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RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

Nine businesses red-tagged in city’s latest inspection report

Published

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information or to view previous reports, visit .

GREEN: Food establishment received a passing grade, demonstrating the skills to create a safe and sanitary food-service environment.

YELLOW: Food establishment can operate but must follow a plan to correct violations observed during inspection.

RED: Food establishment had major violations that presented an imminent hazard and required an immediate downgrade or closure.

July 26-Aug. 1

GREEN

Albuquerque School of Excellence, 13201 Lomas NE (July 30)

Applebee’s, 2000 Yale SE (July 27)

Blake’s Lotaburger, 3205 Richmond NE (July 28)

Chuck E. Cheese, 10510 Coors NW (July 31)

Chili’s, 8100 Wyoming NE (July 27)

Circle K, 361 Coors NW (July 30)

Circle K 1246, 7940 Ladera NW (July 27)

Cliff’s, 4800 Osuna NE (July 30)

Crumbl Cookies, 8100 Wyoming NE (July 31)

Dave’s High Desert Grill, 5200 Eubank NE (July 29) (Class B)

Dollar Tree, 3211 Coors SW (July 29)

Dollar Tree, 11110 Lomas NE (July 29)

Element by Westin, 2430 Louisiana NE (July 31)

Federico’s, 4400 Central SE (July 31)

Five Guys, 6650 Holly (July 31)

Laguna Burger, 105 Harvard SE (July 31)

Chicago Pizza Kitchen, 9250 Golf Course NW (July 28)

Dion’s, 8100 Wyoming NE (July 27)

Hilton Garden Inn, 222 Central SE (July 28) (Class B, Class C, Class 3)

Honey Bottom Coffee & Tea Co., 1208 Rio Grande NW (August 1)

Hotel Albuquerque, 800 Rio Grande NW (August 1)

Keva Juice, 2451 San Mateo NE (July 28)

Kimmy Snacks Craft Services, 4720 Alexander NE (July 29)

Kinder Care Learning Center, 9111 High Assets Way NW (July 30)

Kinder Care Learning Center, 4515 Lower Terrace NE (July 27)

Kinder Care Learning Center, 5701 McLeod NE (July 29)

La Loteria, 9800 Central SE (July 28)

La Petite Academy, 4910 Kachina NW (July 29)

Las Palomas Nursing & Rehab Center, 8100 Palomas NE (July 27)

Little Caesar’s, 6125 Montgomery NE (July 28)

Lobby Bar, 4720 Alexander NE (July 28)

Lowe’s Market, 701 11th NW (July 31)

Dragon Sushi, 6904 Menaul NE (July 27)

McDonald’s 32613, 150 98th NW (July 27)

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 6500 Holly NW (July 31)

North Valley Senior Center, 3825 4th NW (July 27)

Sandia Learning Center, 2433 Chelwood Park NE (July 31)

Satellite Coffee, 2300 Central SE(July 31)

Seemo’s Slices, 2300 Central SE (July 28)

Snapdragon Tea, 115 Harvard SE (July 28)

Sonic Drive-In, 280 98th NW (July 27)

Starbucks, 11321 Montgomery NE (July 27)

Starbucks, 2801 Eubank NE (July 28)

Subway, 7120 Wyoming NE (July 28)

Sushi & Sake, 4214 Central SE (July 30)

Taj Mahal Restaurant, 1430 Carlisle NE (July 29)

Tanoan Kava, 2500 12th NW (July 30)

Village Inn, 2340 Yale SE (July 27)

Walmart, 2266 Wyoming NE (July 31)

Wendy’s, 1012 Juan Tabo NE (July 27)

Wrap n Roll, 121 Eubank NE (July 28)

YELLOW

Church’s Chicken, 9250 Golf Course NW (July 29)

Dave’s High Desert Grill, 5200 Eubank NE (July 29) Class C)

Federico’s, 4400 Central SE (July 30)

Hilton Garden Inn, 222 Central SE (July 28) (Class C)

