GOOD INFORMATION. BETTER PEACE OF MIND.Español · Always free. No signup required.

Santa Clara County, CA

La Estrella

463 Blossom Hill Rd

Last inspected Sep 10, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

Read Reviews on Google

Pass

Get the next inspection, free.

We'll email you when La Estrella has a new health inspection. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.

No account needed. Unsubscribe at any time.

Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Routine Inspection

Sep 10, 2025

Pass

7 recorded violations

minorCode K48Other

Official wording

Plan review

Inspector’s notes

Per the permit condition given during the routine inspection on 08/19/2024, owner was to submit plans to DEH Plan Check to install a janitorial sink. Facility has not submitted plans and has installed a janitorial sink without DEH Plan Check approval. [CA] Facility must submit plans to install janitorial sink by 09/17/2025. If plans are not submitted, further enforcement action may occur including suspension of permit.

In plain English

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

More about other finding
minorCode K01Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification

Inspector’s notes

Food safety certification was not available at time of inspection. [CA] Food facilities that prepare, handle, or serve non-prepackaged potentially hazard foods shall have a valid Food Safety Certificate available for review at all times.

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
criticalCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

Observed one live cockroach on a sticky trap by the soda syrup shelving. Observed many dead cockroaches on and around the sticky trap by the soda syrup shelving. No other evidence of cockroaches observed. [CA] Maintain facility free cockroaches. Clean and sanitize areas of dead cockroaches. Recommend getting and maintaining pest control services. [COS] Live cockroach on sticky trap discarded outside facility. MINOR: Observed many fruit flies around janitorial sink. [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
minorCode K44Pests

Official wording

Premises clean, in good repair; Personal/chemical storage; Adequate vermin-proofing

Inspector’s notes

Observed mops stored against walls in area around janitorial sink. [CA] Mop rack or other devices not made available to hang and store cleaning tools. Observed several pieces of unused equipment (dispensers, preparation unit). [CA] The premises of a food facility shall be free of litter and items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the facility, such as equipment that is nonfunctional or no longer used.

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
minorCode K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine in three compartment sink measured 50ppm. [CA] Manual sanitization shall be accomplished in the final sanitizing rinse by contacting a chlorine solution of 100 PPM concentration for at least 30 seconds or by contacting a quaternary ammonium solution of 200 PPM concentration for at least 60 seconds.

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 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 K40Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used, stored

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine in sanitizing bucket measured 25ppm. [CA] Wiping towels shall be stored in sanitizing solution of an approved concentration when not in use (100 ppm - chlorine, 200 ppm - quaternary ammonium).

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, Sep 10, 2025 · Original Source

Follow-Up Inspection

Nov 1, 2024

Pass

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Nov 1, 2024 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Oct 29, 2024

Conditional Pass

6 recorded violations

criticalCode K09Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cooling methods

Inspector’s notes

Six inch deep container of refried beans measured 48F. Per PIC, they had been in the walk in fridge since the day before. [CA] After heating or hot holding, Potentially Hazardous Foods (PHFs) shall be cooled rapidly from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Approved cooling methods include: 1) Placing the food in shallow pans 2) Separating the food into thinner or smaller portions. 3) Using rapid cooling equipment (Ex. blast chiller) 4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer (ex. stainless steel) 5) Adding ice as an ingredient. 6) Using ice paddles 7) Using an ice bath and stirring frequently 8) Accordance with a HACCP plan. Cooling foods shall have enough space around the containers for cold air to circulate, be loosely covered, or uncovered and stirred as frequently needed to evenly cool. [COS] PIC VC&D beans

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 K14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine in mechanical warewash measured 0ppm. Water water also leaking out of mechanical warewash. [CA] Maintain chlorine at 50ppm in mechanical warewash. Also, maintain mechanical warewash in good condition.

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 K41Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices

Inspector’s notes

Observed drain lines of equipment extending into floor sink. [CA] All equipment that discharges liquid waste shall be drained by means of indirect waste pipes, and all wastes drained by them shall discharge through an airgap into a floor sink or other approved type of receptor.

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 K01Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification

Inspector’s notes

1. Food safety certification was not available at time of inspection. [CA] Food facilities that prepare, handle, or serve non-prepackaged potentially hazard foods shall have a valid Food Safety Certificate available for review at all times. 2. Food handler card was not available at time of inspection. [CA] Each food handler shall maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of his or her employment as food handler available for review. A valid food handler card shall be provided within 30 days of the date of hire.

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 K38Facility maintenance

Official wording

Adequate ventilation/lighting; designated areas, use

Inspector’s notes

Observed missing filter in ventilation hood. [CA] In every room and area in which any food is prepared, manufactured, processed or prepackaged or in which equipment or utensils are cleaned, sufficient natural or artificial lighting shall be provided.

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
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

Raw shelled eggs measured 52F. Per PIC, they were removed from the walk in fridge 15-20F min before temperature measurement. Ambient air of preparation unit measured 40F and ambient air of walk in fridge measured 40F. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] PIC placed eggs back into walk in fridge to cool down.

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

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Oct 29, 2024 · Original Source

More restaurants nearby