Rodents, roaches, failing on probation: Restaurant closures, inspections in Riverside County, June 10-30

Here are the restaurants and other food facilities that Riverside County Department of Environmental Health inspectors temporarily shut down because of imminent health hazards between June 10 and June 30, 2022. If no reopening date is mentioned, the department had not listed that facility as reopened as of this publication.

Kam Lun Chinese Food, 66610 8th St., Desert Hot Springs

  • Closed: June 29
  • Grade: 81/B, failing
  • Reason: Failing an inspection while on probation. Among the 13 violations, the inspector saw rodent droppings in several areas including by the food-prep sink and a microwave; there were flies at the cook line; cooked meat was sitting at room temperature and an employee said the practice is to leave it on the counter until it’s ordered; shrimp, beef and eggs were at unsafe temperatures in a refrigerator that was impounded for not keeping cold; dishes weren’t being washed properly; raw and ready-to-eat foods weren’t adequately separated; and the floors, walls and ceilings needed cleaning. The restaurant has been on probation since last August after failing three inspections and being shut down twice for rodent infestations in a two-year span. This is its second failure and closure since going on probation. To reopen again, it would have to correct all violations and purchase a new health permit.

El Ojo de Agua, 580 S. San Jacinto Ave., San Jacinto

  • Closed: June 28
  • Grade: 81/B, failing
  • Reason: Insufficient refrigeration. The walk-in cooler was impounded for not keeping cold, and another prep cooler also wasn’t keeping cold enough.

GOCO Cafe at Glen Ivy Hot Springs, 25000 Glen Ivy Road, Corona

  • Closed: June 28
  • Grade: 91/A, passing
  • Reason: No hot water
  • Reopened: About 20 minutes after the closure, once repairs were made

Pho TYC, 32475 Clinton Keith Road Suite 107, Wildomar

  • Closed: June 28
  • Grade: 92/A, passing (issued after reopening)
  • Reason: No hot water. Among other violations, the inspector saw several dead cockroaches, including in a pot on the stove, and the facility needed cleaning. The restaurant was told to call pest control as soon as possible.
  • Reopened: Later that day after hot water was restored

Mexican Kitchen, 17030 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside

  • Closed: June 22
  • Grade: 86/B, failing
  • Reason: Insufficient refrigeration. The walk-in cooler was impounded for not keeping cold.
  • Reopened: June 24 after the cooler was repaired
  • New grade: 97/A, passing

Bakery at Los Montes Meat Market, 960 6th St., Norco

  • Closed: June 21
  • Grades: 84/B in the main market, 84/B in the bakery, 93/A in the deli
  • Reason: Sewage backup. The floor sink under the dishwashing sink in the bakery area was overflowing. That was a critical violation and there were five others throughout the market: Dishes couldn’t be washed because of the overflow. Bakery employees couldn’t wash their hands after using the restroom because the soap dispenser wasn’t functional. A fridge in the main market was impounded for not keeping food cold enough. Utensils were being stored in that refrigerator instead of being washed and stored properly. And in the deli, a paddle used for cooking was stored directly on the floor.
  • Reopened: June 28 after the floor sink was fixed
  • New grades: 100/A in both the main market and bakery

Michi Tacos, 111 N. Main St., Lake Elsinore

  • Closed: June 21
  • Grade: 84/B, failing
  • Reason: Insufficient refrigeration. The inspector visited in response to a complaint about cockroaches, and did not find any. However, none of the restaurant’s refrigerators were keeping food at safe temperatures. All of them were impounded and more than 1,500 pounds of food had to be discarded. Among other violations, dishes were being washed without sanitizer, packages of tortillas were stored directly on the floor and there was mold in the ice machine.
  • Reopened: June 23 after the refrigerators were fixed or removed
  • New grade: 100/A, passing

Food area of 7-Eleven, 725 E. Grand Blvd., Corona

  • Closed: June 21
  • Grade: 90/A, passing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector saw two live rodents near where bagged ice was stored, and numerous droppings throughout the store, including in a cabinet storing condiment packages.
  • Reopened: June 23

