Multiple food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the storage area.
[CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on an approved shelf or dunnage rack.
K23: No rodents, insects, birds, or animals
Couple of drain flies were observed in the preparation area and some in the front dining area.
[CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.
K34: Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
There is no approved quaternary ammonia sanitizer measuring strip to measure the concentration of the chemicals used to sanitize dishes and utensils in the facility.
[CA] Provide approved sanitizer measuring strips for the chemicals used in sanitizing utensils. equipment, and food contact surfaces.
K01: Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
A couple of the employees do not have active food handler cards.
[CA] Employee engaged in food preparation, storage, and service and who do not have food safety certificate must take food handler cards within a month of hire.
California approved Food Handler Card (FHC) class providers
All Directory Listing (ahttps://anabpd.ansi.org/Accreditation/credentialing/certificate-issuers/AllDirectoryListing?prgID=228,238&statusID=4nsi.org)
There was no soap supply on one of the front handwash stations.
[CA] Refill the wall-mounted soap dispenser immediately. Until the wall-mounted soap dispenser is refilled/fixed, employees MUST WASH THEIR HAND in the other handwash station located back in the kitchen area.
Pass Aug 28, 2025
92/100
ROUTINE INSPECTION
Note: This routine inspection is conducted for a change of ownership for SR0882046
NEW OWNER: Rodrigo Rodriguez NEW FACILITY NAME: Birria El Vaquerito
The applicant has completed the application for an Environmental Health Permit.
FP11 $1,580.00 will be invoiced and mailed to the address on the application. Payment shall be paid within 10 days of receipt of the invoice. The owner is responsible for contacting our department if an invoice is not received within 30 days of the change of owner’s date.
Permit issued and valid: 09/01/2025 08/31/26-. The permit will be deemed invalid if the permit fee is not paid in full within 30 days of the date of this report. This report serves as a temporary permit until the official permit is mailed to the facility. When the invoice for the facility is received, payment must be made within 10 days. Okay to operate as of today.
The official Environmental Health permit must post permits from a public view and a copy of the most recent inspection report must be kept on file for review by anyone upon request. All employees who are engaged in food preparation service, and storage, and who do not have a food manager certificate must get a food handler card within a month of hire.
*Structural Review inspection conducted on 8/28/2025.
3 reported violations▼
K07: Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
Some potentially hazardous foods stored on the front preparation fridge, including salsa and cheese were measured between 45°F and 50 °F.
[CA] All potentially hazardous foods like meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products, cooked vegetables, cooked cereals, greens, and diced tomatoes shall always be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. Please monitor the temperature and use of the refrigeration unit regularly
K34: Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
The sanitizer measuring strips are all expired.
[CA] Provide new and approved sanitizer measuring strips
K14: Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
There was a very low sanitizer concentration on the manual three-compartment ware washing sink.
[CA] Whenever sanitizing of utensils/equipment is conducted, the sanitizer concentration maintain in the sanitizing compartment of the manual warewashing sink must be maintained at 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine, unless otherwise specified by manufacturer of the chemical.
Pass Aug 8, 2025
N/A
FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION
Note: This is a second follow-up inspection to the routine inspection that was conducted on 07/31/2025. The facility was closed for vermin infestation. The owner hired two pest control companies and conducted multiple interventions. The booth sits were all removed and the dining area cleaned. Most of the structural deficiencies are also addressed. Checklist for reopening after closure and couple of pest control company report are collected.
During today's follow-up inspection, no live or dead cockroaches were observed in the restaurant. Therefore, the restaurant is open for service.
No reported violations▼
Fail Aug 5, 2025
N/A
FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION
Note: This is a follow-up inspection to the routine inspection conducted on 07/31/2025. The facility was closed due to vermin infestation. The owner hired a pest control company and conducted intervention, conducted cleaning, send our office completed reopening checklist, and requested an inspection for today.
During today's follow-up inspection, many live and dead cockroaches were observed on the same location where I found live once last Thursday. Many live and dead cockroaches were also observed on dining area below the sitting booth. Therefore, the facility is going to remain closed. This first follow-up inspection is a free inspection, however, any subsequent follow-up inspection after first follow-up shall be billed $298/hour, minimum one hour, during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM), and $645 for the first 2 hours, thereafter $298 each additional hour, during non-business hours, and upon inspector availability
The posted placard is property of the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health and shall not be removed, covered up, relocated, tampered, or copied. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions per County Ordinance Code Section B11-55.
