Rust, dust and live cockroaches: See latest Sacramento County restaurant inspections

Sacramento health inspectors recently shut down a local restaurant and a hotel due to vermin infestation, improperly stored meat, rust, dust and other violations.

In addition, three Sacramento-area restaurants received yellow placards.

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, Ken Casparis, a spokesman, previously told The Bee. About 1% of inspections result in a closure.

Last week, health inspectors shut down three kitchens. Town and Country Catering and Banquet reopened on Dec. 28, Faisal Halal Market and Restaurant reopened on Dec. 29 and Fiesta Nutrition reopened on Tuesday.

Here are the food facility inspections for Dec. 28 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 restaurant, hotel closed due to vermin contamination

Saigon Oi LLC, 6835 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento, had 12 violations on Tuesday, resulting in the restaurant’s closure.

Health inspectors observed raw shrimp, raw beef and quail eggs being stored at improper holding temperatures and beef being thawed under a hand sink.

Inspectors also spotted a number of German cockroaches, mostly by the freezer area. Three live cockroaches were seen on the wall next to a chest freezer and an additional four dead roaches were seen under a three-compartment sink.

In addition, “pink and black biofilm accumulation” was observed on the deflector plate inside the ice machine, according to the inspection report.

The Sacramento Bee reached out to the restaurant for comment, but was not able to able to reach anyone.

Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento, 2540 Venture Oaks Way in South Natomas, had 13 violations on Wednesday, which resulted in the kitchens closure.

Inspectors observed “two live German cockroaches and three dead nymphs on the floor in the dish washing area,” according to the Wednesday report.

Additionally, liquid eggs were not in the proper holding temperature, the report said, and frozen raw beef was being stored above green peas inside an upright freezer.

Inspectors also observed rusted nails inside the walls of an ice machine and dust on the wall and ceiling by the salad preparation table, according to Wednesday’s report.

The Sacramento Bee reached out to the owners of the hotel for comment, but had not received a response as of Thursday afternoon.

Sacramento County restaurants get yellow placard violations

The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Dec. 28 through Jan. 3, 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.

Maya Traditional Mexican, 455 Bercut Drive in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Tuesday.

Birria beef, nacho cheese and raw chicken were all at incorrect holding temperatures, according to the inspection report. Paper towel rolls were not stocked at sinks during the inspection.

A mounted can opener had buildup on the “tooth,” the report said, and a container of limes and jalapenos was stored “right behind” the hand sink on the cook’s line.

Pho Lotus Restaurant, 9600 Bruceville Road in Elk Grove, had 10 violations on Tuesday.

The restaurant had an expired health permit at the time of inspection, and all employees working in the kitchen had expired food handler cards.

Additionally, multiple employees had stored drinks at the prep table, according to the Tuesday inspection report.

Inspectors observed containers with “food debris” stored on the “bottom shelf next to a mop,” as well as black soot and grease accumulation on the hood ventilation above the cooking equipment, according to the report.

Banh Mi House, 6901 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Wednesday.

Six egg rolls were not stored at the appropriate holding temperatures during the inspection.

Banh bao, rice noodles and noodles with ground meat that were placed next to the register did not have the proper “labels with date and 4-hour discard time,” the inspection report said.

In addition, inspectors observed containers of pickled veggies on the floor in a walk-in cooler and to-go and sauce containers on the flood next to the preparation area by an unused hand sink, according to the report.

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