Health inspectors closed three restaurants and two shops in the San Gabriel Valley and greater Whittier area between June 30 and July 13.
Food facilities health clearance has been suspended for either cockroaches, rodents, bugs, no hot water, sewer problems, or operating without a health permit, according to reports from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.
Food establishments whose permits are suspended must close until another inspection determines that the issues have been resolved. Closures can occur during routine and owner-initiated inspections, complaint investigations, and re-inspections.
The department did not disclose the types of cockroaches, rodents, or vermin – such as how many and where in the facility they were found – for all restaurants.
Institutions are rated with a number and a letter, similar to school reports. If a food company is closed because of cockroaches, rodents or flies, sewage problems or a lack of water, the company loses seven points in addition to the four points that are deducted in the event of serious health violations. Each time two major health hazards, such as unsafe food temperatures, are observed, the facility loses an additional three points in its inspection rating.
Here are the facilities that have been closed. The grades and points listed were closed at the time of the day.
Ludingji
Location: 529 E. Valley Blvd., Suite 108-B, San Gabriel
Date closed: June 30th
Reason for closure: cockroaches. An inspector observed:
• Two live cockroaches and one live adult cockroach crawl on the floor in the dining room.
• Approximately one live adult cockroach and two live nymph cockroaches crawl on the wall behind the kitchen counter.
• A live cockroach crawls on the wall behind the cash register.
• Approximately 30+ dead cockroaches on the floors throughout the facility, including under the sinks, hand washing and prepping sinks, under the kitchen counter, and in the sinks.
• Cockroach fecal stains on the underside of the cooking table.
Reopening date: July 6th
Score / grade: 81, B.
Ritual help
Location: 6512 Comstock Ave., Whittier
Date closed: June 30th
Reason for closure: rodents. An inspector noticed fresh rodent droppings on food cans and chewed bags of lentils and pinto beans. A representative from the camp voluntarily disposed of 115 tins and six sacks of pinto beans and lentils.
Reopening date: July 2nd
Score / grade: 84, B.
Sage social eatery
Location: 119 N. Vincent Ave., Covina
Date closed: June 30th
Reason for closure: No health permit
Reopened Date: Still closed at time of publication
Score / Grade: N / A
Money tree
Location: 846 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
Date closed: July 7th
Reason for closure: No reason given.
Reopened Date: Still closed at time of publication
Score / grade: 83, B.
Ho Kee Cafe
Location: 533 S. Del Mar Ave., San Gabriel
Date closed: July 9th
Reason for closure: cockroaches. An inspector discovered:
• A live cockroach and numerous dead cockroaches on the inspector’s hands while he was drying his hands on the employee’s hand basin with the paper towel.
• A live cockroach on the floor under the Peking Duck shop window.
• Numerous traces of cockroach droppings on the wall behind the paper towel dispenser on the hand wash basin of the employees.
• An egg capsule was observed when the cook threw the paper towel in the trash can.
Reopening date: Still closed at the time of publication.
Score / grade: 81, B.