Jilberto’s Mexican Food, 27523 Ynez Road, Temecula

  • Closed: June 16
  • Grade: 75/C, failing
  • Reason: Cockroach infestation. The inspector found numerous roaches behind a cork board. There were also a “significant number” of flies inside, from the dining room to the prep area. Other violations that the restaurant was told it had to fix before reopening were increasing the hot water temperature, fixing a refrigerator that was impounded, having the air conditioning and exhaust hood checked (it was 90 degrees in the kitchen), cleaning all surfaces and keeping all food covered. The restaurant was also told to stop keeping refried beans outside temperature control (a repeated violation) or face fines.
  • Reopened: June 21 after two visits from pest control. The water still wasn’t quite hot enough so another follow-up was planned.
  • New grade: 93/A, passing

Raincross Pub & Kitchen, 3557 University Ave., Riverside

  • Closed: June 16
  • Grade: 77/C, failing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation, nonfunctional dishwashing sink. The inspector saw “copious amounts of rodent droppings” in the pizza oven, under cooking equipment and in an equipment storage area. Pest control receipts showed there had been rodent activity from January through May, but none was found in a June 8 visit. Also, the sink for manual dishwashing had a severe leak. Among other violations, there were numerous fruit flies in the bar areas, a prep cooler was impounded for not keeping cold, a cutting board was stored on the floor near rodent droppings, the pizza oven’s mechanical cover was broken, wastewater was draining onto the floor in the upstairs bar and several areas needed cleaning. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection and closure in two years (it was shut down for a wastewater backup in September 2020) so it was scheduled for an administrative hearing.
  • Reopened: June 17
  • New grade: 96/A, passing, on June 23

Reid Park Snack Bar #1, 701 N. Orange St., Riverside

  • Closed: June 16
  • Grade: 85/B, failing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector saw droppings “too numerous to count” on packaged foods and shelves, in boxes and on the floor in a storage room. Packages of sunflower seeds had also been gnawed open. There was also an “excessive” number of flies.

Worthington’s, 3587 University Ave., Riverside

  • Closed: June 16
  • Grade: 85/B, failing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector saw rodent droppings on the floors throughout the facility, as well as on top of the dish machine’s sanitizer bucket. There were also fruit flies in the kitchen.
  • Reopened: June 17
  • New grade: 94/A, passing, on June 24. There were still some flies in the floor sinks.

Restaurant at Leoness Cellars, 38311 De Portola Road, Temecula

  • Closed: June 15
  • Grade: 80/B, failing
  • Reason: No hot water. That was a critical violation, and there was one other: Staff said they partially cook chicken, vacuum-seal and refrigerate it and then cook it fully to order, a practice they were told to stop immediately. Among the eight other violations, the ice machine was being repaired and a trash bin was being used to hold ice, the stove was being used while the exhaust hood filters were missing and multiple areas needed cleaning.
  • Reopened: June 16
  • New grade: 98/A, passing

AT Properties/Shell Gas, 23255 Temescal Canyon Road, Corona

  • Closed: June 14
  • Grade: 83/B, failing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector found numerous rodent droppings throughout the building, including inside a hot-holding unit that was stocked with food, on top of open single-service utensils, in contact with cups and lids, on soda syrup boxes and on the floors.
  • Reopened: June 16; the inspector found one rodent dropping in a cabinet and told the station to continue getting pest control service; the area was immediately cleaned.
  • New grade: 93/A, passing

Riverside Pop Warner Football & Cheer snack bar, Don Derr Park, 3003 Monroe St., Riverside

  • Closed: June 14
  • Grade: Not graded
  • Reason: Wastewater backup. A floor sink wasn’t draining.

Maverick Steak House, 3841 Hamner Ave., Norco

  • Closed: June 13
  • Grade: 74/C, failing
  • Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector noted “extensive rodent activity” with droppings throughout the facility. The restaurant was also instructed not to put rodent traps on shelves holding food and utensils. Both of those were critical violations, and there was a third, for the kitchen handwashing sink being nonoperational. Among the 11 other violations, utensils had been put away dirty and there was mold in the ice machine.
  • Reopened: June 16
  • New grade: 99/A, passing

Marui Sushi, 2347 California Ave. Suite 101, Corona

  • Closed: June 11
  • Grade: Not graded
  • Reason: Fire damage. The fire was in the sushi preparation area.
  • Reopened: June 13 (pending approval from other agencies)

In addition to visiting permitted facilities, inspectors conducted two enforcement operations checking for unpermitted roadside vendors, June 23 in San Jacinto and June 25 in Riverside. Vendors were shut down at the following locations; most of them had food at unsafe temperatures, unprotected from contamination with flies landing on food, and no ability to wash hands or dishes.