A facility found to be in continued operation without a permit may incur a penalty of three (3) times the operating permit fee, and fee(s) for re-inspection(s) charged at the current hourly rate approved by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Penalties and fees incurred due to enforcement activities must be paid in full prior to the issuance of an operating permit.
1 reported violation▼
K23: No rodents, insects, birds, or animalsCritical
Repeated violation: Multiple live adult and nymph cockroaches were observed below and above the warewash and handwash sinks, on the crevices and holes behind the sinks, and on the floor sinks below the wash sink. There were many nymphs below the cooking equipment under the exhaust hood as well. There were many live and dead cockroaches on the floor below the sitting booth in the dining areas as well.
[CA] Eliminate all insects/rodents from the facility by a legal method. Until the live cockroaches are all eliminated and verified by a district inspector, the facility shall be closed. Please contact the district inspector for a follow-up inspection.
During a follow-up inspection, no live or dead vermin, indication of the dropping, gnawing, or rat rub marking should be observed. The owner of the facility must provide a pest control company report which indicate what interventions were conducted and observed violations and recommendations.
The structural issues including the cracks, crevices, and gaps between the wall and the sinks and the preparation tables and the walls must be caulk or sealed. To prevent vermin hiding and breading and easy cleaning of the floor area, all food products must remove from the floor and stored on shelves or dunnage racks.
Any operational and structural issues that contribute to the vermin infestation must also be addressed.
Fail Jul 31, 2025
68/100
ROUTINE INSPECTION
Note: 1. There is no food safety manager certificate.
2. The posted placard is property of the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health and shall not be removed, covered up, relocated, tampered, or copied. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions per County Ordinance Code Section B11-55.
A facility found to be in continued operation without a permit may incur a penalty of three (3) times the operating permit fee, and fee(s) for re-inspection(s) charged at the current hourly rate approved by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Penalties and fees incurred due to enforcement activities must be paid in full prior to the issuance of an operating permit.
The first follow-up inspection shall be conducted free of charge. However, any subsequent follow-up inspection after first follow-up shall be billed $298/hour, minimum one hour, during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM), and $645 for the first 2 hours, thereafter $298 each additional hour, during non-business hours, and upon inspector availability.
3. To schedule an inspection in the weekend, you must contact Suzanne Lew at 408 918 3461 before 2 pm on Friday. An invoice for an owner initiated weekend inspection fee shall be generated and emailed to the owner to pay it online before an inspector steps into the restaurant. This will only be based on the availability of inspectors who works on the weekends.
9 reported violations▼
K40: Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Many wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters and on the sinks.
[CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).
K01: Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
There is not a food safety manager certified person in the facility.
[CA] Someone from the facility must take a food safety certificate class within two months and keep copy of the certificate on file.
Food Safety Manager certificate class may be taken on the following websites:
1. Premier Food Safety:
https://www.premierfoodsafety.com/food-manager-certification/california\
2. Learn 2 Serve:
https://www.360training.com/learn2serve/food-safety-manager/California
3. Serve Safe Manager:
https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Manager
Couple of the employees do not have food handler cards.
[CA] Employee engaged in food preparation, storage, and service and who do not have food safety certificate must take food handler cards within a month of hire.
California approved Food Handler Card (FHC) class providers
All Directory Listing (ahttps://anabpd.ansi.org/Accreditation/credentialing/certificate-issuers/AllDirectoryListing?prgID=228,238&statusID=4nsi.org)
K44: Premises clean, in good repair; Personal/chemical storage; Adequate vermin-proofing
Repeated violation: There is no wet mop hanger by the janitorial sinks.
[CA] Install a wet mop hanger by the janitorial sink. All wet mops must be hanged on the wet mop hanger.
There was no soap supply on the handwash station located back in the kitchen area.
[CA] Refill the wall-mounted soap dispenser immediately. Until the wall-mounted soap dispenser is refilled/fixed, provide a pump-type soap dispenser. The facility manager provided a pump-type soap dispenser (COS).
Repeated violation: Many food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the storage areas.
[CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on approved shelf or dunnage rack.
K33: Nonfood contact surfaces clean
Repeated violation: The screen covers of the make-up air vents in th dining area and the restroom’s exhaust vents have heavy dust accumulation.
[CA] Clean the screen covers of the makeup air and the exhaust fan regularly.
There are some damaged tiles on the wall behind the three compartment sink. There are crevices between the shelves and the wall above the wash station.
[CA] To prevent vermin hiding and breeding, seal all the holes, crevices, cracks immediately.
There is heavy water standing below the ice machine and on the room where the water heater is located.
