Japanese restaurant piles up 70 red points. Here are Thurston food safety inspections for Nov. 27

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

• Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.
• Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.
• Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.
• If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65.
• If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county will shut down the establishment. The establishment may reopen after the person-in-charge develops a written course of action to correct all violations and demonstrates corrective action during a pre-opening inspection. Closures also may occur if there is an imminent health hazard, regardless of the total inspection points. The length of a closure may vary depending on the violation and timeframe for corrective actions.
• Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Koibito Japanese Restaurant

1707 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia

Nov. 20: 70 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• An employee did not remove their gloves and wash their hands after flipping cooking chicken and before changing tasks.
• Eggs were stored above ready to eat foods in the walk-in cold hold. All raw animal proteins must be stored below ready-to-eat foods and by cooking temperatures.
• Hot-held cooked chicken measured 117-140 degrees. The facility was cited for improper use of non-continuous chicken.
• Salmon in a sushi counter cold-hold unit measured 41-43 degrees. All cold held TCS foods must be at or below 41 degrees.
• There was no written procedure for using time as a control and non-continuous cooking of chicken.

South Bay Pub and Eatery

3323 South Bay Road NE, Olympia

Nov. 20: 40 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Onions were not washed prior to cutting. All produce must be washed prior to preparation to prevent contamination.
• Soup in a deep container measured 50 degrees in a walk-in cold hold and it was unclear if it had been properly cooled.
• The consumer advisory on the menu lacked a disclosure.

Nou Thai Street Food

407 Water St. SW, Olympia

Nov. 18: 35 red points; 3 blue points.

Comments:

• TCS foods were observed cooling in large amounts in a prep cold hold. TCS foods must be cooled under refrigeration, uncovered and at less than 2-inch depths.
• A time as a control for safety plan was used for noodles without prior approval.
• In-use utensils were stored in room temperature water.

Chinatown Café 8

1908 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

Nov. 15: 35 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Products were cooling at room temperature in front of a fan. TCS foods must be cooled under refrigeration, uncovered and at depths of less than 2 inches.
• The in-use chlorine sanitizer was too strong as prepared.

Sonic

1303 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

Nov. 21: 20 red points; 10 blue points.

Comments:

• The person-in-charge could not provide a certified food protection manager certificate.
• Some food worker cards had expired.
• Sliced tomatoes on a prep line measured 41-52 degrees.
• The establishment was cited for a deficiency for improperly using and storing wiping cloths. No inspection notes were provided.
• A food contact surface was not properly maintained, cleaned and sanitized.

Cryptatropa Bar

421 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

Nov. 21: 20 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• A food worker was unable to present a food worker card.
• No thin tip thermometer was available during the inspection. A thin tip thermometer is needed to evaluate the temperature of TCS foods.
• The facility hot held cheese despite it not being allowed by their low-risk permit category.
• A hand-wash sink had a broken cold-water valve.

New Market Deli

7299 New Market St. SW, Tumwater

Nov. 15: 15 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Sliced tomatoes in a prep unit measured 43-45 degrees rather than 41 degrees.
• Roped cooked meat was used for birria without a proper plan or variance.

Domino’s Pizza

212 Tumwater Blvd. SW, Tumwater

Nov. 15: 10 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• The facility was unable to present a required written procedure for cleaning up vomit and diarrhea events.

Katsu Burger Lacey

5815 Lacey Blvd. SE, Lacey

Nov. 20: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• Raw chicken was stored over raw beef.
• Test strips were not available for a sanitizer solution.

Skateland Roller Rink

2725 12th Ave. NE, Olympia.

Nov. 20: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• No thin tip thermometer was available at the facility. A thin tip thermometer is required to verify the temperature of TCS foods.
• A sanitizer was too weak as prepared.

Ralph’s Thriftway

1908 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

Coffee Shop

Nov. 15: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• A food worker card was missing.

Meconi’s Italian Subs

111 Tumwater Blvd. SE, Tumwater

Nov. 15: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Food worker cards could not be located during the inspection.

ARCO Tanglewilde Area

7291 Martin Way E, Olympia

Grocery Stores and Confectioneries

Nov. 19: 0 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• A three-compartment sink was cluttered with cans of various beverage products.

Freshii

1200 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia.

Nov. 20: 0 red points; 3 blue points.

Comments:

• In-use utensils were washed and rinsed at the end of the day rather than every four hours.

No violations

• Ralph’s Thriftway. 1908 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia. Grocery Stores and Confectioneries.
• Lacey Shell Food Mart. 1545 Marvin Road NE, Lacey. Grocery Stores and Confectioneries.
• Applebee’s. 525 Sleater Kinney Road SE, Lacey.
• All American Coffee Co. 6808 Martin Way E, Olympia.
• Lacey Grocery Outlet. 8221 Martin Way E, Lacey. Grocery Stores and Confectioneries.
• ARCO AM/PM Nisqually. 10222 Martin Way E, Olympia. Grocery Store, Deli.
• Rochester Market. 10145 US-12, Rochester. Grocery Stores and Confectioneries.
• The Oly Grind. 2030 Mottman Road SW, Tumwater. Coffee Shop.
• Farrelli’s Pizza Tumwater. 111 Tumwater Blvd. SE, Tumwater.
• Boba and Beyond LLC. 1401 Marvin Road NE, Lacey.
• Rite Aid. 305 Cooper Point Road NW, Olympia. Grocery Stores and Confectioneries.
• McDonald’s. 1335 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia.
• Fog and Fern Coffee House. 4219 Sixth Ave. SE, Lacey.
• Crumbl Cookie Olympia. 1309 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia.

This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 5:15 AM.