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

Santa Clara County, CA

Lion Food Center

1838 N Milpitas Bl

Last inspected Jul 17, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

Read Reviews on Google

Pass

Get the next inspection, free.

We'll email you when Lion Food Center 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

Follow-Up Inspection

Jul 17, 2026

Pass

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Jul 17, 2026 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Jul 8, 2026

Conditional Pass

7 recorded violations

minorCode K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

1. In the long meat butcher case, there is a strong foul odor coming from where the mixed fish trays are (across the band saw). Observed water leaking out from the bottom of that area and accumulation of black slime on the floor. [Corrective Action] Thoroughly clean inside and on the bottom of the refrigeration unit. 2. Multiple foods were measured above 41 degrees Fahrenheit in the long large open top cooler and deli case. [Corrective Action] Ensure refrigeration unit is able to maintain proper cold holding temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

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 K22Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Sewage and wastewater properly disposed

Inspector’s notes

The floor sink under the fish prep table was observed overflowing in the nearby channel drain. [Corrective Action] Ensure floor drain is draining properly.

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
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

1. MAJOR. Fried fish cake and fish balls were measured at 51 degrees Fahrenheit in the large long open top cooler. Per PIC, the refrigeration is going through defrosting and normally the food items are returned to the walk-in cooler when the store closes. [Corrective Action] Ensure Potentially Hazardous Foods are maintained at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Change defrosting to a time when the store is closed and food items are removed from the unit. [Suitable Alternative] Fried fish cake and fish balls re-located into the freezer. 2. Multiple Potentially Hazardous Foods in the deli case were measured between 42 - 49 degrees Fahrenheit. [Corrective Action] Ensure Potentially Hazardous Foods are maintained at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 K45Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean

Inspector’s notes

1. Observed damaged flooring in the produce area and meat department area. [Corrective Action] Maintain floor in good condition. 2. Observed half dome ice formations on the floor in the walk-in freezer at the meat department area. [Corrective Action] Remove half dome ice formations from the floor. 3. Observed dust on the walls in the women's restroom. [Corrective Action] Maintain clean.

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 K06Handwashing

Official wording

Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible

Inspector’s notes

Lack of wall mounted soap dispenser at the handwash sink at the meat department and in men's restroom. [Corrective Action] Install wall mounted soap dispenser at the handwash sinks.

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.

More about handwashing problems
criticalCode K13Contamination

Official wording

Food in good condition, safe, unadulterated

Inspector’s notes

Mold like substance was observed on the wonton wraps in the deli case. [Corrective Action] Ensure foods are in safe and in good condition. [Suitable Alternative] Manager voluntarily discarded several packages of the wonton wraps.

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
minorCode K39Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Thermometers provided, accurate

Inspector’s notes

Lack of operable thermometers in the deli case and the long large open top cooler. [Corrective Action] Ensure thermometers are placed in the refrigeration units to be able to monitor the temperatures.

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, Jul 8, 2026 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Jun 25, 2025

Pass

9 recorded violations

minorCode K44Pests

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

Observed large amount of litter scattered around the pallets in the back. [Corrective Action] Maintain area clean. Pick up and properly discard all litter.

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 K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

Multiple Potentially Hazardous Foods in the left side deli case was measured at 57 degrees Fahrenheit. [Corrective Action] Refrigeration units shall be able to maintain Potentially Hazardous Foods at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 K06Handwashing

Official wording

Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible

Inspector’s notes

Lack of paper towels in the paper towel dispenser at the handwash sink in the meat department. Loose paper towels available nearby. [Corrective Action] Ensure paper towel dispenser is stocked at all times.

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.

More about handwashing problems
minorCode K39Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Thermometers provided, accurate

Inspector’s notes

Lack of thermometer in the deli case. [Corrective Action] A thermometer +/- 2°F shall be provided and correctly located in each refrigerator unit containing potentially hazardous foods.

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 K45Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean

Inspector’s notes

Flooring in the meat department observed having damaged top coat seal and pitting. Flooring in the seafood walk-in cooler observed uneven and lacking the top coat seal. [Corrective Action] Maintain floor in good condition. Floors shall be smooth, even, and 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 K33Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

Heavy dust and spider webs accumulation on the UV fly trap at the back end of meat department. [Corrective Action] Thoroughly clean the UV fly trap or replace the UV fly trap.

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 the condensate dripping onto the floor from the evaporators in the produce walk-in cooler. [Corrective Action] Repair to stop the leak.

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
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

Fish cake was measured at 57 degrees Fahrenheit in the left side deli case. [Corrective Action] Maintain Potentially Hazardous Foods at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. [Suitable Alternative] Fish cakes were voluntarily discarded.

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 K22Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Sewage and wastewater properly disposed

Inspector’s notes

Liquid waste from the fish chopping stations observed splashing directly onto the floor. and entering into the channel drains. [Corrective Action] Liquid waste shall be disposed into the floor drain.

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

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Jun 25, 2025 · Original Source

More restaurants nearby