut down the establishment for at least 72 hours. The establishment may reopen after management and employees complete retraining and demonstrate corrective action during a reinspection.

  • Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Pho Lynn

1600 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

April 4: 85 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • Food workers entered the kitchen and began to wash their gloved hands. The person-in-charge directed the employee to remove their gloves and properly wash their hands before returning to food preparation.

  • Fried rice was cooled at depths of greater than 2 inches in a prep unit. Rich noodles were cooled at 2-inch depths while covered. TCS foods must be cooled uncovered at depths of 2 inches or less until they reach 41 degrees.

  • Garlic in oil, boba pearls and bean sprouts were at room temperature. TCS foods cannot be stored at room temperature unless according to a written plan. Corrected during inspection.

  • Cold held milk was at 45 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees. Corrected during inspection.

  • The menu lacked a consumer advisory disclosure statement.

Aya Sushi Restaurant

1500 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

April 3: 80 red points; 13 blue points.

Comments:

  • A hand sink lacked soap. Corrected during inspection

  • Raw fish and noncontinuously cooked chicken were stored above ready-to-eat food in cold hold units. Corrected during inspection.

  • Chicken was observed cooling while covered at depths greater than 2 inches in a prep unit. TCS foods must be cooled uncovered in 2-inch or less amounts. Corrected during inspection.

  • Tempura sushi was stored at room temperature. Sushi rice was stored in a sushi rice machine at 90-115 degrees. TCS foods must be maintained under temperature or time as a control for safety. Corrected during inspection.

  • The facility lacked written procedures for time as a control and non-continuous cooking.

  • Chicken was observed thawing at room temperature. Corrected during inspection.

  • A warewashing machine was broken. The facility was using a three-compartment sink for food preparation rather than warewashing.

  • Dishes were not being sanitized.

Pho 102

5765 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater

April 1: 40 red points; 10 blue points.

Comments:

  • A food worker prepared basil with their bare hands.

  • Raw whole shell eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods.

  • Chicken and shrimp in the prep unit were cold held at 42-47 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees.

  • Various foods in the walk-in were less than 6 inches off the ground.

  • A meat slicer had visible debris on it.

China House

4740 Yelm Highway SE, Lacey

April 5: 35 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

  • The person-in-charge did not provide proof of attending approved food safety training programs.

  • Three pans of noodles were cooling in a covered container in the walk-in. Corrected during inspection.

  • A probe-type food thermometer was not available.

  • The facility did not have a sanitizer test kit.

Huicholitos

2125 Caton Way SW, Olympia

April 4: 30 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • One worker had an expired food worker card.

  • Rice was observed cooling in 2-inch pans while covered in the walk-in. The rice was 67-93 degrees.

Soul Café

2727 Westmoor Court SW, Olympia

April 3: 30 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • Two food worker cards were expired and others were unavailable upon request.

  • Truffle potatoes were cooled improperly in a deep plastic container. TCS food items must be cooled uncovered at depths of less than 2 inches until they reach 41 degrees.

  • A chlorine solution was too weak as prepared. Corrected during inspection.

Jack in the Box

110 Trosper Road SW, Tumwater

April 5: 25 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • A food worker used their bare hands to handle ready-to-eat food.

Sonic

7746 Martin Way E., Lacey

April 3: 20 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • The establishment was cited for deficiencies for not having a person-in-charge that’s certified and compliant with code, not having current food worker cards, not maintaining proper cold holding temperatures and improperly using and storing wiping cloths.

  • No inspection notes were provided.

Evergreen Valley Espresso

1840 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Tumwater

April 3: 15 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • One worker had an invalid food worker card.

  • The handwashing sink lacked soap. Corrected during inspection.

Applebee’s

525 Sleater Kinney Road SE, Lacey

April 8: 10 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

  • The food items in the front condiment line were warmed than 41 degrees. Pico was at 45-51 degrees. Various dressings were at 42-45 degrees. All TCS foods must be kept at or below 41 degrees.

  • The facility didn’t have accurate sanitizer test strips.

Subway

5900 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater

April 5: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

  • One employee had an expired food worker card.

  • The in-use sanitizer solution was too weak as prepared. Corrected during inspection.

New Sushi and Teriyaki

5401 Corporate Center Loop SE, Lacey

April 5: 0 red points; 8 blue points.

Comments:

  • The establishment was cited for deficiencies having to do with not using proper thawing methods as well as not properly installing, maintaining and using warewashing facilities.

  • No inspection notes were provided.

Subway

1001 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

April 4: 0 red points; 5 blue point.

Comments:

  • A sanitizer solution was too weak as prepared. Corrected during inspection.

No violations

  • Cooper Point Village Mart, Grocery Stores and Confectionaries, 3210 Cooper Point Road NW, Olympia

  • Lime Leaf Asian Fusion, 5730 Ruddell Road SE, Lacey

  • Arco AM/PM, Grocery Stores and Confectionaries, Deli, 1725 Evergreen Park Drive SE, Olympia

  • Best Western Tumwater Olympia Inn, 5188 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater