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EL CHALA INC

1670 STORY RD, SAN JOSE, CA, 95122 +14082515539
Pass
86
Latest score
67%
Pass rate
3
Inspections
4
Critical violations

Location

Latest inspection

PASSED
Feb 11, 2026ROUTINE INSPECTION185 days ago

OWNERSHIP CHANGE INFORMATION NEW FACILITY NAME: ___EL CHALA INC ______________________ NEW OWNER: _________EL CHALA INC_________________ The applicant has completed the facility evaluation application process for an Environmental Health Permit . The permit category for this facility is FP14 . An invoice for the permit fee in the amount of $1,723.00 will be mailed to the billing address on the application. Payment must be submitted within 10 days of receipt of the invoice. The owner is responsible for contacting our department if an invoice is not received and remit payment within 30 days. The Environmental Health Permit will be effective: 03/01/2026 - 02/28/2027 This report serves as a temporary permit. However, the permit will be deemed invalid if the permit fee is not paid in full within 30 days from the date of this report. Okay to Operate. An official permit will be mailed to the address on file and shall be posted in public view upon receipt. *Structural Review inspection conducted on 02/11/2026 ** Any menu or operation change that results in or requires modification to the kitchen including the addition of any cooking equipment or equipment with plumbing are required to be submitted to this department's Plan Check for review and approval prior to installation and use. Equipment that are added without prior submittal are considered unapproved and will be subject to enforcement action. Information on Plan Check requirements and forms can be located on line at www .Ehinfo.org or contact Plan Check at 408-918-3400. NOTE: Facility does not have a walk-in cooler; Specialist recommends using ice paddles in addition to shallow containers to cool PFHs.

Inspection Timeline

Feb 11, 2026Latest
PassedScore: 86/100
ROUTINE INSPECTION
86
Sep 19, 2025
Passed
FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION
Sep 16, 2025
ConditionalScore: 65/100
ROUTINE INSPECTION
65

Violations Analysis

4
Critical Violations
4 in last 3 inspections
8
Non-Critical
12
Total Violations
Across 3 inspections

Complete inspection history

3 inspections
PassLatest Feb 11, 2026
86/100

ROUTINE INSPECTION

OWNERSHIP CHANGE INFORMATION NEW FACILITY NAME: ___EL CHALA INC ______________________ NEW OWNER: _________EL CHALA INC_________________ The applicant has completed the facility evaluation application process for an Environmental Health Permit . The permit category for this facility is FP14 . An invoice for the permit fee in the amount of $1,723.00 will be mailed to the billing address on the application. Payment must be submitted within 10 days of receipt of the invoice. The owner is responsible for contacting our department if an invoice is not received and remit payment within 30 days. The Environmental Health Permit will be effective: 03/01/2026 - 02/28/2027 This report serves as a temporary permit. However, the permit will be deemed invalid if the permit fee is not paid in full within 30 days from the date of this report. Okay to Operate. An official permit will be mailed to the address on file and shall be posted in public view upon receipt. *Structural Review inspection conducted on 02/11/2026 ** Any menu or operation change that results in or requires modification to the kitchen including the addition of any cooking equipment or equipment with plumbing are required to be submitted to this department's Plan Check for review and approval prior to installation and use. Equipment that are added without prior submittal are considered unapproved and will be subject to enforcement action. Information on Plan Check requirements and forms can be located on line at www .Ehinfo.org or contact Plan Check at 408-918-3400. NOTE: Facility does not have a walk-in cooler; Specialist recommends using ice paddles in addition to shallow containers to cool PFHs.

4 reported violations
  • K39: Thermometers provided, accurate

    Observed thermometers missing inside refrigeration units. [CA] A thermometer +/- 2°F shall be provided and correctly located in each hot and cold holding unit containing potentially hazardous foods.

  • K23: No rodents, insects, birds, or animalsCritical

    Observed 1 live German cockroach in dining area of facility. No activity observed in kitchen. Observed last pest control service report dated 01/12/2026. Per staff, no cockroach activity has been observed. [CA] Owner eliminated cockroach during inspection. Clean and sanitize area of dead cockroaches. Continue with pest control service to monitor for cockroaches. Any evidence of live cockroach activity will result in facility being ordered closed. Per owner, they will call for pest control service twice a month.

  • K35: Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity

    1. 1 door upright refrigerator (TRUE) gasket is torn; top well gaskets observed torn. [CA] Repair gaskets to ensure equipment is working properly. 2. Observed condensate accumulating inside the prep table with top well. [CA] Repair equipment.

  • K45: Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean

    Food debris observed on floor in between equipment. [CA] Walls and/or floors in food preparation area shall be kept clean.

Pass Sep 19, 2025
N/A

FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION

Follow up conducted following a conditional pass on 9/16/2025. The following MAJOR violations were corrected: - K06 - Inadequate handwash facilities- Observed hand washing stations are properly stocked with hand soap and paper towels. - K07 - Improper hot and cold holding temperatures- Measured potentially hazardous foods in all refrigeration at proper holding temperatures. - K09 - Improper cooling procedures - observed proper cooling procedures (food in ice baths). - K35 (minor) - observed equipment working and holding PHFs at 41F or below.

No reported violations
Conditional Pass Sep 16, 2025
65/100

ROUTINE INSPECTION

8 reported violations
  • K23: No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

    Observed 1 house hold fly in facility. [CA] Remove fly from facility using approved pest control method. Cover foods to protect from contamination.

  • K09: Proper cooling methodsCritical

    Beef soup is at 47F inside the 2 door reach in; per PIC, food was cooked and cooled the day before. [CA] After heating or hot holding, Potentially Hazardous Foods (PHFs) shall be cooled rapidly from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Approved cooling methods include: 1) Placing the food in shallow pans 2) Separating the food into thinner or smaller portions. 3) Using rapid cooling equipment (Ex. blast chiller) 4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer (ex. stainless steel) 5) Adding ice as an ingredient. 6) Using ice paddles 7) Using an ice bath and stirring frequently 8) Accordance with a HACCP plan. Cooling foods shall have enough space around the containers for cold air to circulate, be loosely covered, or uncovered and stirred as frequently needed to evenly cool. [COS] Food was voluntarily discarded, see VC&D report.

  • K07: Proper hot and cold holding temperaturesCritical

    Several potentially hazardous foods are held above 41F inside the prep table with top well in front of the cook-line and 2 door reach in in the back of the facility. Several potentially hazardous foods are stored at room temperature. Per PIC, foods inside the prep table with top well are stored in unit every morning, less than 1 hour per PIC; ambient of unit is 61F and thermometer in exterior of unit is 52F. Per PIC, food inside the 2 door upright unit are stored in unit everyday from the freezer. Per PIC, food at room temperature have been out for about half hour. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [SA] Food in prep table with top well and 2 door reach in were relocated to another unit able to cold hold PHFs at 41F or below. [COS] food items over 4 hours were voluntarily discarded (see VC&D). Service technician arrived on site to service refrigeration units.

  • K44: Premises clean, in good repair; Personal/chemical storage; Adequate vermin-proofing

    Observed personal beverages with no cover/lid in the food prep areas. [CA] No personal beverages in the food prep area; store beverages in a designated area with lid/cover.

  • K27: Food separated and protected
  • K33: Nonfood contact surfaces clean

    Dust accumulation observed on refrigeration unit fan covers. [CA] Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris.

  • K35: Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity

    Prep unit with top well and 2 door reach in are 41F or above. [CA] Discontinue using equipment to store potentially hazardous foods until unit is repaired to cold hold potentially hazardous foods at 41F or below.

  • K06: Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessibleCritical

    Only hand sink in the kitchen lacked paper towels in the dispenser; a strainer was stored inside the hand sink basin. [CA] Single-use sanitary towels shall be provided in dispensers. [CA] A handwashing facility shall not be used for purposes other than handwashing. [COS] Paper towel dispenser was stocked during inspection and strainer removed.

Source: Santa Clara County open data. Records are supplied as-is and may take 24–48 hours to reflect a newly published inspection.