Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local Jack in the Box burger joint and two other restaurants due to cockroach infestations.
Meanwhile, Dutch Bros, El Pollo Loco, Wetzel’s Pretzels and other local eateries received yellow placards for safety violations ranging from black slime buildup to rodent droppings.
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 Sacramento Bee.
About 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
Health inspectors closed Pho Real in Folsom on Wednesday, Sept. 18, due to a cockroach infestation and improperly stocked bathrooms. The restaurant was reinspected the following day and received a green placard.
Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Sept. 19 through Wednesday, Sept. 25, as of Thursday afternoon:
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com . The Bee publishes weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.
Sacramento County restaurants closed due to cockroaches
Kings Pizza & Wings , 6421 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 102, in Sacramento, had 23 violations on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the pizza restaurant after discovering an active cockroach infestation.
Inspectors observed live and dead cockroaches in various locations at the establishment, including under cabinets, inside storage areas and a food preparation sink.
In addition, they saw about 10 flies hovering in the kitchen and warewashing areas.
Other violations included improperly stored food, a lack of sanitizing agents, untrained staff and inadequate hot water.
The restaurant had dust accumulation, leaking pipes and food and grease buildup.
Additionally, the facility lacked food handler certificates for employees, thermometers in refrigerators or a functioning toilet paper dispenser.
The restaurant had not been reinspected, as of Thursday, Sept. 26.
Everest Curry , 1728 Broadway in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Health inspectors observed multiple cockroaches “in various life stages” throughout the facility, according to the report.
That included roaches near hand sinks, shelving, prep tables and floors.
Other violations in ranged from a lack of toilet paper and paper towels in restrooms to improper ware washing procedures and food safety issues such as hazardous food temperatures and improper thawing methods.
Inspectors also cited the restaurant for improper cleaning such as grease buildup, debris and black slime around the sink.
There were personal items, such as a cell phone and headphones, on a prep table.
The establishment had not been reinspected as of Thursday morning.
Jack in the Box , 4435 Florin Road in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Inspectors discovered multiple health code violations at the facility, including improper food handling and a severe cockroach infestation.
There were more than 10 live cockroaches and numerous dead ones around the kitchen, beneath prep stations, and near equipment.
Employees left out a bowl of American cheese without a timer.
Other violations included no sanitizer for warewashing and inadequate hot water in the women’s restroom. The men’s restroom was out of order.
Inspectors noted a buildup of grease, food debris and dust throughout the kitchen, especially beneath and around fryers, prep areas and storage areas.
The Florin Road restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday morning.
Local restaurants, supermarket cited for violations
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Sept. 19 through Wednesday, Sept. 25, resulting in a conditional pass.
Only the dates of violations are listed. Due to the conditional pass and receipt of yellow placard, a reinspection was or will be conducted within 24 to 72 hours of the inspection. The reports are linked.
For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here .
El Pollo Loco , 3312 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento, had six violations on Sept. 19.
Inspectors found several violations, including grilled shrimp at an improper holding temperature.
An employee handled raw chicken with tongs, then used the same tongs to remove cooked chicken from the grill, posing a risk of cross-contamination.
The area beneath and behind the ice machine was unclean, showing debris accumulation.
Inspectors found a lid with food debris on the clean dish storage rack, indicating inadequate sanitation practices.
The restaurant was reinspected on Sept. 20 and received a green placard.
Chicken & Waffle , 2961 Advantage Way, Suite 120, in Sacramento, had 18 violations on Sept. 19.
Violations identified by health inspectors included potentially hazardous foods outside of proper holding temperatures, such as garlic, whipped cream, eggs and cheese.
Inspectors found two moldy tomatoes in the prep cooler and dark slime buildup on the deflector plate. The soda dispenser gun. was leaking water, as was piping under the soda machine.
The men’s restroom was seen missing a toilet paper dispenser and employee handwash sign.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday.
Wetzel’s Pretzels , 414 K St. in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Sept. 19.
Health inspectors cited the pretzel shop for violations including an empty soap dispenser at the back-of-house hand sink and a clogged floor sink beneath the espresso machine.
There was slime and mold-like buildup on the ice machine’s interior ceiling, and deteriorated rubber door gaskets on the two-door reach-in cooler.
Additionally, a newly added beverage prep area had not been reviewed or approved by the department. It had an espresso machine, grinders, coolers and a hand sink lacking hot water.
