THE SAFETY ZONE: RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS
The environmental health division of Orange County’s Health Care Agency performs routine, unannounced inspections of the county’s more than 11,000 restaurants, markets and other food establishments. When conditions violate state law or applicable county and municipal codes, inspectors can issue notices of violation. If inspectors find during an announced recheck that conditions have not been rectified, they can effectively close the business by suspending its health permit. Health permits are reinstated as soon as the situation is rectified. Here is a rundown for December:
Business: Win-Thai Chinese Cuisine, 1151 N. Euclid St., Anaheim
Dates closed: Dec. 3-4
Reasons cited: Failure to comply with Notice of Violation; numerous violations; cockroaches
Business: Bonita Market, 12662 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove
Date closed: Dec. 3.*
Reasons cited: Operating without a permit; uninventoried facility; no plan check review done
Business: El Maguey, 31481 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
Dates closed: Dec. 6-8
Reasons cited: Infestation of cockroaches and mice; poor sanitation
Business: Lucky Place, 9862 Westminster Ave., Unit B, Garden Grove
Dates closed: Dec. 8-9
Reasons cited: Failure to comply with Notice of Violation; cooks sneezing in hands, scratching nose without washing hands; use of unclean/unsanitized multiuse rags on food contact surfaces; storage of poisonous chemicals over food; general lack of cleanliness
Business: El Pollo Loco, 22381 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita
Date closed: Dec. 8; reopened the same day
Reasons cited: Raw sewage exiting from floor sinks; strong sewage odor in kitchen
Business: Zavala’s Market, 406 N. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
Dates closed: Dec. 9-11
Reason cited: Infestation of cockroaches
Business: Thana Phat Supermarket, 14212 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove
Dates closed: Dec. 9-11
Reasons cited: Failure to comply with Notice of Violation; vermin; unclean
Business: Delicias de Michoacan, 1226 S. Main St., Santa Ana
Dates closed: Dec. 11-15
Reason cited: No hot water
Business: Maxim’s, 13922 Golden West St., Westminster
Dates closed: Dec. 11-18
Reasons cited: Major rodent infestation throughout the facility; rodent droppings observed on shelves, floors, top of walk-in box, food equipment, linens, food bins, etc.
Business: The Best Mexican Food, 16952 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach
Dates closed: Dec. 14-15
Reasons cited: Operating without a valid health permit; nonfunctioning refrigeration equipment; food stored on floor
Business: Rancho Nuevo Market, 6921 Cerritos Ave., Stanton
Date closed: Dec. 15; reopened the same day
Reason cited: No hot water since Dec. 12
Business: Baja Cantina Restaurant, 10072 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove
Dates closed: Dec. 15-16
Reason cited: Rodent infestation in food preparation and storage areas
Business: Diedrich Coffee Cart, 500 Newport Center Drive
Dates closed: Dec. 16-18
Reasons cited: Noncompliance with a Notice of Decision after a mandatory office hearing; violations remain; additional violations noted
Business: Extasis Caliente Restaurant, 11316 Beach Blvd., Stanton
Dates closed: Dec. 18-19
Reason cited: No hot water
Business: Howard’s Coffee Shop, 4780 Lincoln Ave., Cypress
Dates closed: Dec. 22-24
Reason cited: Fire on roof; restaurant was closed immediately by the Fire Department
Business: Kien Thanh Restaurant, 10471 Bolsa Ave., Westminster
Dates closed: Dec. 22-24
Reasons cited: Noncompliance with Notice of Violation of Dec. 3; cockroach infestation in kitchen
Business: Rancho de Mendoza, 104 E. 4th St., Santa Ana
Date closed: Dec. 29; reopened the same day
Reason cited: Sewage overflow
Business: Godiva Chocolatier, 2800 N. Main St., No. 180, Santa Ana
Date closed: Dec. 29; reopened the same day
Reason cited: Sewage overflow
* Not reopened as of Dec. 31, 1998
Source: Orange County Health Care Agency
Researched by TIM WILSON / Los Angeles Times