Health inspectors across the county downgraded restaurants for “health hazards” discovered during their visits between June 19 and July 17.

Among the primary concerns noted by inspectors this month were cockroach and rodent infestations, the presence of which could potentially sicken restaurant patrons, according to the department.

Environmental Health Inspectors drop in on scheduled or surprise visits to restaurants, bakeries, delis, and bars throughout the county, as well as on regularly scheduled visits. They also check in on area snack bars at schools and sporting arenas. During the inspection, they follow a specific checklist, grading for cleanliness, proper cooling and warming temperatures of food and food storage.

After each inspection, each restaurant is issued a grade ranging from “A” to “C.” For anything under an “A” grade, restaurant owners can attempt to repair the issues before inspectors leave the premises. Owners can close their restaurants for a few hours or a day or two to address flagged problems before the next inspection. Otherwise, they must place a sub-par grade on their windows. Still, some issues take longer to resolve, leading to a restaurant’s “B” or “C” downgrade or a lengthy closure.

They also assess the availability of appropriate hand-washing stations and ensure the correct temperatures are maintained, which helps keep diners healthy. Finally, they look for signs of vermin, from rodent droppings to cockroach nymphs and even body parts. The inspectors’ work, which involves checking for leaks, drips, and proper refrigeration temperatures, ensures that the food you order at a restaurant will not cause you to become ill.

The following 24 Riverside County restaurants experienced either minor or major violations, according to the most recent ‘Food Facility Closures Report’ issued on July 17:

Banning:

Ramsey St. Sports Bar & Grill, located at 41 W Ramsey Street, voluntarily closed on July 16 due to a cockroach infestation at the restaurant, according to a recent report from environmental health inspectors. Inspectors arrived in response to a complaint from a customer who reported seeing live vermin inside the restaurant.

The owners were cleaning and disinfecting the food preparation area, equipment, utensils, and all other affected areas. A reinspection report had not yet been filed as of this report.

Coachella:

Olga’s Tacos, located at 49613 Cesar Chavez Street, has temporarily closed as of July 1 due to plumbing issues, according to health inspectors. It was allowed to reopen two days later, with its “A” grade, after the business had resolved the plumbing problems.

Corona:

Mr. Chi Boba Tea Corona, located at 2795 Cabot Drive, Suite 165, was temporarily closed from July 2 to July 3, due to a cockroach infestation, according to inspector reports. An inspection on July 9 revealed that the roaches had returned, and the restaurant owners were still battling the vermin. No updates on reopening were immediately available on July 17.

Hemet:

Samurai Sushi & Grill, located at 2200 W Florida Avenue #D1, was temporarily closed on July 7 due to a cockroach Infestation, according to inspectors. It was allowed to reopen two days later on July 9, when the restaurant owners proved the issue had been resolved.

Frutamania, located at 2200 W Florida Avenue Suite 415, was also closed on July 7 due to the pesky cockroaches. The restaurant owners hired exterminators and did a thorough clean-out, reopening to guests on July 10, when the issue was resolved.

Jurupa Valley:

Las Palmas Raspados, located at 3791 Opal Street, experienced plumbing issues on July 7, according to inspector reports. The restaurant took four days to resolve the issue, changing out the water heaters to ensure that hand and dish washing temperatures were sufficient for cleanliness, and reopened on July 11 with an “A” grade.

The Beach, 8022 Limonite Avenue, Suite 113, shut down temporarily on June 20 after a fire or other disaster damaged the building. The fire originated in a linen basket located near the back door and triggered the sprinklers, according to the report. All open food containers were discarded, and the permit was suspended during the cleanup. A rodent was found during the inspection. Upon a return visit on June 24, the facility was clean, but a live rodent was found in the dry storage area. “The facility’s health permit remained suspended.” No further updates were given.

Lake Elsinore:

Lakepoint Park, located at 420 E Lakeshore Drive, remains closed as of June 12 due to a rodent infestation, vermin droppings, and other issues, according to inspectors. Park workers say “the food establishment has not been operational for a full year.” Downgraded to a “B,” it has failed to comply with numerous health and safety code violations, including those related to animal droppings, infestations, and plumbing issues. As of this report, it was unclear when and if this facility would reopen.

Menifee:

Bushfire Kitchen, located at 30080 Haun Road #360 was closed temporarily on July 16 due to a Rodent Infestation found by health inspectors, creating an immediate health hazard. Numerous fruit flies were also found throughout the facility, according to inspectors. A reinspection the following day revealed the facility showed new rodent droppings, and that the restaurant had not been fully cleaned. The closure was continued until the owners could rectify the issues, as stated in the Thursday inspection report.

Moreno Valley:

Sunnymead Park, located at 12655 Perris Blvd, was temporarily shut down on June 10 due to a rodent infestation, according to health inspectors. The facility was working to shore up gaps and ensure activity was halted, and was voluntarily closed until further notice.

