DIRTY DINING: Kitchen Utensils Stored On Soiled Floor Mats, Rodent Droppings, Dead Rodent – San Ramon’s Pakka Local Scrubs The Horror Away And Opens Doors Again

A restaurant in San Ramon was temporarily shut down after Contra Costa County health inspectors discovered what they described as “an immediate danger to public health,” including a rodent infestation, improper food storage, and major sanitation issues. Contra Costa Environmental Health inspectors arrived at Pakka Local, located at 2410 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Suite 150, on July 23 for a routine inspection and found more than 50 rodent droppings on the floor and on cans and bulk food items in the restaurant’s dry storage area. Inspectors also noted a dead rodent in a trap beneath shelving and what they called “excessive food debris and spillage” throughout the space. The report says all contaminated food items that had been gnawed through by the rodent must be discarded and the restaurant must “intensify pest control to eliminate infestation” before it can reopen. But the rodent problem wasn’t the only issue. The inspection listed multiple major food safety violations, including:

• A broken refrigerator holding food at 56 degrees instead of the required 41 or below.
• Clean kitchen utensils stored directly on soiled dishwashing floor mats.
• No soap or paper towels at either of the restaurant’s handwashing sinks.
• A lack of sanitizer solution for wiping cloths used on food contact surfaces.

Inspectors also cited the buffet line for lacking sneeze guards, plumbing leaks under the sink, and grease buildup on kitchen hoods and filters. The facility was described as “disorganized,” with kitchen utensils and equipment stored directly on the floor mats. The violations were severe enough that Contra Costa County issued an immediate closure order, suspending the restaurant’s health permit until the problems are corrected and a re-inspection confirms compliance. The restaurant has since been reinspected and reopened.