Sandia Learning Center, 2433 Chelwood Park NE (July 31)

Wendy’s, 1012 Juan Tabo NE (July 27)

Wrap n Roll, 121 Eubank NE (July 28)

RED

Curry Leaf, 6910 Montgomery NE

A knife, a vegetable dicer and a Robot Coupe were stored with food debris buildup. Glass cleaner and eyeglass cleaner were stored inside soup bowls on the clean dish storage rack. Carrot mix, cooked meat and green paste failed to maintain hot-holding temperatures. Employees improperly cleaned up rodent droppings by wiping off a food storage container in the kitchen back prep area. Prepared vegetables, soups and sauces stored in standing reach-in refrigerators lacked required date markings. Cutting boards on cold-prep units had deep scratches and scoring. The person in charge failed to demonstrate food safety knowledge due to multiple priority violations. Main kitchen hood filters were damaged, leaving substantial gaps and grease/debris buildup. Plastic food containers holding ingredients removed from original packaging were stored in a tub without common-name labels. Cold-held items failed to maintain safe temperatures, including green chile, raw shrimp and shredded cheese. The facility lacked lockers or designated areas for employee clothing and personal belongings. An employee wore an unapproved wristwatch while preparing raw chicken and entrees. Multiple employees prepared food along the main kitchen line without hair restraints. Debris and rodent droppings were observed underneath shelving and prep tables in the back kitchen area. A substantial number of rodent droppings were found on wooden shelving in the back prep area. The establishment failed to maintain required temperature logs for stored, cooled or received temperature-controlled foods.

Result: Closure (July 27); re-inspection required (July 27); closure (July 29); re-inspection required (July 29); Unsatisfactory (July 31); re-inspection required (July 31)

Dave’s High Desert Grill, 5200 Eubank NE (Class C)

Yellow buildup was found inside the ice machine, and dried food debris was present on chef knives and a food wedger. Soiled wiping cloths were stored on prep tables and cutting boards. Four quarts of pooled eggs were left on the cook line counter without being prepared for an immediate order or batter. Multiple prepared items in reach-in coolers lacked date markings, including cooked meats, cut vegetables and sauces. The facility lacked a certified food protection manager on staff. Raw eggs were stored directly over ready-to-eat cheeses, sliced onions and corn. Cold-held items failed to maintain safe temperatures, including pooled eggs, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese. Multiple food items were left out on the prep table counter without ice or refrigeration. Restroom handwashing sinks lacked required handwashing signage. A handwashing sink near the main cook line was improperly used as a dump sink for blueberries. An employee wore a wristwatch and bracelets while working with open food. Food service pans were stacked wet in the washing area. The facility failed to maintain required temperature logs for stored foods. No calibration logs were available for temperature-measuring devices.

Result: Closure (July 29); re-inspection required (July 29); conditionally approved (July 29)

Eat My Thai Cuisine, 5303 Gibson SE

Standing reach-in coolers and prep tables failed to maintain safe cold-holding temperatures.

Result: Unsatisfactory (July 29); re-inspection required (July 29)

Federico’s, 4400 Central SE

Frozen fish was improperly thawing in ambient air in the kitchen. Prepared items in make tables and reach-in coolers lacked date markings, including salsas, prepared meats and diced vegetables. The facility lacked a certified food protection manager on staff. Cold-held items in the refrigerated make table and upright cooler failed to maintain safe temperatures, including shrimp, sausage and guacamole. Food temperature-measuring devices were not provided or readily accessible. The facility failed to maintain required temperature logs for hot and cold temperature-controlled foods.

