LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Taqueria El Buen Pastor on Decatur Boulevard and Meadows Lane continues to reign as the worst Dirty Dining repeat offender of all time.
But change is on the horizon as all three of its locations have recently been sold to a new owner.
While the change of ownership process plays out with the health district, though, there are still some issues.
The restaurant was shut down on June 19 due to repeat problems and refrigeration issues.
Food prepared the day before, including salsas and chili sauce, had to be thrown out due to unsafe temperatures.
Cooked pastor meat, rice and milk also went into the garbage after the inspector discovered them in the temperature danger zone.
The hot and cold holding equipment was in use despite being in obvious disrepair and unable to hold safe temperatures.
Restaurant staff had moved the C grade card from the previous inspection, so it was not visible to customers ordering.
Taqueria El Buen Pastor was back to an A grade with 0 demerits on June 22.
Food Safety Consultant Tim Moulson, who’s working with the new owner, says she is looking forward to a much better and brighter future.
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Hush Puppy on Charleston Boulevard and Antelope Way was shut down June 18 for failing re-inspection from a previous C downgrade (June 2 inspection) with repeat critical and major violations.
Inspectors found spoiled food including a box of moldy romaine lettuce in the walk-in cooler.
Coleslaw, blue cheese dressing and cooked ribs were in the temperature danger zone.
Raw hamburger was stored in the same container as sliced cheese.
They were using a laundry detergent container to store breadcrumbs.
There was heavy grease build-up on equipment and floors and mold in the ice machine.
Hush Puppy was back to a 5-demerit A grade on June 19.
Owner Roger Ghormley said they always try to do what the health district wants and in this case that included some building and equipment repairs.
He says things are high-pressure these days with employees not wanting to come back to work because they’re making more on unemployment, so staffing has been an issue.
As for the staff who are working amid the food and sanitation violations, he said many have been there for decades and “probably just got complacent.”
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Soyo, a Korean restaurant on Rainbow Boulevard and Robindale Road, got a 35-demerit C grade on its June 17 inspection.
They were cited for a repeat violation regarding unsafe food temperatures.
A food handler washed soiled gloves instead of washing hands and changing gloves.
Multiple ready-to-eat foods including soups, broths, pickled vegetables and cooked vegetables were held in the fridge past their 7-day expiration date. All were thrown out.
Raw eggs sat on the counter in the temperature danger zone for more than an hour.
Raw meat was stored directly above ready-to-eat hard-boiled eggs.
Utensils on the cook line sat in heavily dirty water.
Employee beverages, foods and personal items were stored next to and above customer foods.
The dish machine wasn’t sanitizing.
There was no designated person in charge at the time of inspection. A manager arrived during the inspection but was unable to demonstrate basic food safety knowledge including proper handwashing procedures, critical temperatures, proper cooling procedures and proper cleaning and sanitizing.
They were using wood laminate as a shelf for a really dirty oven, and shelves in multiple areas were lined with dirty foil.
Ceiling tiles were missing in multiple areas including directly over where clean dishes are stored.
The $1,200 downgrade fee was waived due to the COVID-19 response.
Soyo was back to an 8-demerit A grade on July 1.
The manager said they corrected all the violations, adding, "It's been our fault not staying on top of health regulations and we will ensure that it will be our top priority."
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Click here to see the health report for Soyo.
Click here to see the health report for Taqueria El Buen Pastor.
Click here to see the health report for Hush Puppy.