Palm Springs:

Mario’s Italian Cafe VI, located at 425 S. Sunrise Way, closed on June 30 due to a Rodent Infestation at the restaurant. Health inspectors returned and allowed the restaurant to reopen on July 3 with an “A” grade, according to the most recent reports.

Rancho Mirage:

HIBACHI, located at 71680 Highway 111, closed on July 7 due to a cockroach infestation, according to health inspectors. Inspectors arrived in response to a complaint from a diner who noticed live cockroaches at their table. A reinspection on July 14 revealed that, despite the restaurant’s efforts to combat the roach infestation, signs of vermin activity were still present. Hibachi was regranted its “A” grade on July 17, when inspectors returned to find satisfactory cleaning and absence of roaches.

Riverside:

The Riverside Alano Club, located at 7620 Cypress Avenue, closed temporarily on July 9 due to a cockroach infestation, health inspectors reported. The restaurant reopened with an “A” grade following a reinspection on Thursday, as a pest control service was in place, and no vermin activity was noted at the time of the inspector’s visit.

Boba Fiend Tea House, 3375 Iowa Ave Suite L, was closed on May 28 for operating without a Valid Health Permit, according to inspectors. The operator complied with the request to obtain a valid permit within 48 hours, and the restaurant remained closed as of May 30. It was allowed to reopen on June 25.

Water Gourmet, located at #42 5648 Van Buren Boulevard, was temporarily closed on July 3 due to a cockroach infestation, according to environmental health inspectors. Live and dead cockroaches were found in the restaurant, according to reports. A follow-up visit on July 8 showed the facility had undergone initial pest control treatment, with more services scheduled. The facility was closed until Wednesday, when inspectors regranted its “A” grade.

Silverlake Ramen, located at 3775 Tyler Street, Suite 3b, was closed temporarily on June 30 due to a cockroach infestation. The restaurant implemented pest control services, added renewed weatherstripping, and was allowed to fully reopen with an “A” grade on July 8, according to inspector reports.

Romoland:

Annie’s Truck Stop, located at 27666 US Highway 74, voluntarily closed its doors on June 23 due to a power and utility outage, according to environmental health inspectors. “A fire at neighboring buildings resulted in smoke and water intrusion, as well as a power outage,” the report said. “The owner confirmed awareness that hot water, cold running water, and electricity must be restored before resuming operations.”

San Jacinto:

La Casita Taqueria y Birrieria, located at 2551 S. San Jacinto Avenue, temporarily closed its doors on July 2 due to plumbing issues, according to health inspectors. “There was a non-functioning wastewater disposal system,” creating a health hazard. Restaurant owners rectified the problem the same day, keeping its “A” grade.

Temecula:

Pho Minh, located at 40573 Margarita Road, Suite D, was closed following a routine inspection on July 16 due to repeated health violations since May 21 of this year. Inside, inspectors found violations that could potentially sicken customers, including food storage temperatures that were hazardous and other health code violations. The restaurant was downgraded to a “B” health rating and ordered closed by health inspectors until at the latest July 23, the new reinspection date.

Waba Grill, located at 26490 Ynez Road Suite A, temporarily closed on July 10 due to a cockroach infestation. It was allowed to reopen with an “A” grade on July 11, according to health inspector reports, when the facility had been thoroughly cleaned and a pest control service was implemented.

Rebel Tacos, located at 40820 Winchester Road, Suite #Fc2, was temporarily closed for business on July 9 due to plumbing issues, according to health inspectors. It reopened for business the following day, once the plumbing issue was resolved.

Suki Hana, located at 40820 Winchester Road, was temporarily closed on July 7 due to plumbing issues. A health inspector noted that the floor sink beneath the prep sink was filled with wastewater that wasn’t properly draining. It reopened two days later, on July 9, when the plumbing problems were fixed, and was granted its “A” grade.

BoCakes Bakery, located at 27570 Commerce Center Drive, Suite 118, was temporarily shut down on June 24 due to a rodent infestation, according to health inspectors. The bakery was allowed to reopen one day later with an “A” grade, after the facility was thoroughly cleaned, and a pest control service was performed.

The Nook, located at 43357 Business Park Dr Suite 103, temporarily closed on June 23 due to a rodent infestation, according to environmental health inspector reports. A follow-up inspection on June 25 revealed that the business had hired a thoroughly cleaned pest control company, filled all observed holes with spray foam, replaced missing ceiling panels, and was vermin-proofed correctly. It has maintained its “A” grade.

Patch will continue our monthly Riverside County restaurant reports throughout the year. Let us know if you spy something amiss while you’re out and about or if there’s a restaurant that deserves a rave review!

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McDonald’s pulled Quarter Pounders from one-fifth of its U.S. stores Tuesday as a result of the outbreak, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said had sickened at least 49 people in 10 states. One person died and 10 were hospitalized, according to the CDC.

A preliminary investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested fresh slivered onions that are served raw on Quarter Pounder hamburgers were a likely source of the contamination.

McDonald’s said it was searching for a new regional supplier for fresh onions. In the meantime, Quarter Pounders were removed from menus in the impacted states as well as portions of other states.