Result: Unsatisfactory (July 30); re-inspection required (July 30); conditionally approved (July 30); passed follow-up inspection (July 31)

Kap’s, 5801 Central NE

Clean linens were found sitting in standing water. No sanitizer was prepared or available at the front service counter. Black organic matter was present near the ice chute of the ice machine. An unlabeled plastic spray bottle containing an unknown chemical liquid was stored in the facility. A live cockroach was observed next to cooking equipment near a crack in the wall. Dozens of dead roaches accumulated under equipment, and a dead mouse was left in a trap under the soda machine. Two dozen pooled eggs were stored in a reach-in cooler without being prepared for an immediate customer order or batter. Prepared green chile exceeded the seven-day storage limit, and raw chicken was left unlabeled. The person in charge failed to demonstrate required food safety knowledge. A floor drain near the cook line was in disrepair with standing water. Kitchen line ventilation fins had bird feathers stuck to them, and the exterior exhaust duct was dirty. A ripped Styrofoam package of mushrooms was stored in the walk-in cooler. Raw chicken was stored directly next to mushrooms in the line reach-in cooler. The restroom lacked a tight-fitting, self-closing door. A hole was present in the wall by the dish pit. Temperature-measuring devices for thin foods were not provided or accessible. Chlorine sanitizer in a container exceeded the maximum permitted concentration level. The dry storage area lacked lighting entirely. An employee wore an unapproved wristwatch while preparing food. A kitchen line employee failed to wear a hat or beard guard. A soiled mop was stored directly on the floor. Extreme grease and food debris buildup was observed on kitchen walls, floors and equipment. Facility walls were in disrepair with holes near the dish pit and throughout the kitchen.

Result: Closure (July 30); re-inspection required (July 30)

Kinder Care Learning Center, 5701 McLeod NE

A sanitizer spray bottle was empty and contained no chemical solution. Food buildup and debris were found on the can opener blade. The facility lacked a certified food protection manager on staff. Food employees did not have valid food handler cards. A food employee preparing food lacked a proper facial hair restraint. The establishment was operating with an expired permit. An employee changed gloves multiple times without washing hands.

Result: Unsatisfactory (July 29); re-inspection required (July 29); passed follow-up inspection (July 29)

Quality Inn & Suites, 5601 Alameda NE

Quat sanitizer was not prepared at the start of the workday in the kitchen prep area. A prepackaged bag of chopped green chile was improperly thawing in ambient air inside a handwashing sink. An inadequate air gap was observed at the floor drain under the three-compartment sink. The facility lacked a certified food protection manager on staff. Raspberry yogurt in the customer self-serve upright cooler failed to maintain safe cold-holding temperatures. The customer self-serve upright cooler was not maintaining proper temperature. Temperature-measuring devices were not provided or accessible. No valid testing kit was available to measure sanitizer concentrations. Handwashing soap and paper towels were missing at the handwashing sink near the three-compartment sink. A handwashing sink was improperly used for thawing green chile. An employee failed to wash hands when donning new gloves and switching tasks. The facility lacked required temperature logs for hot-held scrambled eggs. No calibration logs were available for temperature-measuring devices.

Result: Closure (July 31); re-inspection required (July 31)

Royal Hyderabad, 5760 McMahon NW

A series of corrective actions were taken.

Result: Unsatisfactory (July 29); re-inspection required (July 29)

Tokyo Hana Hibachi & Sushi Bar, 10001 Coors NW

Chlorine sanitizer at the drink station was unavailable, and brown and black soil buildup was present near the ice machine chute. Miso soup, dark soup and dark sauce were incorrectly reheated in the microwave for hot holding. The person in charge was unable to provide food handler cards for employees. The hood ventilation system dripped condensation during food prep, and air vents had substantial buildup. Outer doors were not self-closing. Cold-held items in the reach-in refrigerator failed to maintain safe temperatures, including beef and chopped garlic. The handwashing sink at the drink station lacked an approved hand-drying method. Multiple lights were burned out in the cooking, prep, and storage areas. Buildup and debris accumulated on floors, drink stations, prep areas and underneath equipment. Cooking tongs were improperly used to lift a drain grid during food prep. Nonfood contact surfaces of equipment had soil residue buildup, including rice steamer holders and prep tables. The facility lacked required temperature logs for stored foods. No calibration logs were available for temperature-measuring devices.

Result: Unsatisfactory (July 30); re-inspection required (July 30)