Food for Thought: 47 violations between three low performers this week

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Lubbock health inspectors headed into dozens of local kitchens this week - checking to see which restaurants are keeping clean and which ones need to clean up.

KCBD NewsChannel 11’s Christy Hartin dishes out the top and low performers in this week’s food for thought.

Vallarta Taqueria & Restaurant at 5727 82nd had 12 violations.

• Cut tomatoes above the safe cold temperature 41°.
• Birria was not at least 135°.
• Raw ground beef was stored above raw whole beef.
• The three compartment sink was not sanitizing.
• There were no sanitizing test strips available.
• An employee did not wash their hands before putting on gloves.
• There’s no soap at a hand sink.
• There was no hot water at a hand sink.
• A toxic item was not labeled.

(Core)

• Bucket of peeled potatoes was stored directly on the ground.
• Metal containers on the drying rack were stacked wet in a manner that did not allow for proper air drying.

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

La Super Economica at 4810 Avenue P had 14 violations.

• Chicharones con carne did not cool properly. This can cause bacteria growth.
• Cucumbers and pico de gallo were above the safe cold temperature 41°.
• Coleslaw was held past its use-by-date.
• Raw chorizo was stored above raw bacon.
• Clean utensils had sticker residue on them.
• A toxic item was not labeled.
• A hand sink was blocked by a mop and bucket.
• The facility dehydrates beef for beef jerky and did not have an updated variance.

(Core)

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

Hayashi Hibachi Japanese Restaurant at 4220 82nd had 21 violations.

• Rice did not cool properly. This can cause bacteria growth.
• There was a brown residue in the soda nozzle.
• The dishwasher was not sanitizing.
• There were no sanitizer testing strips available.
• A toxic item was not labeled.
• There were no paper towels at a hand sink.
• There was no certified food manager available at the time of the inspection.

(Core)

• Large accumulation of food residue and debris underneath prep tables throughout facility.
• Accumulation of brown residue in floor drains of facility.
• Employee personal cell phones stored on shelf above prep line.
• Large accumulation of food residue and debris inside of reach in cooler on prep line.
• Accumulation of debris and brown residue on shelving and fan shrouds of walk in cooler.
• Single-service and single-use soy sauce bucket reused to store bulk salt.
• Single-service and single-use plastic cups reused as scoops in salt and potato starch.
• Clean forks stored in container with food contact surface up.
• Handle of scoop stored in contact with food, in bulk rice storage.
• Cases of food stored directly on floor of walk in cooler.
• Bucket of salt stored directly on floor in dry storage room.
• Cases of food stored directly on floor in walk in freezer.
• Wet wiping cloth, not in current use, stored on prep line.
• Employee personal water bottles stored on shelf above prep line.

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

Now to the good news. Here’s a look at this week’s Top Performers:

• Domino’s Pizza at 5407 4th
• Hawaiian Bros at 5501 Slide
• Pedro’s Tamales at 8207 Hwy 87