  • State Street and Cottonwood Avenue in San Jacinto
  • 300 block of South Sanderson Avenue in San Jacinto
  • Linden Street and Chicago Avenue in Riverside
  • 12th Street and Chicago Avenue in Riverside
  • 5000 Tequesquite Ave. in Riverside
  • Arlington Avenue and Harold Street in Riverside

Non-closure inspections of note

Here are selected inspections at facilities that weren’t closed but had significant issues.

Sake Sushi, at 36068 Hidden Springs Road Suite K in Wildomar, was inspected June 30 and received a failing grade of 80/B with two critical violations. The walk-in cooler was impounded for not keeping cold, and the person in charge said they knew it had not been working recently. Numerous containers of food had to be discarded. Also, a pot was not washed correctly.  Among the eight other violations, employees were using a pan of dirty water at the wok station to clean hands, and the kitchen needed cleaning.

Sapporo Sushi, at 29789 Antelope Road in Menifee, was inspected June 29 in response to a complaint and received a failing grade of 71/C with 16 violations, three of which were critical. Several items of food weren’t being kept hot or cold enough. An employee didn’t wash hands. And there were two issues with food-contact surfaces: The dishwasher was impounded for not dispensing sanitizer, and tongs were stored hanging in a trash can. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection since 2019.

Delgado’s Restaurant, at 517 E. Main St. in San Jacinto, was inspected June 28 and received a failing grade of 80/B with 10 violations, three of which were critical. Several containers of food weren’t at safe temperatures, including salsa in a cooler that was impounded. Enchilada sauce hadn’t been heated up adequately. And albondigas soup was being stored in a repurposed chemical container.

Ideku Sushi, at 25282 Madison Ave. Suite 105 in Murrieta, was inspected June 27 in response to a foodborne illness complaint and received a failing grade of 83/B with two critical violations. Some food was at unsafe temperatures, including items in a refrigerator that was impounded. Also, dishes weren’t being washed properly. Among the nine other violations, two handwashing sinks were blocked and one of them barely had water, chicken wasn’t being thawed correctly, there were cellphones on a cutting board and the sushi prep table, and multiple surfaces needed cleaning. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection since 2019.

Tacos Alvizo, at 25073 Sunnymead Blvd. in Moreno Valley, was inspected June 23 and received a failing grade of 73/C with 15 violations, four of which were critical. Meat and salsa were at unsafe temperatures in a refrigerator that was impounded. Large containers of cooked salsa weren’t being cooled down fast enough. Al pastor being cooked on a vertical broiler wasn’t being cooked thoroughly enough. And an employee didn’t wash hands. About 30 pounds of food had to be discarded.

Gin Sushi, at 26489 Ynez Road in Temecula, was inspected June 23 in response to a foodborne illness complaint and received a failing grade of 80/B with two critical violations. Food at the sushi bar was at unsafe temperatures in a fridge that was impounded for not keeping cold and in an insufficient ice bath. Also, the restaurant wasn’t keeping track of how long shrimp tempura and sushi rice had been left at room temperature. Among the eight other violations, the sushi bar soap and paper towel dispensers were inaccessible and the towels were “water damaged and full of slime mold”; the sushi rice sheet machine wasn’t being washed frequently enough; tuna wasn’t being thawed properly; and multiple areas needed cleaning. On June 27, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a grade of 99/A.

Gra-Pow, at 497 Alessandro Blvd. Suite D in Riverside, was inspected June 23 and received a failing grade of 82/B with one critical violation. Food was at unsafe temperatures sitting out at room temperature, in the walk-in cooler (which was repaired right away) and in another fridge (which was impounded). Among the 11 other violations, the bar dishwasher wasn’t properly sanitizing and the facility needed cleaning. On June 28, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 98/A.

The restaurant at Desert Falls Country Club, at 1111 Desert Falls Parkway in Palm Desert, was inspected June 22 and received a failing grade of 80/B with one critical violation. Dishes and other surfaces weren’t being sanitized. Among the 11 other violations, the inspector saw a live cockroach in a walk-in cooler and two dead roaches in other locations, meat and cheese were at unsafe temperatures in a cook-line fridge, the bar area didn’t have hot water, the women’s restroom didn’t have cold water and there was a long list of items that needed cleaning and repair. On June 29, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 97/A.

La Bufadora Baja Grill, at 2701 W. Florida Ave. in Hemet, was inspected June 21 in response to a foodborne illness complaint and received a failing grade of 85/B with eight violations, two of which were critical. Some food wasn’t being kept hot enough, which the inspector noted had been a repeated issue in inspections the past three years and warned could result in a citation if it happens again. Also, dishes weren’t being washed with hot water. On June 29, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 98/A.

