LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It goes without saying that this is a really tough time for restaurants with the extension of the state-wide pause and capacity limits.
We at 13 Action News feel it's important to support those doing it right, but just as crucial to call out those doing it wrong.
At Goon Korean BBQ, a sign on the door says no one can come in without a mask, yet inspectors found a mask-less employee working in the kitchen.
LAST WEEK'S DIRTY DINING: Dirty Dining's year-end roundup
Goong is the second restaurant in a strip mall on Rainbow Boulevard and Robindale Road to be featured on Dirty Dining.
It got a 36-demerit "C" grade on Dec. 29.
Inspectors found employees preparing cabbage for fermented kimchi outside. It had to be thrown in the garbage.
The restaurant was also vacuum packaging raw meat for sale and holding it for up to two weeks.
Cases of fresh produce and other foods were stored on the floor.
A food handler eating in the kitchen returned to customer food prep without washing hands.
Plates of open employee food sat on a prep table with food being prepared for customers.
There was also a plate of employee food on top of a soup well and open employee coffee on the grill.
A rainbow of mold slimed the ice machine.
Pots were being washed but not sanitized.
The insect zapper was directly above open food utensils and the beer tap.
And there were repeat violations for soaking rice in the handwash sink and no hot water in restrooms.
The owner wasn't available for an on-camera interview due to personal matters but sent a statement saying, "As a result of the inspection we have corrected all of the violations mentioned in the report and are awaiting re-inspection. To be honest, we have always tried to maintain a clean environment. However, we received the "C" downgrade due to a couple of maintenance violations. It's been our fault for not staying on top of health regulations and we will ensure that it will be our top priority. From now on, the violations we made will be a lesson and we will do our best to provide safe and healthy food at all times in a clean environment and follow health regulations."
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It's hard to imagine a more prolific cockroach infestation than the one health inspectors describe at El Rincon Mexican grill.
The restaurant on Desert Inn and McLeod was a supporting actor in last week's Dirty Dining and it returns this week for a repeat performance.
El Rincon failed re-inspection on Dec. 29 after inspectors found it operating while its permit was suspended for a previous imminent health hazard.
The inspection report details repeat violations for "Foreign objects in food products." Those foreign objects were cockroach legs and wings inside the ice machine water tray and dead roaches, egg sacks, and roach feces on and in the ice machine, on outlet covers, inside the oven, and on to-go boxes, cups, and plates.
There were live roaches, roach eggs, and larvae in the dry storage area, inside the heat lamp above the pass-through window, and nymphs were actively hatching on the floor next to the hand sink.
Excessive grease build-up and old food throughout the kitchen didn't help matters.
We were unable to reach anyone for comment as multiple calls to the restaurant were not answered.
El Rincon is still closed (as of Jan. 13).
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From Dirty Dining to Gross Grocers, we turn to La Favorita Ranch market on Vegas and Decatur where the meat and bakery departments were shut down on Dec. 28 for the imminent health hazard of no hot water.
One food handler didn't even bother to wash their hands at all after coming in from an outside storage area.
There were numerous raw meats at unsafe temperatures due to a malfunctioning fridge--a repeat violation that led to lots of food going into the garbage.
The cutting board between deli slicers was stained and unsanitary.
Dirty kitchenware and knives were stored as clean.
The meat case was dirty with old meat debris.
And equipment doors, handles, covers and panels were missing, dirty or broken.
In the bakery area, inspectors found fruit was not being washed before being prepped and ham was kept beyond its seven-day shelf life.
La Favorita declined to comment due to a language barrier.
Re-inspections on Dec. 29 returned the market's "A" grades with five demerits for the meat department and eight for the bakery.
Click here to see the health report for Goong Korean BBQ.
Click here to see the health report for El Rincon Mexican Grill.
Click here to see the health report for La Favorita - Meat.
Click here to see the health report for La Favorita - Bakery.
