Behind The Kitchen Door – Rodent Infestations Force Closure Of Two Concord Restaurants In Same Shopping Center

Two neighboring restaurants on Clayton Road in Concord were temporarily shut down by Contra Costa Environmental Health on June 3 after inspectors found evidence of rodent infestations during complaint investigations. Inspectors suspended the health permits for Min’s Kitchen and Concord Tap House after documenting rodent droppings.

At Min’s Kitchen, inspectors reported finding rodent droppings throughout the facility, including on food preparation equipment, stored plates, shelving, dry-storage areas, beneath kitchen equipment, and near the dishwashing station. The report noted that the operator told inspectors the rodent activity had been “getting consistently worse.” More than 50 droppings were found beneath a water heater, while dozens more were discovered in storage areas and food preparation spaces. Inspectors also found rodenticide pellets scattered throughout the restaurant and identified numerous holes and gaps in walls, doors, windows, and utility penetrations that may have allowed rodents to enter the building.

At Concord Tap House, inspectors found rodent droppings in restrooms and storage areas, including behind a water heater and near a rear delivery area. The report noted that a recent pest control inspection had documented a rat caught in an attic trap and identified structural and sanitation issues contributing to pest activity.

Both businesses have since been reinspected and reopened.