There were no California food handler cards available for review.
The K Street restaurant passed a reinspection on Sept. 20.
99 Ranch Market , 4220 Florin Road in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Sept. 19.
Inspectors observed improperly stored grilled chicken, pork chops, tray of rice, cooked beef stew and tofu.
An employee was seen touching their ear and failing to wash their hands immediately.
Debris was found on a meat slicer and a thermometer had grime accumulation.
Inspectors found residue on the walk-in cooler fan guard, as well as grease buildup between equipment and under fryers.
There was mold near the cold top section of a cooler and on door gaskets in the front service area.
Leaks were detected at the faucets of the three-compartment ware wash sink and the sink by the cook’s line.
The supermarket passed a reinspection on Sept. 20.
Black Bear Diner , 1830 Arden Way in Sacramento, had 17 violations on Sept. 20.
Sacramento County inspectors identified multiple violations at the facility related to improper food storage and hygiene.
Various foods — including sliced meats, raw eggs and cheeses — were at unsafe temperatures.
There was a fly in a bag of burger buns, and three flies were observed in the kitchen.
Inspectors found mold-like buildup in the ice machine, and organic debris around soda dispensing nozzles.
They also spotted heavy grease buildup on cooking equipment and refrigeration gaskets, plus leaks in several refrigerators.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Monday, Sept. 23.
Dutch Bros Coffee , 4005 Sunrise Blvd. in Rancho Cordova, had five violations on Sept. 20.
Sacramento County inspectors cited a coffee shop for several violations, including two unattended cartons of sweet creamnear the drive-thru and a jammed paper towel dispenser in a shared restroom.
The drive-thru coffee shop didn’t have a California food manager certificate, and 17 food handler cards were missing.
During a reinspection on Monday, the shop received another yellow placard for improper food storage temperatures and employees lacking food safety certifications.
However, the establishment passed a reinspection on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Hibachi Sushi Buffet Sushi & Grill , 5623 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights, had 11 violations on Sept. 20.
The sushi restaurant was cited for multiple health violations, including storing food items in plastic containers on the floor in the prep area and refrigerators, lacking visible thermometers in refrigeration units and improperly thawing food at room temperature.
Additional violations included open employee drinks in the food prep area, a blocked handwashing sink and improperly stored cooked fish and shrimp.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Wednesday.
El Forastero Mexican Food , 8949 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Sept. 20.
Inspectors noted several health violations, including improper cooling of large containers of cooked pork and beef stew in the walk-in refrigerator.
The restaurant reheated cooked beef incorrectly, stored raw beef stored above churros and kept a box of fries improperly stored on the floor.
Old food debris was found on the meat slicer, and knives with food residue were stored among clean knives.
There was mold-like growth on the soda machine ice chute and inside the ice machine’s storage compartment.
Other issues included food debris on a potato dicer and ice scoop.
Additionally, cans of insecticide were found in food storage areas.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Monday.
Chicha Peruvian Kitchen , 1501 16th St., Suite 101 and 102, in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Monday, Sept. 23.
Inspectors cited the restaurant for several violations, including sauces, cooked pork and curries at improper holding temperatures and raw fish stored above cooked corn in the walk-in cooler.
No paper towels were supplied at the bar handwashing station, the report said.
Dark slime was inside the ice machine and employees’ California food handler cards were not available for review.
The restaurant was reinspected on Thursday and received a green placard.
Hook and Ladder Manufacturing Co. , 1630 S St. in Sacramento, had 12 violations on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Inspectors saw live cockroaches throughout the facility, including in a women’s restroom and in the floor sink of the bar area.
Dead cockroaches were seen in glue traps beneath a dishware rack in the bar area.
Improperly stored food included cheese, burger sauce and two moldy potatoes.
Inspectors also observed sanitation issues such as residue on the ice machine deflector panel and food debris near the meat slicer.
Unclean areas included dust accumulation on the fire sprinkler system, ceiling vent and cook’s line lighting.
There was mold-like residue in a clear display cooler near the bar exit.
The business passed a reinspection on Thursday.
Pasta Crush , 1300 East Bidwell St., Suite 145, in Folsom, had 13 violations on Tuesday.
Inspectors noted that an employee did not wash their hands before food preparation and no food handler cards were present. There was no food safety certificate available.
The sanitizing step was skipped during warewashing.
Additionally, boxes of food were stored on the floor in the walk-in refrigerator.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Thursday.