McDonald’s said it has worked closely with federal food safety regulators since late last week, when it was alerted to the potential outbreak. The company said the scope of the problem and the popularity of its products have complicated efforts to identify the contamination source.

McDonald’s has more than 14,000 U.S. stores and serves 1 million Quarter Pounders every two weeks in the affected area.

McDonald’s is known for its stringent food safety guidelines and protocols, said Chris Gaulke, a professor of food and beverage management at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration. The company said Wednesday that the supplier regularly tested its onions for E. coli, for example.

“Given the volume of food that they go through, how infrequently this happens to McDonald’s is a testament to the effort that they take,” Gaulke said.

But some experts questioned why McDonald’s simply stopped selling one sandwich and didn’t close restaurants for further investigation.

“Good practice would have been to close all the restaurants,” Bill Marler, a Seattle lawyer who specializes in food safety cases, said. “Until we know definitively what the product was that made people sick, consumers should be aware.”

Marler said cross-contamination remains a potential possibility at the affected restaurants until they are thoroughly cleaned.

Asked why it didn’t close any stores, McDonald’s said nothing in the government’s investigation indicated there were issues with its food preparation practices. In an interview on the “Today” show Wednesday, McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger also said it’s likely that whatever product was contaminated has already passed through the company’s supply chain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the outbreak late Tuesday. It said infections were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

State and local public health officials were interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 18 people interviewed as of Tuesday, all reported eating at McDonald’s, and 16 people reported eating a beef hamburger. Twelve reported eating a Quarter Pounder.

McDonald’s said it’s unlikely the beef in the Quarter Pounder was the source, since it comes from multiple suppliers and is cooked at a high enough temperature to kill E. coli.

McDonald’s said its initial findings suggest that some of the reported illnesses were linked to onions from a single supplier, which the company didn’t name. McDonald’s said the onions are cleaned and sliced by the supplier and then packaged for use on individual Quarter Pounders.

The incubation period for E. coli is only a couple of days, so illness would be quickly apparent to anyone affected, said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. “If you ate these burgers in September and now it’s the middle of October and you didn’t get sick, you’re probably OK,” he said.

E. coli bacteria are harbored in the guts of animals and found in the environment. Infections can cause severe illness, including fever, stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. People who develop symptoms of E. coli poisoning should seek health care immediately and tell the provider what they ate.

The type of bacteria implicated in the McDonald’s food causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to the CDC. In general, E. coli infections were lower in 2023 than in recent years and cases of severe kidney injury caused by the bacteria remained stable, according to latest federal data.

Outbreaks at restaurant chains are rare, but they do happen.

In 2020, Chipotle agreed to pay a record $25 million fine to resolve criminal charges that it served tainted food that sickened more than 1,100 people with E. coli between 2015 and 2018. In that case, poor safety practices, such as not keeping food at proper temperatures to prevent pathogen growth, were to blame.

In 2006, Taco Bell ordered the removal of green onions from its restaurants nationwide after samples taken by investigators appeared to contain a harsh strain of E. coli. The outbreak sickened at least 71 people.

“The worst thing you can have at a restaurant is a food safety problem. It’s the equivalent of an airline losing the plane,” said Aaron Allen, a restaurant consultant and founder of Aaron Allen and Associates.

But Allen said McDonald’s has enough experience and safety protocols in place that it won’t suffer long-term damage from the outbreak.

“No one would be better equipped to mitigate and respond to this than McDonald’s,” he said.

McDonald’s shares fell 4.7% in late trading Wednesday.

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Shake Shack, the Big Apple-based competitor to In-N-Out known for smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes, announced that six California storefronts, including the only Oakland location, would close by the end of next month. Ownership cited underperformance as the primary factor for the closures, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. Most locations will close around Los Angeles; the other three outposts to shutter are in Columbus, Ohio, and Houston, Texas.

Oddly enough, the announced Oakland closure at 1954 Telegraph Ave. comes a bit late: That Shake Shack has already permanently shuttered, according to the San Francisco Business Times. The restaurant, which opened to much fanfare in December 2020, has reportedly been empty and closed since at least July 2024. The company website does not reflect the closure, as of yet. A phone call to the location went straight to an automated message.

Despite the Oakland closure, Shake Shack is still investing in the Bay Area with two new-ish locations recently opening up in Walnut Creek and Santa Rosa, as well as in San Jose. The Bay Area is home to 11 Shake Shack locations.

The affected Los Angeles-area restaurants are in Downtown LA’s Bunker Hill neighborhood, at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, and in Silver Lake, Koreatown and Culver City. While already showing as closed on Google, the Silver Lake location in particular was a highly visible outlet for the brand, located next door to the historic gay bar the Black Cat and just steps from actor and musician Donald Glover’s Jellyman boba shop.

Fear not, Shake Shack burger fans. There are still more than 20 locations in the greater Los Angeles area that are operating, including a first-in-the-state drive-thru that opened just this month. The company operates nearly 330 nationwide and over 400 restaurants across the world.

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