[CA] Keep the floor area clean, neat, and dry.
K09: Proper cooling methods
Cooling of freshly cooked corn was being done at room temperature.
[CA] All hot-held food products must be cooled from 135 OF to 70 OF within the first two hours and from 70 OF to 41 OF with another four hours by:
(1) Placing the FOOD in shallow pans.
(2) Separating the FOOD into smaller or thinner portions.
(3) Using rapid cooling EQUIPMENT.
(4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer.
(5) Adding ice as an ingredient.
(6) Using ice paddles.
(7) Inserting appropriately designed containers in an ice bath and stirring frequently.
The manager was demonstrated on the proper cooling procedure using an ice bath and smaller portions.
K23: No rodents, insects, birds, or animalsCritical
Multiple live adult and nymph cockroaches were observed below and above the warewash and handwash sinks, on the crevices and holes behind the sinks, and on the floor sinks below the wash sink. There were many nymphs below the cooking equipment under the exhaust hood as well.
[CA] Eliminate all insects/rodents from the facility by a legal method. Until the live cockroaches are all eliminated and verified by a district inspector, the facility shall be closed. Please contact the district inspector for a follow-up inspection.
During a follow-up inspection, no live or dead vermin, indication of the dropping, gnawing, or rat rub marking should be observed. The owner of the facility must provide a pest control company report which indicate what interventions were conducted and observed violations and recommendations.
The structural issues including the cracks, crevices, and gaps between the wall and the sinks and the preparation tables and the walls must be caulk or sealed. To prevent vermin hiding and breading and easy cleaning of the floor area, all food products must remove from the floor and stored on shelves or dunnage racks.
Any operational and structural issues that contribute to the vermin infestation must also be addressed.
Pass Dec 19, 2024
83/100
ROUTINE INSPECTION
Note: There is no food safety manager ceritificate.
7 reported violations▼
K33: Nonfood contact surfaces clean
The screen covers of the make-up air vents in th dining area and the restroom’s exhaust vents have heavy dust accumulation.
[CA] Clean the screen covers of the makeup air and the exhaust fan regularly.
There was no soap supply on one of the kitchen’s handwash sinks.
[CA] Refill the wall-mounted soap dispenser immediately. Until the wall-mounted soap dispenser is refilled, you use a pump-type soap supply.
K39: Thermometers provided, accurate
There was no functional thermometer inside of the under-counter fridge.
[CA] To monitor the ambient air temperature of the units, please install a functional thermometer on all refrigeration units.
There was not a functional prob thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the cold and hot food products.
[CA] Provide an approved prob type thermometer and use it with a regular calibration and sanitization.
K44: Premises clean, in good repair; Personal/chemical storage; Adequate vermin-proofing
There is no wet mop hanger by the janitorial sinks.
[CA] Install a wet mop hanger by the janitorial sink. All wet mops must be hanged on the wet mop hanger.
K01: Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
There is not a food safety manager certified person in the facility.
[CA] Someone from the facility must take a food safety certificate class within two months and keep copy of the certificate on file.
Food Safety Manager certificate class may be taken on the following websites:
1. Premier Food Safety:
https://www.premierfoodsafety.com/food-manager-certification/california\
2. Learn 2 Serve:
https://www.360training.com/learn2serve/food-safety-manager/California
3. Serve Safe Manager:
https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Manager
Couple of the employees do not have food handler cards.
[CA] Employee engaged in food preparation, storage, and service and who do not have food safety certificate must take food handler cards within a month of hire.
California approved Food Handler Card (FHC) class providers
All Directory Listing (ahttps://anabpd.ansi.org/Accreditation/credentialing/certificate-issuers/AllDirectoryListing?prgID=228,238&statusID=4nsi.org)
K09: Proper cooling methods
Cooling of freshly cooked rice, beef stew, and beans was being done at room temperature.
[CA] All hot-held food products must be cooled from 135 OF to 70 OF within the first two hours and from 70 OF to 41 OF with another four hours by:
(1) Placing the FOOD in shallow pans.
(2) Separating the FOOD into smaller or thinner portions.
(3) Using rapid cooling EQUIPMENT.
(4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer.
(5) Adding ice as an ingredient.
(6) Using ice paddles.
(7) Inserting appropriately designed containers in an ice bath and stirring frequently.
The manager was demonstrated on the proper cooling procedure using an ice bath and smaller portions.
Many food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the storage areas.
[CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on approved shelf or dunnage rack.
Source: Santa Clara County open data. Records are supplied as-is and may take 24–48 hours to reflect a newly published inspection.