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Santa Clara County, CA

El Tule Mexican Restaurant

5440 Thornwood Dr I

Last inspected Dec 5, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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More issues recentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

2 inspections

Routine Inspection

Dec 5, 2025

Pass

5 recorded violations

minorCode K45Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean

Inspector’s notes

Observed unapproved ceiling finish in dry storage area. [CA] Discontinue storing items in the attic. [CA] Ceilings of all rooms where nonprepackaged food is handled shall be smooth, of durable construction, and of nonabsorbent material that is easily cleanable.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode K38Facility maintenance

Official wording

Adequate ventilation/lighting; designated areas, use

Inspector’s notes

Light was out in employee restroom. [CA] Repair/replace light.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode K34Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine test strips were not available at time of inspection. [CA] Testing equipment and materials shall be provided to adequately measure the applicable sanitization method used during manual or mechanical warewashing.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine in mechanical warewash measured 0ppm. [CA] Maintain chlorine in mechanical warewash machine at 50 PPM. Facility will use chlorine in two compartment sink to sanitize equipment.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

Observed what appeared to be fruit flies in the dry storage area. [CA] Food facility shall be kept free of non-disease carrying insects, weevils, ants, gnats, and fruit flies.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Dec 5, 2025 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Dec 11, 2024

Pass

2 recorded violations

criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

FOUND THE CHICKEN IN RED SAUCE AT 121F. IN THE HOT HOLDING UNIT. [CA] KEEP HOT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT 135F OR ABOVE. REHEAT THE FOOD TO 165F THEN HOT HOLD AT 135F MINIMUM.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
minorCode K33Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

FOUND MOLD LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE WHITE PLASTIC FLAP OF THE ICE MACHINE. [CA] CLEAN THIS PART MORE OFTEN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Dec 11, 2024 · Original Source

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