Eight local eateries failed health inspections in August but passed follow-up inspections. Half were in trouble with the health department earlier this year, too.
Here’s what you need to know:
El Manantial Hot Dogs
510 W. Oregon St.
- History: Rated “needs improvement” in 2010, 2011 and 2012, but rated “good” and “excellent” in 2012 and 2013.
- What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on Aug. 13, including food kept at the wrong temperatures and the cook not washing his hands properly.
- Follow-up: Rated “good” on Aug. 19, but failed again Aug. 25. Passed Aug. 27.
- Response: Two messages were not returned.
Golden China Restaurant
7018 E. Golf Links Road
- History: The restaurant failed five inspections earlier this summer.
- What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on Aug. 14, including cockroaches in the kitchen and dining area, employees not washing their hands and a manager who didn’t know food-safety rules.
- Follow-up: Passed Aug. 27. A manager enrolled in a food-safety class. “The facility is continuing intensified treatment for the cockroach infestation and making substantial progress,” the inspector noted. However, the inspector also recommended a deep cleaning of the restaurant.
- Response: Two messages were not returned.
Happy Rooster Café
1114 S. Sarnoff
- History: Rated “needs improvement in 2011,” but rated “good” and “excellent” since then.
- What the inspector saw: Eight critical violations on Aug. 25, including a “moderate fly presence” with no fly traps in sight, food kept at the wrong temperatures, workers who were not wearing gloves handling ready-to-eat food, and a grimy kitchen.
- Follow-up: Passed Sept. 4.
- Response: Manager Richard Flory said he was surprised by the inspection results but made all the recommended changes.
Hot Dogs Mercado #2
425 E. 32nd
- History: This is one of the first inspections of this food truck.
- What the inspector saw: Seven critical violations on Aug. 6, including the cook not washing his hands and not knowing food-safety rules.
- Follow-up: Passed Aug. 14.
- Response: The owner could not be reached for comment.
Kung Fu Noodle
3122 N. Campbell Ave.
- History: Failed an inspection in June, but passed re-inspection 10 days later.
- What the inspector saw: Nine critical violations on Aug. 1, including “multiple small live bugs in sugar,” moldy vegetables, food kept at the wrong temperatures, a cook using the same spoon to taste food and serve food, and a dirty kitchen.
- Follow-up: Passed Aug. 11. The inspector noted, “Entire facility has been thoroughly cleaned.”
- Response: The problems were quickly corrected and everything is OK now, said manager Weiting Chen.
Sarku Japan
4500 N. Oracle Road
- History: This new Tucson Mall location was rated “good” in April.
- What the inspector saw: Seven critical violations on Aug. 6, including foods kept at the wrong temperatures, workers not washing hands as required, and high levels of chlorine in the dishwashing sink.
- Follow-up: Passed Aug. 18.
- Response: A corporate office in Canada referred questions to the local manager, who could not be reached for comment.
The Taco Shop Co.
1350 E. Broadway
- History: Failed an inspection in May, but passed re-inspection eight days later.
- What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on Aug. 5, including food kept at the wrong temperatures and there was no sanitizer in the dishwashing sink.
- Follow-up: Passed Aug. 15.
- Response: A manager who declined to give his name said the restaurant is filing an appeal. It also installed new refrigerators.
La Parrilla Suiza
2720 N. Oracle Road
- History: Rated “needs improvement” in June, failed a re-inspection and then passed the next day.
- What the inspector saw: Eight critical violations on July 21, including foods kept at the wrong temperatures, a dishwasher who didn’t wash his hands between handling dirty dishes and clean dishes, a cook who wiped his spatula on a dirty dish rag before using it to serve food, dirty kitchen tools, and a lack of sanitizer in the dishwashing sink. The inspector noted “the facility is in need of a general deep cleaning thoughout.”
- Follow-up: Failed re-inspections three times in August for foods kept at the wrong temperatures. Passed Sept. 8.
- Response: An owner or manager could not be reached for comment.