The restaurant at Terra Lago Golf Club, at 84000 Terra Lago Parkway in Indio, was inspected June 20 and received a failing grade of 82/B with one critical violation. The inspector saw rodent droppings on top of the food prep sink, on the back of a unit for holding hot food and on the floors, and noted rodent and cockroach traps in the kitchen and bar areas, as well as dead flies in the bar area. Among the 10 other violations, some food wasn’t being kept hot, there was pink mold in the ice machine and equipment, floors and walls needed cleaning. On June 23, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 94/A.

Popeyes Chicken, at 26150 Iris Ave. in Moreno Valley, was inspected June 16 and received a failing grade of 76/C with three critical violations. Containers of chicken and mac and cheese were at unsafe temperatures in an ice bath by the cook line. Also, two employees went from touching dirty dishes to handling raw chicken, which was one critical violation for not washing hands and a second for contaminating food. Among the 10 other violations, there were flies throughout the restaurant and several ants in a food storage area, and cooking equipment and other surfaces needed cleaning. On June 23, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 99/A.

DTE, at 3601 University Ave. in Riverside, was inspected June 16 and received a failing grade of 80/B. It also received a citation because it had unapproved equipment and was reheating and thawing food even though it is approved only for limited food preparation, not for cooking or prepping on site — food is supposed to be brought over from the nearby restaurant Proabition. The inspector noted that DTE “has been notified of their restrictions on multiple occasions” and warned that failure to comply would result in further action. In the inspection, there were two critical violations. Cooked chicken, pork and beef had been left at room temperature. Also, the bar and kitchen dishwashers weren’t dispensing sanitizer; the one in the bar was fixed but the other one was impounded. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection since December so it was scheduled for an administrative hearing. On June 28, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 97/A.

Winchester Farms, at 27400 Winchester Road in Winchester, was inspected June 14 and received a failing grade of 80/B with two critical violations. There were several issues with unclean food-contact surfaces: Pans for cooking eggs were being wiped out with a dirty cloth but not washed between uses, knives hadn’t been cleaned and cherries were being rinsed in the dishwashing sink instead of the food-prep sink, which was blocked by dirty exhaust hood filters. Also, some cheese wasn’t being kept cold. Among the 10 other violations, employees were cooking even though the exhaust hoods had been removed, some food was stored uncovered, and there was a long list of equipment that needed cleaning, including an ice chute that had mold growth. The facility was also told to stop using an unapproved baking section in the market area, and to stop serving open food at the front counter. On June 21, the facility passed a follow-up inspection with a 96/A.

The Juice It Up at 25970 Iris Ave. Suite 6B in Moreno Valley was inspected June 10 and received a failing grade of 73/C with two critical violations. Employees weren’t sanitizing dishes, and one employee didn’t wash hands properly. Among the 15 other violations, there were numerous fruit flies throughout the facility, there were two unapproved plug-in fly traps (one over a food shelf), three sinks didn’t have hot enough water and staff was told to self-close if the water temperature continued to decrease, there was mold in the ice machine, other equipment also needed cleaning, and the inspector said there was moldy fruit all over the “excessively sticky” floor. On June 24, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 97/A. Hot water continued to be an issue so another follow-up was planned.

Updates from past weeks

Cafe Gossip, at 26150 Iris Ave. Suite A1 in Moreno Valley, which failed a June 9 inspection with an 80/B and was closed because of a cockroach infestation, was permitted to reopen June 21. It also passed a follow-up inspection with a 99/A.

The food area of the Van Buren Drive-In Theatre, at 3035 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside, which was shut down June 7 for operating during plumbing renovations, was permitted to reopen June 30.

About this list

This list is published online on Fridays. Any updates as restaurants are reopened will be included in next week’s list.

All food facilities in the county are routinely inspected to ensure they meet health codes. A facility loses four points for each critical violation — and may have to close if the violation can’t be corrected immediately — and one or two points for minor violations. An A grade (90 to 100 points) is passing. Grades of B (80 to 89 points) and C (79 or below) are failing and typically require the proprietor to make improvements and be re-inspected.

For more information on inspections of these or any restaurants in Riverside County, visit restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org. To submit a health complaint about a restaurant, go to www.rivcoeh.org/Complaint or call 888-722-4234 during business hours or 951-782-2968 after-hours.