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