Santa Clara County, CA

La Chingada Taqueria

Name: La Chingada Taqueria
Address: 3281 Sierra Rd, Santa Clara County, CA

3281 Sierra Rd

Last inspected May 1, 2026 · 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

5 inspections

Routine Inspection

May 1, 2026

Pass

6 recorded violations

minorCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

Some potentially hazardous foods stored on the preparation fridge, including salsa, cream, and sliced avocado were measured between 45°F and 50 °F. [CA] All potentially hazardous foods like meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products, cooked vegetables, cooked cereals, greens, and diced tomatoes shall always be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. Please monitor the temperature and use of the refrigeration unit regularly

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

There is an abundant dust accumulation on the restroom’s exhaust vent. [CA] Conduct a regular cleaning of the exhaust vent.

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 K30Other

Official wording

Food storage: food storage containers identified

Inspector’s notes

Many food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the storage area. [CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on approved shelf or dunnage rack.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

minorCode K06Handwashing

Official wording

Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible

Inspector’s notes

The handwash station located near the three compartment warewash sink is not working. [CA] Repair the handwash station immediately. Until then, employees may wash hand at the handwash station located near the preparation area.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Some freshly sanitized utensils were stacked together on the utensil storage shelf. [CA] Air dry all clean utensils before staking them together.

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 K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

Some of the storage containers do not have proper covers. [CA] To prevent contamination and vermin infestation, please provide approved cover for all the storage containers. The ice machine cover has fallen of. [CA] Repair/replace the cover. Until that is replaced, please cover the ice machine with plastic or other covering materials.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, May 1, 2026 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Dec 23, 2025

Pass

4 recorded violations

minorCode K30Other

Official wording

Food storage: food storage containers identified

Inspector’s notes

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

criticalCode K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Repeated violation: Employee was observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any sanitizer. [CA] Whenever utensils, equipment, and food contact surfaces are cleaned, they need to be washed with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and sanitized with 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer or 100 ppm chlorine. The manager was demonstrated on the proper washing procedures. The dishwasher was demonstrated on the proper method of dishwashing. The utensils were rewashed accordingly (COS). Some freshly rewashed utensils were stacked together on the utensil storage shelf. [CA] Air dry all clean utensils before staking them together.

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 K45Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean

Inspector’s notes

There is grime, dirt buildup, and food residue accumulation on the floor below the preparation sink by the grease trap. [CA] Conduct a thorough and regular cleaning of the floor area immediately.

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

Multiple drain flies and couple of houseflies were observed in both the front dining and back in the kitchen areas. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.

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 23, 2025 · Original Source

Follow-Up Inspection

Jun 18, 2025

Pass

1 recorded violation

minorCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

Couple of drain flies and couple of houseflies were observed in both the front dining and back in the kitchen areas. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Jun 18, 2025 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Jun 12, 2025

Conditional Pass

8 recorded violations

criticalCode K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Employee was observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any sanitizer. [CA] Whenever utensils, equipment, and food contact surfaces are cleaned, they need to be washed with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and sanitized with 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer or 100 ppm chlorine. The manager was demonstrated on the proper washing procedures. The dishwasher was demonstrated on the proper method of dishwashing. The utensils were rewashed accordingly (COS).

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 K21Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Hot and cold water available

Inspector’s notes

There was no warm water supply on the restroom's handwash station. [CA] Provide100 oF warm water on the handwash station immediately.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

minorCode K40Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used, stored

Inspector’s notes

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

criticalCode K06Handwashing

Official wording

Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible

Inspector’s notes

The handwash station located near the front counter area was blocked by boxes of food products and working utensils. [CA] Keep the handwash station easily accessible for employees to wash hand whenever it is necessary. The manager removed the products from the handwash station area (COS).

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

Official wording

Food storage: food storage containers identified

Inspector’s notes

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

minorCode K29Chemicals

Official wording

Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

Inspector’s notes

Some open bag food products were stored on the shelf in the dry storage Some of the food containers do not have cover lid to protect possible contamination as well. [CA] Store all open bag food products in properly labeled bulk containers.

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely

minorCode K39Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Thermometers provided, accurate

Inspector’s notes

There was not a functional prob thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the cold and hot food products. [CA] Provide an approved prob type thermometer and use it with a regular calibration and sanitization.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

minorCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

Multiple drain flies and couple of houseflies were observed in both the front dining and back in the kitchen areas. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Jun 12, 2025 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Dec 11, 2024

Pass

7 recorded violations

minorCode K30Other

Official wording

Food storage: food storage containers identified

Inspector’s notes

Some food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the kitchen area. [CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on approved shelf or dunnage rack.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

minorCode K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

There was a very low sanitizer concentration on the manual three-compartment warewashing sink. [CA] Whenever sanitizing of utensils/equipment is conducted, the sanitizer concentration maintain in the sanitizing compartment of the manual warewashing sink must be maintained at 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine, unless otherwise specified by manufacturer of the chemical

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 K40Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used, stored

Inspector’s notes

Couple of wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach). There was very low sanitizer concentration on one of the sanitizer buckets. [CA] Maintain the sanitizer concentration on the sanitizer buckets at 200 ppm quaternary ammonia. 100 ppm chlorine (bleach), 272 ppm -700 ppm lactic acid levels.

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 K33Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

Some of the bulk containers stored on the shelf do not have approved cover. [CA] Provide approved lid cover for all bulk containers.

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 K09Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cooling methods

Inspector’s notes

Cooling of freshly cooked rice, beef stew, and beans was being done at room temperature. [CA] All hot-held food products must be cooled from 135 OF to 70 OF within the first two hours and from 70 OF to 41 OF with another four hours by: (1) Placing the FOOD in shallow pans. (2) Separating the FOOD into smaller or thinner portions. (3) Using rapid cooling EQUIPMENT. (4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer. (5) Adding ice as an ingredient. (6) Using ice paddles. (7) Inserting appropriately designed containers in an ice bath and stirring frequently. The manager was demonstrated on the proper cooling procedure using an ice bath and smaller portions.

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

minorCode K01Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification

Inspector’s notes

Couple of the employees do not have food handler cards. [CA] Employee engaged in food preparation, storage, and service and who do not have food safety certificate must take food handler cards within a month of hire. California approved Food Handler Card (FHC) class providers All Directory Listing (ahttps://anabpd.ansi.org/Accreditation/credentialing/certificate-issuers/AllDirectoryListing?prgID=228,238&statusID=4nsi.org)

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

minorCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

Couple of dead cockroaches were observed on the floor below the front counter on a trap. [CA] Eliminate cockroaches from the facility thorough proper storage of food, utensils and equipment, conducting a regular cleaning, and performing a regular professional pest control intervention.