Clogged sinks, slime and moldy veggies: See latest Sacramento County restaurant inspections
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down a local taco restaurant due to a broken sewage system, improperly stored meat and other violations.
In addition, three restaurants in the area received yellow placards for violations including a slimy ice machine, moldy vegetables and fly trap ribbons “covered in flies.”
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.
Last week, health inspectors shut down Chasers Sports Bar in Sacramento after discovering several cockroaches. As of Thursday, the sports bar had not reopened since its closure on Jan. 17, according to the health inspections website.
Here are the Sacramento County food facility inspections for Jan. 18 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.
Health inspectors close Sacramento taco restaurant
Super Taco Express, 8990 Grant Line Road in Elk Grove, had four violations on Tuesday, resulting in the restaurant being shut down.
According to the Tuesday inspection report, the restaurant’s plumbing is inoperable. Water from a dishwashing machine and a preparation sink drains into a clogged floor sink. Employees could not conduct dish washing or food preparation during the inspection, according to the report.
The “issue has been on going for several days,” one staff member told inspectors.
On Tuesday, grey water was overflowing from a floor sink in the front dining area by a beverage cooler, according to the report.
In addition, inspectors found a variety of raw and cooked meats in a walk-in cooler at improper holding temperatures. An open container of chips was placed near the register under a heating lamp, but the resturant did not have a sneeze guard or lid to shield the chips from contamination.
The Sacramento Bee called the restaurant for comment on Thursday afternoon, but was unable to reach anyone by phone.
Sacramento County restaurants cited for health violations
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Jan. 18 through Jan. 24, 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.
Mi Tierra Mercado Carniceria, 8484 Florin Road in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Wednesday.
According to the report, there was no hand soap at the food preparation area sinks and foods including raw chorizo, raw pork and cooked beef and beef tongue were being stored at improper holding temperatures.
Inspectors found vegetables with mold on them in a walkin cooler on Wednesday, as wel as black slimy residue in the top ceiling chute of an ice machine. Multiple fly trap ribbons were seen hanging on the ceiling above the prep area in the meat department, according to the inspection report. “All fly ribbons were observed covered in flies.”
Uptown Takeout, 2306 Oxford St. in Sacramento, had 18 violations on Wednesday. Employee restrooms were missing hand soap during the inspection. Cooked burger patties were not at the correct holding temperatures, according to the Wednesday report, and macaroni and cheese was not reheated correctly.
The food manager’s certificate and food handler cards were missing for multiple employees during the inspection. Inspectors noticed water dripping from the ceiling and into the sink on Wednesday. A cardboard box was being used to cover a wall window at the cook’s line area.
Huong Lee Sandwiches, 6930 65th St. in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Tuesday, including a lack of hand soap in prep and storage areas across from the main restaurant. Two containers of cooked rice dough were not in appropriate holding temperatures, according to the Tuesday report, and were found on a counter. Grilled chicken, sliced tomatoes and pate were also being held at improper temperatures, inspectors said.
Inspectors noticed an employee washing pot lids who skipped the sanitizer step of the dishwashing process. Employees’ drinks were found “on top of clean cutting boards” inside a back storage room, according to the Tuesday inspection report, while a dead cockroach was discovered underneath a drink prep table.
What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