Cricket Country Kitchen , 4745 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Tuesday.
The restaurant was cited for an overfilled container of sliced melon and watermelon salad, as well as improper cooling of partially cooked bacon.
An employee’s California food handler card had expired.
Inspectors observed light black and brown residue inside the ice machine.
Other surfaces, such as the shelf leg for soda syrup boxes and the ceiling ventilation cover in the women’s restroom, required cleaning.
The restaurant had not been inspected as of Thursday.
Friends with Benedicts Mimosa House , 310 Palladio Parkway, suite 713, in Folsom, had five violations on Tuesday.
Health inspectors cited the restaurant for several violations, including dried food debris on the slicer and improperly stored food items such as melon, cottage cheese, sausage, eggs, beef and chicken.
Additionally, employees were observed cracking eggs, dipping French toast and switching tasks without changing gloves or washing their hands.
The restaurant passed a reinspection on Thursday.
Bambina’s , 1610 R St., Suite 130, in Sacramento, had 16 violations on Tuesday.
Inspectors reported the presence of two flies in the kitchen.
Both the kitchen hand sink and a sink by the dish machine lacked paper towels.
Several potentially hazardous foods were outside of proper holding temperature, including french fries, salami, sliced tomatoes and sausage thawing in standing cold water.
The facility did not have a valid food manager certificate on file, and California food handler cards were unavailable for review.
Additionally, debris was on the floor inside the cabinet at the server station.
The restaurant was reinspected on Thursday and received a green placard.
Pothong Market , 3540 Norwood Ave. in Sacramento, had 18 violations on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The Asian grocery store was using a Home Depot bucket for food storage.
An outdoor bug trap was found on a shelf above a refrigerator, and personal items, such as a phone and water bottle, were stored above retail products.
There was a leak under the ware washing sink.
Several areas, including ventilation hoods and the back warehouse, had old food debris or cobwebs.
The market passed a reinspection on Thursday.
China Gourmet , 6745 Watt Ave., Suite C, in North Highlands, had 14 violations on Wednesday.
Health inspectors cited the establishment for several food safety violations, such as potentially hazardous foods stored at improper temperatures.
Those included raw chicken wings, cooked chow mein and raw eggrolls.
The restaurant lacked sanitizer for cleaning prep counters, having used up bleach during cleaning the previous night.
Two California food handler cards were missing.
There was grease buildup beneath cooking equipment, and personal items lsuch as a cell phone and keys were improperly stored above prep areas.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday.
Tori’s Place , 1525 Grand Ave. in Sacramento, had 23 violations on Wednesday.
Health inspectors cited the restaurant for extensive rodent activity after finding approximately 730 droppings in various storage areas.
Though no contamination of food was noted, they ordered employees to clean those areas immediately.
Seven live flies were observed in the kitchen and storage areas.
The handwashing sink in the kitchen lacked soap and paper towels, and the employee restroom was missing soap.
Improper holding temperatures were recorded for green beans, sweet potatoes and rice.
The establishment lacked a valid food manager’s certificate, and one food handler card had expired.
Other issues included improper handwashing, fish thawing on a prep table and improperly cooled chicken.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday.
Ninja Hibachi Express , 4236 Madison Ave. in North Highlands, had 12 violations on Wednesday.
Health inspectors found several dead cockroaches under bulk storage bins and the warewash station, along with about three flies in the kitchen and warewashing areas.
Inspectors noted multiple violations regarding potentially hazardous foods that were outside of proper holding temperatures, including potstickers.
They also saw instances of food storage. Raw shrimp was stored above cabbage, raw fish above ready-to-eat foods and chicken over sauce buckets.
Additionally, there was residue buildup on knives.
Two employees had expired food handler cards, and one employee was seen skipping the sanitization step during manual warewashing.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday.
Black Bear Diner , 8531 Bond Road in Elk Grove, had 11 violations on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The restaurant was cited for storing foods at potentially hazardous temperatures, including mashed potatoes, roast beef and sausage.
Improper cooling of hollandaise sauce was noted, as it was left on the counter for three hours.
Inspectors found dust and debris on the fan guard of the upright cabinet, dried residue on shelves, mold-like residue at the bottom of another reach-in cooler and dust accumulation at the vents above the walk-in cooler entrance.
When the restaurant was inspected on Thursday, it again received a yellow placard — signifying that a third inspection is needed.
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